CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894 — Page 444

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Company point out that, the importance of light and air for

the sorting work being borne in mind, there are obvious advan-

tages in the present system whereby the Post Offices are placed,

as provided for in their Contract with this Department, on

the uppermost deck"; adding that this is the first occasion on

which any damage of the kind has occurred.

The Postmaster General apprehends that Lord Ripon may be dis-

posed to agree with the Company in thinking that the circum-

stances of this isolated occurrence scarcely warrant an alter-

ation of the present system.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

A. Buxton Forman

The Superintendent,

P & O S.N. Company,

Hongkong.

Sir,

REC?

S.S. *Rosetta"

Hongkong.

C.0.

1013

P & O S.N. Company,

Rec 17 JA 94

19th November, 1893

I have the honour to report on the morning of the 15th

instant the ship was turned to the southward on account of a

falling barometer, a heavy gals lowing and the wind veering

from North to W.N.W. At 5.30 a.m. a heavy sea struck the

ship on her starboard beam causing the following damage.

Flooded Captain's cabin, wheelhouse, breaking down the

2nd Saloon companion flooding the alleyways on both sides,

flooded several cabins including the Post Office doing much

damage on account of the Mails laying about on the deck, left

there from sorting the previous day, also flooding the

Ladies' Saloon in the Second Saloon. The starboard skid

sidelight also had a pane of glass broken and a large quan-

tity of water entered the Post Office that way.

Every assistance was given the Mail Officer in whose

charge the Mail was at the time. Both drying rooms being

cleared out and placed at his disposal. I am informed by

him

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