November 3, 1900.]
for energetic continuance of the efforts to dis- cover the still unknown dangers in Eastern Seas. It should not be forgotten, moreover, that the tonnage of vessels in these waters has increased enormously of late years, and that the beaten tracks are not always followed. The navigation by seagoing vessels is, too, carried on much closer to the coast than formerly, and the China coast is noted for pinnacle rocks, which dangers are very difficult to discover.-I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully.
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary.
(Enclosure./
List of Uncharted Dangers Discovered
During Past Ten Years.
12th June, 1893.-A rock with 4 fathoms on it at low water discovered in the channel between Waglan and Sunking Islands, just outside Hongkong.
29th August, 1893.---A rocky patch of 6 to 10 fathoms, lying midway between Haitan and Turnabout Islands, reported.
20th March. 1894. Shoal patch, having from 6 to 7 fathoms fine sand, in Shanghai District, lat. 321830" N., long. 122-27 E, reported by British steamer Fedung. Admiralty chart
shows from 18 to 20 fathoms.
26th December, 1894-British steamer Tai- sang reported having touched some danger with Chapel Island bearing S. 67 E. true distant. 41 miles, where Admiralty chart No. 1760 shows between 10 and 11 fathoms.
17th September, 1897-Bocky patch about two-third of a cable long in N.E. by E. and 8.W. by S. direction, by about one-third of a cable wide and having two pinnacles near its middle on which there is a depth of not more than 3 feet of low water of spring tides, dis- covered south of mid-channel in Malowchow pass.
6th March. 1898.-Rock with a depth on it of 10 feet 11 inches at low water discovered in Amoy harbour,
28th April, 1898.-Rocky patch about half a cable long in a N. to S. direction by about of a cable wide and having two pinnacles, about 30 yards apart, near its centre on which there is not a depth of more than 4 feet at low water of spring tides, discovered in Cow's Horn Pass, near northern entrance to Haitan Straits rnd named the Namoa Rock. (The steamer Namoa struck on this then uncharted danger on 3rd October 1827, and became a total wreck.) 14th February, 1899.—A rock was discovered by S. M. S. Kaiser in Samsah Bay, lat. 26.37 42 N and long. 119-4638" E. on which there is only a depth of about 34 metres at low water. where Admiralty chart No. 1988 shows a depth of 10 fathoms. (This danger was in July following marked by a black conical buoy.) 10th April, 1899.-The master of the S. S. Chingtu reported to have grounded on this date on an uncharted shoal off North coast of Australia, approximate hearings being lat. 10:47 8.. long. 132-33′ E. Cape Croker bearing S 18 E. distant about eleven miles,
1st to 8th July, 1899.-H. M. S. Bonaren- ture grounded on an unseen rock at entrance to Korniloff Bay on the coast of Corea.
21st October, 1899-Two rocks discovered southward of Namoa Island, coast of China, having 18 feet of water of spring tides: They have been named respectively Tamsui Rock and Kaipan Rock.
-
11th June, 1900. The master of S. S. Keilin reported that his ship struck bottom at 4.50 a.m. on 4th June with East Point Namoa Island bearing N true and Three Chim- ney Bluff bearing S 70 W true, the vessel then drawing at the point of contact (bilge keel) about 14 feet. Admiralty chart No. 1957 shows at this place 14 fathoms water.
(A notice to mariners, issued 10th August, announces, however, that their locality was care- fully sounded and swept with weight lines and no obstruction found, the least depth obtained being 12 fathoms.)
PROPOSAL FOR BETTER CONTROL OF MAS- TERS. ETC., OF STEAM LAUNCHES.
Peninsular & Oriental Steam & Navigation Co.
Hongkong, 15th October, 1900.
DEAR SIR,
|
With reference to the attached memoran- dum, which I have been asked to place before
CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADË REPORT.
351
Edward OSBORNE.
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce
Hongkong 24th October, 1900.
the committee of the Chamber, I proposed at | evidences of his identity. Further it should the next meeting to suggest that the Govern- be illegal to employ any man, coxswain, ment be approached with a view to the adoption | engineer, fireman or sailor, without such of a system of “continuous record certificate certificate, and without the employment being for the master and engineers of steam launches first recorded on the back. ho'ding certificates of competency from the Harbour Department, such certificates to be a record of service from the time the certificates of competency were issued: they should specify place of birth and other particulars of family, &c., every change of employment and character given by each employer, as well as reason for leaving a photograph should accompany the certificate. also a description of the man. and, if necessary, these latter should be renewed from time to time.
All endorsements on the certificate should be made by the Harbour Master. and a duplicate copy should be kept for future reference at the Harbour Department.
If the same system could be extended to em- brace all firemen and sailors, so much the better,
but even if it is confined to masters and en- pineeps it will be some kind of protection to the launch owners, who are apparently in future to be responsible for any acts of piracy com mitted by their launches, no matter whether the crew are implicated or not.
