1980. What is the date of the last complaint?—October, 1848.
1981. Will you state the general grounds of the complaints; were the complaints of the state of accommodation and the conduct of the officers on board, or of the time that the vessels occupied upon the voyage, whether beyond the limited time or not?—The first complaint states that “Lady Mary Wood” was much out of repair.
1982. What is the date of that?—The 23rd of August, 1846.
1983. From whom is that complaint?—Captain Ellice, the superintendent of the packet service at Southampton.
1984. He is a Government officer?—Yes; the complaint was that in consequence she exceeded the contract time by nineteen hours.
1985. By nineteen hours on the whole voyage, or between England and Suez?—The statement is, that in her last voyage from Hong Kong to Ceylon she exceeded the contract time by nineteen hours.
1986. How is it that the Government agent at Southampton makes a report of the state of a vessel in the Indian Seas; did he transmit a complaint from somebody else?—He transmitted a letter from the Admiralty agent on board.
1987. What was the result of that complaint?—“The contractor was acquainted that the Board of Admiralty had been informed that the ‘Lady Mary Wood’ was getting exceedingly out of repair, and requested to be informed when a vessel, such as is required by the contract, will be substituted for her. The contractors stated in reply that the information furnished to the Admiralty was exaggerated; this vessel had no defects but what could be made good on her return to Hong Kong, defects mostly caused by the severity of the passage from that port to Point de Galle; and they inclosed a copy of the carpenter’s report, and extract of the commander’s letter. They further stated, that (as the Admiralty is, no doubt, aware) in consequence of the recent demand in engineering and shipwright work, the builders have not possibly been able to fulfil their contracts in point of time; and the result is, that of six steam ships of 450-horse power building for them, not one is yet completed, though contracted to be delivered within the last year. They fully expect to be able to despatch one of those vessels in substitution of the ‘Lady Mary Wood,’ in November next, and a second of the same class and power about three months after, in substitution of the ‘Braganza.’”
1988. What is the date of that letter?—The 28th of August.
1989. What is the date of the complaint?—The 23rd of August.