CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 519

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cancelling the agreement without notice, has bem referred to Lesers. S. R. and Company, Limited, and we still await their reply. You have no doubt received advices from the

new agents with rufe ence to the consignent ex M/V

"Pana".

The Godowns both at Fati and Hong Kong have

be taken over by them and there remains in the Hong

Kong Godown a balance of the old stock ex "Liddesdale" 2 of some 9000 cases which we hope to clear shortly. In the ordinary course of business this would have been clear-

ed long since but under telegraphic instructions received from Messrs. 5. R. and Company in March sales were restrict- ed until the arrival of the new cargo and unfortunately the demand at present is not very brisk. It is of course

desirable that the old cargo should be cleared off before any of the new stock is sold, but the new agents do not approve of this course. They originally suggested that future deliveries should consist of 10% old cargo and

20% new and now they are willing to deliver equal pro-

portions of old and new cargo but to this we will not agree

and it may be necessary to cable you for instructions on this point. We are anxious to close up the consignment and will render account sales at the earliest possible

date." It appears that S.T. have tried to make further

trouble.

Hong Kong. Your observations under this heading have been noted. Lo is of the opinion that in the Fati Godownl

the water stands some 6 to 8 cases high. We have not yet received any confirmation but later on hope to have further detalls. One cannot yet travel by the motor boat as the stream is still too strong and we fear that our boat will

not

not be able to stand the strain. Lo's house was of

course entirely submerged and much damage has been

done to him.

I should like to point out that the retention

also of my letter book in Hong Kong was not the

fault of the Canton Establishment for through my pe-

tition to the Government with regard to A. R. in order

the to continue to carry on the petroleum business, Authorities attention was attracted and thereupon S. T. took the matter into their hands. Further it should be noted that I was away from Hong Kong be- fore one knew of the existence of the Letter Book and the saine was not discovered for three weeks after

I left Hong Kong.

(The next paragraph was concerned with the cus- tody of Mr. Steger's silver.) retroleum. (This paragraph was concerned with the petroleum which has been damaged by water in the Fati Godown and the writer goes on to point out that trade use is not made of the Godown and the goods can be piled much more closely which would save con- siderable expense and they would have been able also

to store paper.

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