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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH APRIL, 1896.
Bubonic Plague.-Certain correspondence having reference to the steps which had been taken by the President to cope with this disease was read and unanimously agreed to.
The Vice-President moved—
That the Board appoint, under the provisions of Ordinance 11 of 1895, a Select Committee consisting of the Pre- sident, the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Medical Officer of Health to supervise and arrange all matters connected with the cleansing and lime-washing of houses and also house to house visitation with- in the areas infected by Bubonic Plague.
The President seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
House Cleansing.-The Medical Officer of Health reported that during the fortnight ended on the 7th April, 588 houses had been cleansed by the special cleansing gangs.
The Secretary reported that since the 1st of March he had received 1,120 notices of intention to cleanse and lime-wash 3,250 houses.
Adjournment. The Board then adjourned till Thursday, the 23rd day of April, 1896.
Read and confirmed this 23rd day of April, 1896.
FRANCIS A. COOPER,
President.
HUGH MCCALLUM, Secretary.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 151.
The following Finding of the Marine Court of Enquiry into the stranding of the British steamer Exe, Official No. 94,309, is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 24th April, 1896.
FINDING.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary,
We find that the British S.S. Exe, Official No. 94,309, of which HENRY WILLIAM PELL WAS Master, whose Certificate of Competency is 11,732, left Hongkong on 8th April last bound for Saigon. the ship being in ballast and drawing 15 feet aft and 8 feet forward.
That almost directly after leaving the harbour a thick fog was experienced in consequence of which the ship was anchored in Lamma Bay.
The following morning the weather having improved the ship was weighed and a course shape l S. by W. (Mag.).
After passing Lingting Island, the course was altered to S.W. by S. (Mag.), and this was expected to take her 1 miles clear of Heung Kong Chau of the Samoun Group of Islands.
That the weather became very thick again shortly before 7 A.M., and, a few minutes after, the ship struck, and it was found that she had stranded on the S.E. extremity of the Eastern Island of the Samoun Group.
The Court has carefully considered the circumstances which lead to the stranding of the vessel as laid before them in the evidence, and have come to the conclusion that the casualty was directly due to an error in the position of the ship when the last course was set.
They are of opinion that the estimated distance off Lingting was erroneous, and that in conse- quence of this error the course afterwards set was not a proper one, and they consider that the Master should have taken steps to assure himself of his position at that time, seeing that the circumstances of the weather demanded caution, and also admitted of some such steps being taken.
The attention of the Court is directed to the fact that there was only one Officer on deck besides the Captain-the Chief Officer who was fully employed with the anchors and cables-the remaining Officers were below having been on deck watch during the night. The Court considers that the Master should have had at least one Officer with him on the bridge in the circumstances.
The conclusion which the Court finds itself obliged to come to is that the ship was not navigate l with due care which the circumstances of the weather demanded, and therefore they consider that the Captain is deserving of censure, but they are not disposed to say that this omission amounted to such wrongful act or default as to cause them to deal with his Certificate.
After the casualty all was done that was possible with the object of saving the ship and the officers and crew appear to have conducted themselves in a satisfactory manner.
Given under our hands at Hongkong this 22nd day of April, 1896.
R. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Com., R.N.,
President of the Court.
C. R. II. ROBINSON, Staff Commander, R.N. HENRY PYBUS, Lt., K.N.R.
J. H. RINDER, Sub-Lt. R.N.R.
J. A. MORRIS, Master S.S. Chow Tai.
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