H.—26

6

i. Do they principally reduce the time ?—These are reductions. They are notes made, I presume, by Mr. Allport—by the department. With the original paper was the following letter :— Sic,— Featherston Street, Wellington, 14th May, 1895. This is to certify that Captain Jones has served in my employ as master of the steam-tugs " Mana " and " Duoo " for a continuous period of eight years. From entries in my books, I find that between September, 1886, and December, 1894, Captain Jones's sea-going service as master of the above-mentioned tugs amounts to over three years and two months. During the twenty-six years that Captain Jones has been in the employ of my late father (Captain W. R. Williams) and in that of myself, he has given every satisfaction, beiDg always strictly sober and attentive to his duties, and I find him a most trustworthy and competent navigator and shipmaster. Yours, &0., J. H. Williams, The Hon. the Minister, Marine Department. Owner steam-tugs " Duco " and " Mana." On the 4th June, 1895, the official number of the memorandum being 755/82, I find the following copy of a memorandum which had been sent to Captain James Jones : — Sib, Marine Department, Wellington, 4th Jut c, 1895. With reference to your application for a certificate of service as master home trade, I have the honour to state that your statement of service has been referred to the Collector of Customs for verification, and he reports that from the records in his office it appears that the time in which you actually served as master in the home trade is not sufficient to entitle you to a certificate of service under " The Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act, 1894." During some of the periods shown by you, the reoords show that Captains Bendall, Butt, Lawton, and Leys were in charge as master. Under these circumstances, I am unable to issue the certificate for which you have applied, and I return herewith your river-master's certificate and testimonials. I have, &c, Mr. James Jones, Wellington. W. T. Glasgow, Secretary. The next was from Mr. T. J. Walker, Assistant Surveyor: — Memo.: Collector. No traoe of ship's papers from 1887 to 30th June, 1890, can be found, but, from the clearances since 1890, it appears that, in nearly every case where the " Mana " and " Duco " made outside trips, Captain Jones was not in charge. The exceptions are as under: — 1890. 30 Dec. "Mana" to Orongorongo," J. Jones, master. Returned on 30th December. 1891. 3 „ " Terawhiti, „ „ „ 3rd December. 1892. 9 Jan. „ „ „ „ „ 13th January. 1892. 1 Dec. „ „ „ » Returned on same day. 1892. 5 „ 1892. 17 Nov. „ Otaki. „ „ Towing " Weathersfield" to Wellington. In other instances, where the vessels went outside, the following masters wero in charge—viz., F. Lawton, J. Leys, Wm. Bendall, R. Butt. There is no record in the Tide-Surveyor's Report-book of many of the trips claimed to have been made by Captain Jones. F. Walker, Aoting Tide-Surveyor. Ist June, 1895. There is a paper signed by Mr. McKellar, dated 22nd May, 1895 : — The Collector, Wellington. Will you please cheok over with the vessel's clearances the statement of service in the " Mana" and " Duco " given in the sheet attached to Captain Jones's application? Ido not think that the particulars of service given therein can be correct, as in nearly every instance when permission was granted by this department for the vessels to go beyond the harbour it was subject to the oondition that a sea-going master was to be in charge, and the Collector was informed of this at the time. Captain Jones only holds a river certificate. 22nd May, 1895. D. McKellar, for Secretary. There is a memorandum signed by Mr. A. Laing at the bottom : — Minute. Please see attached memo, from Mr. Walker, Acting Landing-Surveyor. Captain Jones does not appear to have the necessary service to enable him to get a certificate. A. Laing, Acting Collector. 3rd June, 1895. Then Mr. Glasgow writes : — Minute: The Collector, Wellington. With reference to the Landing-Surveyor's report attached, will you please furnish for the Premier a statement showing the trips on which Captains Leys, Lawton, Butt, and Bendall, or any Master other than Captain Jones, were in charge when the vessel went outside. W. T. Glasgow. From that date I identify myself with connection with the papers, and it is from my asking for that information you hay there are no records, and where the red ink marks are put and fixed definitely by Mr. Allport on the 6th June—that you have on record when Captains Lees, Bendall, and Allman were in charge, all in order. I find then a memorandum from myself to Mr. Glasgow, Secretary of Customs, and a letter from Mr. Glasgow, dated 21st February, 1896. Hon. Premier. I have had a further examination made of the service set forth by Captain Jones of the " Mana " and " Duco." Up to June, 1890, there are no records in the Customhouse to enable the service to be checked. Subsequently the trips are marked in red ink, with the result that it is found that if Jones took the " Mana " outside in many of the cases given in his list he did so without any authority or permit from this department. A permit to act as master outside the harbour was only given to him once, in the case of the " Mana " going to the " Weithersfield" at Waikanae. Permits were given only on condition that a certificated master was in command. The names of these masters are inserted in red ink on the document attached. In some cases the time is much exaggerated, as will be seen by the red-ink corrections. I have no hesitation in saying that the required service has not been proved, and I could not recommend the issue of a certificate. W. T. Glasgow, Secretary. Marine Department, Wellington, 21st February, 1896. Reply accordingly.—R.J.S., 26/2/96. On that I minuted " Eeply accordingly." ■ What is the date ?—26th February, 1896. Were you at this time acting as the Minister of Marine ? —Yes, in the absence of the Minister of Marine I would be taking his papers, or sometimes, when I wanted to ascertain if everything was going right, I asked for -the papers. When the first letter to Captain Jones was sent, there was.