Confidential
Hong Kong,
4th October 1906
Government House.
I have the honour to enclose in clear versions of my telegram and of Your Lordship's of the 6th inst; and of subsequent telegrams to and from the Commander in Chief, China Station, on the subject of the appointment of a naval officer, with previous experience of the mercantile marine, to act as Harbour Master at Hongkong during the absence on leave of the Assistant Harbour Master and pending the appointment of a successor to the late Captain A.L. Aaronsen as an officer of Harbour Master.
2. Your Lordship will see that Sir Arthur Moore has proposed for the acting appointment Lieut. Beckwith, Navigating Lieutenant of "Druid", and that I have accepted this proposal, and that the officer named will be available after the 19th instant.
3. Lieut. Beckwith has served in his present rank since October 1905 when he joined the Navy under the Order-in-Council of the 20th June 1905 after 4 years' experience in the Mercantile Marine. My reasons for mentioning his name and that of Lieut. Butterworth in my telegram to Sir Arthur Moore were that I knew both, previously to receiving commissions in the Navy, had been in the Merchant service and that I had heard good reports of both from officers under whom they had served in H.M. Ships.
4. To secure the best officer I could for the temporary appointment, which is one of great importance to the Colony, I thought it advisable to offer the full salary attached to the post, viz: at the rate of £780 per annum.
5. The question of filling the permanent appointment presents some difficulty. The present Assistant Harbour Master, Mr. H. Jaglar, who is 45 years of age and served in the Royal Navy from 1878 to 1898 when he resigned his commission, joined the Colonial service in the post he now occupies in September 1899. He has since then on three occasions for periods of 15, 6, and 3 months respectively acted as Harbour Master.
6. On the retirement of Capt. Rumsey, Mr. Basil Taylor applied for the post and in forwarding his application, the then Governor, Sir Henry Blake, stated in his dispatch No. 404, dated the 24th August 1903, as follows: - "During the period in which Mr. Basil Taylor has discharged the duties of Harbour Master in the absence of Capt. Rumsey, he has given entire satisfaction both to the Government and to the public. I consider him a long way the most suitable officer for the appointment." When about a year later, I forwarded in my dispatch No. 652 dated the 29th September 1904, an application from Taylor to be considered for any other similar post which might become vacant, I stated that he was "capable, zealous, and worthy of promotion" and that the recent appointment of Capt. Barrie Laurence to be Harbour Master at Singapore made it improbable that there would be any promotion for Mr. Taylor in this Colony for some years to come. About 6 months later, Taylor applied to the Secretary of State for the appointment of Harbour Master at Singapore. In forwarding this application in my despatch No. 72 of the 13th March 1905, I referred to the favourable opinion of Taylor's capacity I had expressed in my previous dispatch, and to the experience he had gained in the Harbour Department of this Colony. A further application from Taylor for the Administrationship of Labuan was forwarded in my despatch No. 251 of the 19th August, in which I confined myself to referring to my previous communication.
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✔ have in honour to Endosc En claiv versions of my telecam and of Your Lordships of the 6th inst; and of ruboqquent tilgrams to and from An Commander in Chief Churia Station, on the subject of the appoutinent of a navel officer, with previous Expuicure of the mercantile marine, to ad as Harbor Master as Hongkong during la absinu on bave of an Apistand Harbour Master and punduig the apponitinent of | a vacupor to the lake Captain is. A.L.Aaruurfawrenst:&N us an office of Hasboin Master.
2. Your Lordship wil sa that die Arthur Moox has poposid for the acting apporstmand dicut Chachio to Beckwithi «Vavigatuig litutchand of Arts. "Dradeni, this I have accepted this proposal, and that the offeur hamed wil be available after the 19th unstand.
*uishwne
3. dient Seckwith has served in his preous rank vuin the of of October 1895 when he subend la Navy undu Un Oleriii-Council of the 20th June 1595 after hesh Years Expulienu un tu Mercandile Harine. My reassus for mentioning his hart and that of hiend Butterwortu in my tebyam to Su Arkum Mome
th 7 those I knew this both, prevism & riccivity commißions as lin Navy. date, had been in un Herchaud suuree and this I had heard good reports of both from Scutor offiuno andu ishom tay had duock on MVT Ships
on the same
4. To secure the bus offien & could for the temporary appointment, which is one of quees improbanus to the Colony, Chorght & advisable to offer the futs milies paty approved for in formisant post viz: al con rate of £ 780 per annum.
5. The question of filling Un pormancut appointment presunto to my minted. Some difficulty. The proud Apistand sacrumMastu MBR.H.Jagler who is 45 years of age and suved in the Royal Davy from 1878 to 1898 when he resigned his commision, found tin folonial service in the pot he now ocmpics in September 1899 Voc has suise Chan on the occasions for periods of 15, 6 and 3 mouths Uspectively acted as Harbour Madu.
which
6. Ou An rebisament of Caps Rumsey for You applied for it and in forwarding and recommander, in application, Sex Vienny Blaks
bom that preilion ui 1903 M'Taylor. 353
Stated in his dispatch No 404, dated on 24.
"Ayurš 1903, so jollows: ~" Dwainy ties period as which Ah Basil Taylor has dischayed the dubice of Harbour Master in the abscious of Caps Rumay he has given Entire satifaction boll & the Povernment to las dublic a You cousin him as long respect a suitable office for the appocitement, when about a year taker I forwarded in my dispatch No 652 dend in 29th Sipesuber 1904 ̧u application 574 at from of Jaylor to be isommiskator y debcrare on to be given any other vemilan port n
mighs
become vacauf, √ vlated that he was "capable, zealous and worthy of promotions" and that the crent appoiútues of Gain, Barus Laurence to be Harbour Masten aitory tory made it sniphobath that this would be any promalia boffu A Jaylen in this Colony for some years to come. About 6 months later, Taylor applied to the Seadany of State for tin appouitmens Masten Alîməçud at Suigapore. Ju fousaidity this application tú my despatch No 72 of the 13 Maul 1905 I referred to the favourable opinion of Jaylor' capacity I had Expreped in my previous dispatch, and to the Expericia he had Joy Experieure For
gained in the Harbour Department of this (Llony. A fumbles application from Taior for the Adminis hatreship of Labuan was fousanded in my despatch No 251 5 of the 19th, Ayond in which I confined map of to referring to my communication haus witty The Rishton
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