Perhaps you will be so kind as to ask per. mission of the chairman to circulate this letter amongst the Committee, so that members may come to the meeting prepared to make any amendments that occur to them.
I am, dear sir,
Yours faithfully.
A. M. MARSHALI..
SIR,
I have the honour to inform you that, at Monday's meeting of the General Committee of this Chamber, the following resolution was unanimously adopted .—
*
That the Government be approached by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce with a view to adoption of a system of 'continuous record certificates for the masters and engi- neers of steam-launches holding certificates of compotency from the Harbour Department, such certificates to be a record of service from
the time the certificates of competency were issued."
The need for more effective control over these more than is at present possessed by launch owners has been gradually forced on their notice by the ease with which they secure fresh em- ployment after discharge for misconduct or gross carelessness, it being, under existing cir- cumstances, a simple matter to obtain a new post within a week after discharge. If the certificates issued to them were continuous, such lapse being duly recorded therein änd change of employment registered, some guarantee for their good conduct and officiency would be provided.
The SECRETARY.
Another consideration, and that of no little Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.importance, is the growing frequency of seizures
(Enclosure.)
New Launch Ordinance.
The Government will have power to compel launch coxswains to deposit $1,000 security and although they may not exercise this power with regard to European owned Launches, it is un- likely that they will refrain from doing it, sooner
or later.
In that event we shall have no alternative but to find the security ourselves because the coxswains could not as a rule find $100 security, much less $1,000.
The evil lies in the fact that these men (who come of the fishermen class) are not sufficiently under control. Having no family village like other Chinese, they cannot be so easily traced through friends or relatives. Consequently they are coxswains one day, pirates the next, and fishermen the next, and the police would find it difficult to get a man they wanted.
So that presuming the Government compel the owner to deposit $1,000 (for that is what it really amounts to it simply means that if a Coxswain turns pirate, the owner of the launch not only runs a risk of losing his launch, but $1.000 as well. Under existing arrangements, the owner, be he European or Chinese has ab- solutely no power over the men.
The demand for their services is so great that they never want for employment; and their wages are so high that they can afford to be idle for months. The coxswain can smash up the Launch, the engineer can ruin the engines. and the only redress is to have their certificates suspended, which means they take a holiday and get another billet as soon as they get back. In fact, I have heard that it is possible for a man, whose certificate has been suspended, to go to the Harbour Office and get another certificate, owing to their being no efficient system of identification.
of steam-launches for piratical purposes, and the consequent necessity for having persons in charge whose antecidents are well known and who are not likely to be in collusion with_pirates.
The Committee hope, therefore, that His Excellency the Governor will join with them in recognising that steam-launch owners are not at present sufficiently protected against liability to loss and disaster through the action of the persons in charge of these vessels, and that some effective measures should be taken to bring them under proper supervision and con. trol. If the continuous record system could be extended to the sailors employed on the steam. launches, a still better guarantee for the safety of those craft would be gained.
The Harbour Master and the Captain Super- intendent of Police would, it is believed, find little difficulty in working out the details of such a system, which should, of course, as at present, provide for the attachment of a photo- graph of the holder to each certificate, to be renewed as often as may be deemed necessary ♪ for purposes of identification.
I have the honour be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. CHATTERton Wilcox,
Secretary.
COLONIAL SECRETARY,
SUPREME COURT.
October 30th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR T. BERCOMBE SMITH (ACTING PUisne Judge),
BADECKER V. GIRAULT In this case Messrs. Radecker & Co., mer. chants, sought to recover from Mr. G. Girault, merchant, the sum of 8520 due for 80 cases of beer, at 86.50 per case, alleged to have been sold
What is wanted is a "Continuous record Certificate" such as that which I believe is being introduced by the Board of Trade at home for seamen, whereby a man's career can be and delivered. traced from start to finish.
Every change of employment, every offence committed by the man, should be endorsed by the Harbour Master (not the employer) ou the
certificate.
Mr. Bowley appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr. Brutton for the defence.
Mr. Bowley said that on the 16th October Mr. Kahn, who was an assistant to the defendant, went to the plaintiff's office and raid he wanted to buy some beer. It was then arranged between Mr. Marten of the plaintiff's firm and Mr. Kahn that about 100 cases of beer should be sold to the defendant at the price of $6.50 per case. The plaintiff had the cases in the godown, and they were ready for the defendant to take them whenever he wished to A record of the endorsement should be kept | do so. The beer included three different labels, by the Police so that the man cannot destroy each case containing four dosen quarts. No ob....
Employers should be given the opportunity of having instances of neglect endorsed on the certificate. The photo should be changed onco A full description of the manˇ(such as that given to soldiers) should be stated on the certificate so that he can be effectually indenti- fied.
a year.
!
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