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MINUTES.

23. 8.1. "Yawry."-The Secretary read a despatch from the Governor of Sierra Leone, relative to the towage of this ship to Dakar. They decided to await the claim from the Admiralty for the cost of the towage before deciding whether any gratuity should be paid to the captain of the 8.8. "Keyingham." They recom- mended that an inquiry should be made of the Governor as to the dates on which the ship had fouled her cables, and on which she had been moved to her anchorage.

1090

THE SIXTY-FOURTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Monday, the 5th of July, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present :-

1.

2.

Vice-Admiral Sir E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).

MR. W. J. Evans, Admiralty.

MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury.

MR. C. HIPWOOD, Board of Trade.

MR. R. A. C. SPERLING, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Šecretary).

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.

s.s. "Grahamland."-Mr. Holt informed the Committee that he had fixed this ship with timber from British Columbia, and that the freight would be £6.600 on the assumption that 550 standards could be carried.

3. 5.8. Koerber.'

."-Mr. Tennyson informed the Committee that it had been ascertained from the Transport Department that this ship was not urgently required in the United Kingdom. It was agreed that she should wait to bring home the condemned cargo referred to in the telegram from His Majesty's High Commissioner to the Foreign Office, and that the freight should be fixed by the Prize Court.

The Committee also recommended that the Foreign Office should inform Sir H. MacMahon that the scientific collection might be inspected locally, as suggested in a telegram received from him.

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4. Other Ships-The Committee also discussed the position of the s.v. "Neath," the s.s. Gutenfels," and the s.s "Chile." the. s.v. Hellas," the 8.v. Paros.'

6.

8.8.

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5. s.s." Helgoland."-Mr. Wakely undertook to try to obtain an early decision from the Wheat Committee as to the extension of the cancelling date of this ship.

Bangor.”—Mr. Holt reported that Messrs. Elder Dempster and Com- pany were prepared to offer 40s. a ton for the coal on board this ship for West It was understood Africa, and also to load the ship from West Africa with cargo. that a prize crew could be provided from His Majesty's ship "Macedonia" to take the ship to West Africa, and the Committee thought that Messrs. Elder Dempster and Company should send a crew out to Sierra Leone to meet the ship there, and that the prize crew and the original crew should be sent home from that Colony at Before coming to a final decision on this point, the expense of the Government however, the Committee decided to await an estimate, which Mr. Holt undertook to obtain, as to the cost of doing this. In the meanwhile the Governor should be asked to requisition the ship temporarily and the cargo permanently, and he should be asked to report full details as to the crew when the arrangements had been completed.

7.

3.s." Erymanthos."-Mr. Holt reported that there were two cases of boxes and surveying instruments brought from Jamaica and addressed to the Director of Works, Admiralty, and that no information had been obtainable from the Admiralty as to the disposal of this consignment. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Director of Works on the subject.

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8 8.3. Emil."-The Secretary read a letter from the Director of Transports, and was instructed to reply that the ship was not unemployed, but had been fixed for a cargo of coal to 'Bordeaux, and that it was hoped to bring pit-props home. If

the Committee were informed of any cargoes for which the Transport Department needed tonnage they would be quite prepared to carry them.

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9. 8.5. 'Concadoro.”—The Secretary explained the action which had been taken as to the surety for the bond providing that no transfer to a foreigner should The Committee take place within a period of five years from the date of sale. agreed that the reference which Messrs. Lachlan and Company had obtained with regard to Mr. A. B. Dobell was satisfactory.

10. 8.8.

Emir."-The Secretary informed the Committee that Mr. Tennyson and he had interviewed Mr. Gordon Clark, Mr. Firminger, and Mr. Randall with regard to the sale of the hemp and sisal. The Committee agreed that the firm who had made representations with regard to this sale might be informed that they were satisfied that the sale had been satisfactorily managed; Messrs. Churchill and Sim might be similarly informed in due course.

11. Prize Courts Act. The Secretary reported to the Committee that this measure had now become law.

It was "Marta

was mentioned to the Committee. The position of the s.8. understood that proceedings were being taken in the Prize Court at Gibraltar, but Mr. Evans undertook to look up the matter and ascertain whether there was now any need to transfer the case to another Court.

12. 8.8. "Thor."--The Committee discussed a despatch which had been received from the Governor of Jamaica relative to the commission charged by Mr. Orrett for his services as agent. Mr. Holt undertook to ascertain the opinion of Messrs. Farrar, Groves and Messrs. Scruttons on the subject.

13. Conditions of Sale.-The Secretary raised a point as to whether interest should not be charged at a higher rate than 4 per cent. on deferred payments. Mr. Barstow undertook to make inquiries at the Treasury as to this.

14. 3.3. " Gibraltar.”—The Committee agreed to a proposal from Messrs. Houlder, Middleton and Company that they should refund ten dollars in respect of the medical fee of twenty dollars incurred at New York, the whole of which had been charged to the Committee.

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THE SIXTY-FIifth Meeting of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, the 8th of July, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present :-

1.

2.

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K.C.V.O. (Chairman).

MR. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.

MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

MR. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office.

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.

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S.S. Thor."-The Secretary read a memorandum which had been prepared by Mr. Holt, after consultation with other steamship managers, as to the commission charged by Mr. Orrett. The Committee came to the conclusion that their offer to Mr. Orrett was a reasonable one and that the remuneration claimed by him was excessive. They recommended that their views should be communicated to the Colonial Office for the information of the Governor. It was agreed, however, that if the Governor had pledged himself to Mr. Orrett the matter would have to be reconsidered.

3. 8.0. "Bellas."-The Committee decided to ask the Governor-General to make the necessary arrangements for engaging a crew for a voyage to the United Kingdom. It was thought that on her arrival here the "Bellas " might be employed in the coasting trade.