THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 7TH MARCH, 1896.
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GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 82.
The following Finding of the Marine Court of enquiry into the loss of the British barque Lynnwood is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 7th March, 1896.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
FINDING.
We find that the British barque Lynnwood (80,035), of Windsor, N.S., of which JOHN A. B. Ross was Master, whose Certificate of Competency as Master is No. 2003 of Canada, left Shanghai in ballast for Manila on the 20th February last.
Fresh Northerly and North-Easterly winds with rain and overcast weather were experienced after leaving the Saddles, and on the morning of the 16th at 1.30 A.M. the ship struck on the North- East edge of the Pratas Shoal and was afterwards abandoned, the Master and crew taking to the boats were picked up first by the Russian ship of war Vladimir Manomach and afterwards by the German steamer Cassius which latter ship brought them in to Hongkong.
Having carefully considered the evidence of the Master and First Mate, the Court is of opinion that the ship was navigated in a proper and seamanlike manner though it would seem that if an addi- tional compass
had been placed on deck as a standard it might have assisted towards the more efficient navigation of the ship.
The cause of the casualty appears to have been that the distance run in the South-West course through the Formosa Straits was under-estimated placing the ship more Westerly than her supposed position when the course was altered to South by East, but the Patent Log was carefully used and due allowance appears to have been made for current drift and heave of the sea. No observation of the sun nor stars were possible during the voyage, and the position of the ship was depending on the dead reckoning only.
After the casualty everything was done that proper seamanship suggested and the ship does not appear to have been prematurely abandoned.
Under the circumstances the Court sees no reason to deal with the Certificates of the Captain or First Mate.
Given under our hands at Hongkong, this 5th day of March, 1896.
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Comd. R.N.,
President of Court.
A. HENDERSON.
J. WILLIAMSON.
W. J. DERMODY.
T. R. GALSWORTHY.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 60.
The following Lot of Crown Land at Bowrington will be sold by Public Auction on Monday, the 9th day of March, 1896, at 4 P.M.
Inland Lot No. 1,371.
For Particulars and Conditions of Sale see page 173 of the Government Gazette for 1896.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 22nd February, 1896.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
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