CO885-24 — Page 253

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

MIC.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

178

MINUTES.

19. Accounts. (a) The Secretary reported that the balance to the credit of the Committee's funds on the 31st of October was £327,327 78. 7d.

(b) 3.5. "Altair."-The Committee decided that all expenses incurred after the transfer to the Admiralty on the 21st of June should be borne by the Transport Department.

(c) The Committee considered that the Suez Canal tonnage certificate should be produced in verification of the charge for Suez Canal dues.

(d) s.s. "Rooke."-The Secretary was instructed to ascertain from the Assistant Paymaster-General what was the date of the repairs for which £500 was charged, and where they were effected.

(e) s.s. Concadoro."-The Committee considered various points arising out of the accounts of the s.8. Concadoro."

C

20. Request by the War Trade Department as to the work of the Committee. -The Committee approved a draft reply to be sent to the War Trade Department.

1540

THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH MEETING of the Committee was held at the Admiralty on Wednesday, the 17th of November. 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. W. J. EVANS, Admiralty.

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. C. TENNYSON, C.M.G., Colonial Office (who acted as Secretary in

the absence of Mr. Wiseman).

1. The minutes of the Eighty-sixth Meeting were confirmed.

2.

3.

8.0. Llandaff."-Mr. Holt reported that this vessel was still overdue.

3.0." Terpsichore."-Mr. Holt reported that this vessel had suffered certain injuries in Penarth Roads which would necessitate her returning to Cardiff for repairs. The High Commissioner had been asked to extend the cancelling date. The Committee did not consider it advisable to make any claim on the Government of Canada for the detention.

4.

8.0.

Clevedon."-The Committee approved the sale of the auxiliary water

tanks on this vessel.

5. s.v. "Neath."-The Committee decided that this ship should be fixed for logwood from Jamaica or Belize, if possible; otherwise to Australia for wheat.

8. 3.8." Erymanthos."-The Secretary reported that this ship had been handed over to the Transport Department.

Mr.

7. s.s." Koerber."-Mr. Holt reported that a question had arisen whether a refund could be obtained from Trinity House of light dues for this vessel. Evans undertook to make inquiries on the subject.

C

8. 9.8. 'Tandem.”—Mr. Malkin undertook to make certain inquiries about the payment of the freight on this vessel.

8.8.

9. "Grahamland.”—Mr. Holt reported that this vessel was still held up outside the Panama Canal.

10. Steamships “Rajaburi” and “Quarta.”—Mr. Holt undertook to arrange the insurance of these vessels against protection and indemnity risks.

11. 8.8. "Kawak."-

"The Committee approved the 7th of December as the date for the sale of this vessel.

12. Conditions of sale of Prize vessels.-The Committee considered a letter from the Admiralty Marshal and decided that the 25 per cent. of the purchase money which was to be left on mortgage, under the amended conditions, ought to be paid as

MINUTES.

179

a single instalment at the end of twelve months. It was also desirable to include a stipulation that the insurance policy should be deposited with the Admiralty pending payment of the final instalment. The Secretary was instructed to communicate with the Admiralty Marshal and Messrs. Waltons accordingly.

13. Submarine signalling apparatus.-Mr. Barstow undertook to make further inquiries on this subject.

14. s.o." Yawry."-The Committee considered the finding of the Naval Court on the captain and two officers of this vessel. The Secretary was instructed to

forward a copy of the record to the Board of Trade.

15.

3.8. Emir." The Committee considered an account which had been received from Messrs. Churchill and Sim for the sale of forty-two bales of silk waste er this vessel. The Secretary was instructed to ask Messrs. Churchill and Sim why the sale had been so long delayed.

16.

L 8.8. Marina."-The Committee considered a letter from the Admiralty Marshal with regard to the claim by the Collector of Customs in Nigeria for fees in respect of the detention of this vessel. It was decided that in any case no fees would be payable for any period after the date of the requisition, since the Admiralty Marshal's responsibility for the vessel presumably ceased on that date.

17. Insurance of cargoes, Gibraltar.-The Committee approved a letter which had been written to the Admiralty asking them to pay the fire insurance premium on the copper which had been brought home on the "Kalymnos," "George R.," and Adolphus." The Committee decided that the premium on the cargo of hides requisitioned by the Admiralty ex the s.s. "Marta should not be paid until adjudi- cation. If the cargo was condemned the premium would have to be paid by the Committee.

18. Accounts. (a) The Committee considered the accounts to the 31st October, which showed a balance of £327,327 7s. 7d., while the undertaking by the Transport Department of the Admiralty amounted to £1,683,382 17s. 8d.

(b) s.s. "Rooke," second voyage. The Committee decided to accept the charge for £500 for repairs at Middlesbrough. The Committee considered a question by the Assistant Paymaster-General as to whether the decision recorded in the Eighty- fifth minutes, as to the discounting of freight payable by three months' bills, involved any attempt to recover the loss of £72 referred to in the Assistant Pay- master-General's letter to Mr. Holt of the 8th September. The Committee decided that no attempt need be made to recover this loss.

(c) s.8. "Rajaburi." The Committee considered a report of the Board of Trade Surveyor on the accounts for the repair of this ship received from the Governor of Hong Kong. They decided that Messrs. Alfred Holt and Company should be asked to give their opinion on the account of the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company.

(d) 8.8. Paros."-The Committee considered that all expenses incurred in con- nexion with the officers and crew between the 11th of March and the 21st of April, the period of the requisition service, should be borne by the War Office. The Com- mittee decided that the account of the Alexandria Engineering Works for repairing the vessel must be paid. The Committee approved the payment of a despatch

gratuity to the railwaymen at Karachi of 200 rupees. The Committee decided not to question the action of the managers in cabling money to Port Said to pay the Port Said and Suez Canal Company's account. The Committee approved payment to the managers of 11 per cent. on the freight (less 1 per cent. shrinkage) that would have been earned if the vessel had not been sunk. The Committee authorized the payment of the balance of the disbursements, of which £9,000 had already been advanced, subject to an allowance of £177 10s. 5d. which was being claimed by the managers from the Indian Wheat Committee for a general average.

N 2