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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

140

MINUTES.

10. s.s. "Bethania."- -The Committee considered certain accounts which had been forwarded by the Governor of Jamaica in connexion with this ship. They thought that maintenance charges should be paid for out of moneys held by the Court, but that any charges incurred in making the steamer ready for sea should be borne by the Admiralty.

21

"Erna Woermann.' 11. Steamships “Rufidji,” “Professor Woermann,' The Committee considered a telegram from the Governor-General of South Africa asking that these ships might be retained under the control of the Union Govern- "detained ship that was ment. They recommended that the "Rufidji," being a seized in South Africa, should be left under the control of the South African Govern- ment, unless she were required as a transport for the South African Contingent, that the "Professor Woermann" should be dealt with in accordance with the recommendations in their Fourth Interim Report,* and that the "Erna Woermann should be adjudicated upon in Cape Town and, if she were condemned, dealt with They suggested that the South in the same way as the "Professor Woermann."

African Government should also be informed that if an urgent case were made out for assistance in dealing with freights it would be considered on its merits. The Committee understood that the Colonial Office proposed to suggest to the Admiralty that a reply in the above sense should be sent to the Governor-General.

1215

THE SEVENTY-second MeetING of the Committee was held at the Colonial Office on Thursday, 5th August, 1915, at 3.15 p.m.

The following members were present:-

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR E. J. W. SLADE, K.C.I.E., K,C.V.O. (Chairman). MR. G. L. BARSTOW, C.B., Treasury. MR. H. W. MALKIN, Foreign Office.

MR. L. D. WAKELY, India Office.

MR. T. H. HOLT, Crown Agents.

MR. R. A. WISEMAN (Secretary).

1. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.

2. 8.8. Senegambia."-The Chairman informed the Committee that he had received certain figures from the Anglo-Persian Oil Company as to the terms on which they proposed to carry gunboats to the Persian Gulf. The Committee recom- mended that further particulars should be obtained before a final decision was reached.

**

3. 3.8.

Tandem."-Mr. Holt reported that this ship would complete her discharge at Marseilles on the following day, and that it was necessary to decide what her employment should be. The Secretary stated that he had received no reply from the Admiralty to the letter asking whether the ship might be sold, and it was In the circum- understood that it would cost £2,000 to bring her home in ballast. stances the Committee agreed to a proposal from the Federal Steam Navigation Company that she should be chartered for a voyage to Canada, which it was esti- mated would take two months and would bring in a profit of £8,000.

4.

8.8.

"Emil."-The Secretary reported that the Admiralty had agreed to the sale of this ship. It was decided to instruct Messrs. C. W. Kellock and Company to offer her for sale.

5. Constitution of the Prize Fund.-The Committee considered the draft of a despatch which it was proposed to send to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland on this subject. The Committee concurred in the terms of the draft, subject to certain alterations.

6. Cargo at Alexandria in which the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation have an interest.-The Secretary informed the Committee that the Pro- curator had not been able to accept the terms proposed on behalf of the bank. The bank was to be informed accordingly.

7. Other ships.-The Committee also discussed the following ships: 8.v. "Pax," 8.v. "Bellas," s.s." Helgoland,” 8.s. “Lucia.”

No. 4 in Appendix A.

64

MINUTES.

141

8. 3.8. Concadoro."-The Secretary informed the Committee that the pur- chaser of the ship had discovered that the dead-weight capacity of the ship was 300 tons less than had been stated in the auction bill. As it was stated on the bill that the particulars were not guaranteed the Committee decided not to admit any liability on their part.

9. Steamships "Hamm" and "Apolda."-The Secretary reported that no cargo of maize had been obtainable for the "Hamm," and that she was awaiting further orders in South Africa. The Committee considered a telegram which had been received from the Union Government stating that Ministers wished to use the The Committee ships to bring other than Government cargo from Australia. recommended that the Union Government should be informed that, as the carriage of the sleepers from Australia would take longer if other cargo was carried, His Majesty's Government felt strongly that this proposal should not be carried out.

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10. 8.3. "Koerber.”—Mr. Holt reported as to the fire which had taken place on this ship, and the Secretary pointed out that, since it had broken out while the ship was still lying in port, the damage to the ship would be recoverable from the under- writers. They recommended that the Foreign Office should telegraph to Alexandria to point out that the ship was insured and to ask for a report by mail. managers were to be instructed to load the further cargo which the Prize Court wished to send to the United Kingdom.

"Rostock," Derfflinger," Haidar Gracia," "Andros," 11. Steamships Pascha."-The Committee noted the valuations which had been given by Messrs. They approved C. W. Kellock and Company for the "Andros" and the "Rostock." the payment of Messrs. Kellock's charges in connexion with the valuations of the five ships referred to. The Secretary raised the question as to whether any propor tion of the expense of making out the inventory of the "Derfflinger" and the "Haidar Pascha" should be recovered from the Transport Department, but the Committee did not consider that this point need be raised.

12. Accounts.-The Secretary raised the question as to whether it was necessary to credit the Prize Account with the value of any coal or unconsumed stores on board prize ships when taken over by the Committee for trading purposes. It was thought that, as it would be very difficult to obtain any estimate of the value in these cases, the point might be left.

13. Steamships 'Barenfels " ̧and

Werdenfels."-The Committee agreed

that it was not necessary for Messrs. Waltons to make any further examination of the policies of insurance which had been taken out by Messrs. Grahams and Company under the terms of the agreement between the Admiralty and the Repre- sentatives. The policies might now be lodged with the Assistant Paymaster- General.

The Committee agreed that a claim made by the widow of a seaman who had Werden- died on the 18th May from smallpox contracted while serving on the s.s. fels "should be forwarded to the Representatives, who had indemnified the Admiralty against all claims while the ship was in their hands.

14. Conditions of sale.-The Secretary informed the Committee that the Foreign Office had stated that they had no objection to the raising of the rate of interest on deferred payments from 4 per cent. to 5 per cent.

15. 8.8.

Josephina."-The Secretary reported that the Falkland Islands Company had complained that they had been charged certain Prize Court expenses in connexion with the sale of the coal from this ship. The Committee recommended that the Governor should be asked to report upon the matter.

16. Tonnage for British Columbia.-The Secretary read a telegram which he had received from Mr. Ross, the Minister of Lands, asking for a further ship to carry lumber. The Committee regretted that they had no ships available.

17. 8.8. "Australia. -The Secretary reported that the British India Steam Navigation Company had now agreed to accept £300 in settlement of their claim for the renewal of the defective plate.

Lutzow,"

18. Submarine signal apparatus on the steamships "Helgoland,” “Hanna Larsen."-The Secretary informed the Committee that he had asked the Prize Claims Committee for information as to any action which they had taken

and

in the matter. It was agreed that no further action was required for the moment.

19.

8.0. "Terpsichore."-The_Committee approved the payment of a further £1,000 to Messrs. R. Thomas and Company.