THE HONGKONG
Government Gazette.
Published by Authority.
No. 33.
No. 120.
VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 11TH AUGUST, 1866.
VOL. XII.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
It is hereby notified, that The QUEEN has been pleased to grant the necessary Exequatur empowering JULIUS MENKE, Esquire, to act as Oldenburg Consul at Hongkong.
By Order,
́Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 10th August, 18€6.
W. H. RENNIE,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
No. 121.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Decision of the Marine Court of Inquiry into the loss of the British Ship Fairlight on a Reef between Rough Island and Broughton's Bay in the Miaco-Sima Group is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th August, 1866.
W. H. RENNIE, Acting Colonial Secretary.
FINDING.
The Court having deliberated and considered the evidence which has been adduced, conclude:-
First.--That the Buirlight was lost on the night of the 12th June last, on a Reef between Rough Island and Broughton's Play in the Mioco-Sima Group, and that one hundred and eighty-four Chinese and one European Passenger were drowned.
Second---That seeing the state of the weather and the well known dangerous nature of the Group, the Master acted with at imprudence (when on sighting the Island of Ku Kien-san at 5 P.M. and subsequently other Islands on the bow) in not tering his course so as to ensure the ship passing well to the Southward of them.
Third.---That after the ship was on the Reef, the Master used every exertion to save the lives of those on board and that the loss of life amongst the Chinese was in a great measure the result of their own folly in endeavouring to save their personal
inperty.
We therefore adjudge that the Certificate of Competency of William Bush be suspended for Six Months.
The Court feels itself called on to remark that in its opinion this case would have been more fully and more satisfactorily vestigated by either the Consul at Tamsui or the Cousul at Foochow, as the crew and passengers of the Fairlight could ave all been éxamined at either place; whereas the decision of the Court has been formed on the voluntary statement of the
The Court cannot refrain from expressing great admiration of the kindness to the crew and passengers saved from the Lalelight, shown by the inhabitants of the Miaco-Sima Islands.
As soon as they became aware of the wreck, they lent what aid they could towards saving life, and had they not been pvented by the dangerous state of the weather, they would probably have succeeded in rescuing every body. When those wore saved reached the shore, the Islanders evinced the greatest hospitality towards both Europeans and Chinese, giving in the best food and accommodation they could afford, and not only refused any direct remuneration, but gave up a large pantity of Opini and Gil washed ashore from the wreck, without shewing the least desire to appropriate any portion to
mselves.
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