631012-1899-Marine-Court-Finding-S-S-Esmeralda — Page 1

1699

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 28TH OCTOBER, 1899.

Mortality Returns from Macao for the weeks ended 17th and 24th September, 1899, were laid on the table. Mortality Statistics for this Colony for the weeks ended 23rd, and 30th September, 1899, were laid on the table. Mr. EDWARD OSBORNE addressed the Board and moved→

That the Board resume the practice of inserting advertisements in the Chinese newspapers warning those house owners in the Central Division of the City of Victoria, and in the Western Division of Kowloon, who have not complied with the lime-washing and cleansing bye-law, that the Board will rigorously prosecute all who are in default after the expiry of the time allowed by law.

The Vice-President seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Cessation of Plague.-The Medical Officer of Health addressed the Board and moved--

That the Board recommend the Government to instruct the Medical Officer of Health for the Port to issue clean Bills of Health for the Port of Hongkong, as a period of ten successive days has clapsed since the last case of Bubonic Plague.

Mr. EDWARD OSBORNE seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

The President moved-

——

That strangers be requested to withdraw.

The Vice-President seconded.

Question--put and agreed to.

Adjournment.-The Board then adjourned tili Thursday, the 26th day of October, 1899.

Confirmed at a regular meeting held this 26th day of October, 1899.

C. W. DUGGAN, Secretary,

J. M. ATKINSON,

President.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. -No. 595.

The following Finding of the Marine Court of Enquiry into the casualty attending the British Steam-ship Esmeralda, Official No. 95,859, on a voyage from Hongkong to Manila, is published.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 27th October, 1899.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary,

FINDING.

We find that the British Steam-ship Esmeralda, Official No. 95,859, of which ALEXANDER WILLIAM ROSS COBBAN is Master, the number of whose Certificate is 017,422 issued at Aberdeen, left Hongkong on a voyage to Manila viâ Amoy on the 14th September, 1899, at about 2 p.in.

That at about 10.30 p.m. the same day a shock was felt as of the ship striking some submerged body, the position of the ship at the time according to the evidence being approximately Chelang Point N.E. by N. 4 N. (true) 42 miles, the chart showing 14 fathoms and an even bottom.

The ship appears to have been properly manned and found provided with proper charts, and the course steered according to the evidence was a safe and proper one.

Having duly considered the evidence the Court is of opinion that the casualty is not to be attri- buted in any way to any default of the Master or Officers.

Given under our hands at Victoria, Hongkong, this 25th day of October, 1899.

R. Murray RUMSEY, Retd. Comdr., R.N.,

President.

RICHD. J. ROGERS, Staff Commander, R.N.

Joux Kynocu, Master S.S. Mausang.

P. T. REID, Master S.S. St. Jerome,

JAMES FOWLER. Master Br. S.S. Phra Chom Klao,