INTERNED GERMAN STEAMERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 7

INTERNED GERMAN STEAMERS

CIRCULAR LETTER TO CONSIGNEES.

In respect to the interned! enemy vessels at Java which'have cargoes or part cargoes for New Zealand, Mr. H. D. Viokery, secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, has issued the following requests to consignees:— . 1. To immediately make arrangements with Messrs. Izard and Weston for the signing of the agreement and power of attorney in favour of Mr. J. M. Paxton. 2. To pay to the secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce a depositof 5 per cent, on the c.i.f. value of the goods on account of general and legal expenses to be incurred, up to the point of transhipment (a portion of. this may be afterwards returned). 3. To lodge with the secretary of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce all policies of insurance, invoioes, 'and all copies of bills of lading duly endorsed. The surrender of the complete set of bills of lading is demanded; any copies missing must be replaced by guarantees (endorsed by a bank -where possiblo). 4. To agree to pay a general average deposit of not exceeding 20 per cent, (only 5 per cent, may be asked on some steamers), in case such a course be recommended by Mr. Paxton in the event of the ultimate failure of legal proceedings in the Dutch Courts. The -undertakings required under Clause 3 are embodied in declarations required to be signed before a Justice of the Peace. There are three forms of declaration: —(1) To the agents of the Nord- Deutscher Lloyd ("Roon"); (2) to the agents of the German-Australian Steamship Co. ("Stolberg," "Lubeck," and "ijlineberg ); (31 to the agents of Steamship Co. ("GV'-.jof?"). ... i : \t/.'#9fenees 'are requested to take partiiipifir ?:"o that the correct declarations are p;ai ; r. " :3®urkaoe. —Consignees are aovised_w> coKtvit their .underwriters regarding insuit'jsice, as in most' cas'es additional coyer will be necessary, on cargo being transhipped in Java. .The Sydney Chamber of Commerce, under date February 5, -writes to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce as follows;— . . "We are to-day in receipt of cable advices that the difficulties regarding these vessels have, been practically surmounted, and that the steamers will resume their voyages at an'early date, Consignees will be able to prove ownership either in South Africa or in Australian port of discharge as may suit their purpose best. Tour consignees ■will no doubt find Sydney the most convenient place to prove ownership, and for that purpose it will be necessary for them-to send their agents liore invoices and bills of lading, with aJiy further documents which ' may bo_ deemed necessary. In all probability it would be wise to attach paid drafts to 'tho documents sent over, and_ perhaps execute a statutory declaration of ownership. The Commonwealth Crown Solicitor here is not very exacting in tho matter of proof of ownership, unless theje are some suspicious circumstances. Although the cargo is carried under two bills of lading to New Zealand, it will ftavo to bo claimed in Australia-, a-iui onward freight will bo for consignee s account in addition to tho cost of ni in'g tho vessels across from South Africa."