In compliance with their Lordships minute on the enclosed letter, dated
28th Ultimo, from the Colonial Office, on the subject of a claim on that Department for the sum
of £98.10.0 being dead freight on 20 tons of hay, &c, removed from the “
Thames City” at
Gravesend, previously to her departure for
Vancouver’s Island.
I beg to repeat that the
ship-
The Secretary
Of the Admiralty
&c& # 1 6 0 ;&c& # 1 6 0 ;&c
ship- Brother’s claim for the above named sum was in the first instance disallowed
on the ground that, although the stores in question were originally shipped in the
Thames City, they were not conveyed to their destination.
The brokers, however, appealed against this disallowance, urging “that these goods
were “shipped in regular form “in the docks, & were discharged “at
Gravesend, for the “public convenience, by the “orders of
Colonel Moody, “& in the presence of
Mr “King, Inspector of Shipping “at the Tower; that the
owner“owner at the time stated “that, as the room was “not refilled, & as he was “able
& willing & able to “carry the oats & hay, he “should consider himself “entitled to
the freight; “that he was assured most “distinctly that he would “receive the freight;”
and that “
Mr King could no “doubt testify that the “stores were landed soley “for the public convenience”
Mr King, before mentioned, having been called upon through the War Office for a report of
the circumstances
ofof the case, a copy of his statement was received in War Office letter of
13thAgust August 1861, in which letter an opinion was expressed that the brokers appeared to be entitled
to payment on account of the space left by the removal of the stores for the better
accomodation of the Royal engineers on board; and this view appearing to be justified
by the peculiar circumstances of the case, the Broker’s claim was allowed to be paid.
I may observe that
paymentspayments for what is termed “dead freight” have always been allowed when stores, for
which conveyance has been engaged, have been subsequently withdrawn, or not shipped,
for reasons beyond the control of the ship-owners.
I beg further to add that it is not known in this Department to whom the Stores landed
at
Gravesend were delivered, but, having been removed from the ship by order of
Colonel Moody, it is presumed that that officer
hashas accounted for them to the War Office.
The payment of ₤98.10.0 to the brokers of the “
Thames City” was made in the usual way by the Accountant General of the Navy.