THE CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES AND
MESSRS. ELDER, DEMPSTER & COMPANY

FOR A

STEAMSHIP SERVICE BETWEEN JAMAICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM.

DATED 19TH APRIL, 1900.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty.
May, 1900.

DIEU ET

QUI

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INDEX

TO CLAUSES OF CONTRACT.

Clause.

Page.

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14

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Contractors to provide, work, and maintain a Service of Fruit, Passenger and
Mail-carrying Steamers for ten years, from the 16th day of January, 1901,
between Jamaica and the United Kingdom
Contractors to provide Steamers for the Service...
Each Steamer is to be a British Vessel of 3,000 tons up to 16th January,
1904, and afterwards of 5,000 tons-To have a speed of not less than
15 knots an hour-To be furnished with cargo space suitable for con-
veying fruit-To have accommodation for 40 first-class and 15 second-
class Passengers up to 16th January, 1904, and afterwards for 100 first-
class and 50 second-class Passengers. To be fitted with electric light and
properly equipped, and to be subject to the approval of the Colonial
Government

Each of the voyages to be according to a time-table, approved by the
Colonial Government. Approved time-table to be published. Time-table
not to be altered without the consent of the Colonial Government
Contractors are to carry Passengers at fixed rates
Contractors are to purchase at fixed prices all bananas suitable for export
offered to them in either of the Jamaica Ports
Subject to the shipment of fruit purchased under the last preceding clause,
the Contractors are to ship at specified rates all fruit and other cargo
offered to them. Provisions as to carriage of fruit. No preference to be
granted

12

2121

2

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Special precautions to be taken with regard to the conveyance of fruit
The Contractors are to provide skilled agents to improve fruit cultivation in
Jamaica
The Contractors are to pay one-fourth the cost of improvements or additions
made by the Colonial Government to their hotels in Jamaica, but are not
to pay more than £10,000 in all ...
Contractors to provide an office or agency in each of the ports, and
storage at each of the ports in Jamaica ...
The Colonial Government to reserve berthage accommodation for the use of
the Contractors

12

Accounts to be kept
The Contractors to maintain the Steamers in good order, and provide
proper crews for them. Inspection by the Colonial Government. Power
for Colonial Government to require another Steamer to be substituted for
any Steamer which has become unfit for service
Subsidy payable to Contractors by the British Government
Deductions for delay or failure to commence or complete voyages
Power for Contractors with consent of the Colonial Government to
substitute another Port for either of the Jamaica Ports or the English
Port ...
Power for Crown Agents to determine the Contract on default by
Contractors
Contract not to be assigned without the consent of the Crown Agents
The Crown Agents may delegate their powers
Subject to provisions of Contract, liberty to Contractors to call at other Ports
Notices, etc.

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Contractors not to be exempt from liability under any general law relating
to shipping...

No Member of the British or Colonial Government to be personally liable...
Contract to be English

Arbitration

31 Marginal Notes

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SCHEDULE OF FARES

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CONTRACT.

THIS IN DENTURE made the nineteenth day of April, 1900, BETWEEN SIR MONTAGU FREDERICK OMMANNEY, K.C.M.G., ERNEST EDWARD BLAKE, Esquire, and MAURICE ALEXANDER CAMERON, late a Major in Her Majesty's Corps of Royal Engineers, all of Downing Street, in the City of Westminster, the Crown Agents for the Colonies (hereinafter called "the Crown Agents," which expression shall include the Crown Agents or Agent for the Colonies for the time being), acting for and on behalf of Her Majesty's Government (hereinafter called "the British Government "), and also for and on behalf of the Government of the Colony of Jamaica (hereinafter called "the Colonial Government"), of the one part, and ALFRED LEWIS JONES, WILLIAM JOHN DAVEY and ALEXANDER SINCLAIR, all of African House, Water Street, in the City of Liverpool, carrying on business in partnership together as Ship and Insurance Brokers under the firm of "ELDER DEMPSTER & COMPANY" (hereinafter called "the Contractors "), of the other part

WITNESSETH THAT IT IS HEREBY AGREED (and so as to render the Contractors jointly and severally liable hereunder) as follows:

maintain a Service

Steamers ten

1. During the term of ten years from the 16th day of January, 1901, the Contractors Contractors to shall well and efficiently provide, work, and maintain a Service (hereinafter called "the provide work and Service") of fruit, passenger, and Mail carrying Steamships of the descriptions hereinafter of fruit, passenger mentioned between the Port of Kingston and Port Antonio in Jamaica (hereinafter called and Mail carrying "the Jamaica Ports") and such port in the United Kingdom as shall be fixed by notice years, from the in writing to be given by the Contractors to the Crown Agents three calendar months 16th January, 1901 prior to the date herein fixed for the commencement of the Service (hereinafter called and the United "the English Port"), upon and subject to the conditions and provisions hereinafter Kingdom. contained.

between Jamaica

2. The Contractors shall at all times during the said term provide and maintain Contractors to such Steamships of the descriptions hereinafter mentioned (hereinafter called "the provide Steamers") as may from time to time be required for the purposes of the Service, and Steamers for shall on or before the 16th day of January, 1904, substitute for the Steamers previously the Service. employed on the Service other Steamers of such description as shall be necessary for the purpose of complying with the provisions of the next succeeding Clause hereof.

57

3. Each of the Steamers shall

Each steamer is

and afterwards

of 5,000 tons.

(a.) Be a British vessel capable of carrying not less than 3,000 tons of cargo To be a British
(including her coals), and shall be a good, substantial and efficient steam vessel of 3,000
vessel of adequate power and speed, and supplied with first-rate appropriate tons up to 16th
steam engines, and in all respects suited to the performance of the Service January, 1904,
within the respective times herein stipulated, and shall be provided and kept
by the Contractors seaworthy and in complete repair and readiness to the
satisfaction of the Crown Agents. Provided that on and after the 16th day
of January, 1904, the Contractors shall substitute for the Steamers previously
employed on the Service such other Steamers as shall be capable of carrying
not less than 5,000 tons of cargo (including coals);

(b.) Be capable of attaining a speed of not less than 15 knots an hour, and shall, To have a speed
when employed on the Service, maintain an average rate of speed of not of not less than
less than 13 knots an hour;

15 knots an hour.

(c.) Be furnished with adequate cargo space which shall be suitable for the To be furnished
conveyance of fruit, and sufficient for the carriage of at least 20,000 bunches with cargo space
of bananas, and shall be provided with such system of ventilation as shall suitable for
from time to time be the best known for the purpose of preventing such conveying fruit.
fruit being damaged by wet, effluvia, steam, heat, or any other cause, and
shall be fitted with all necessary apparatus for the reception and stowage of

fruit

class and 15 second

(d.) Have proper accommodation for at least 40 first-class and 15 second-class To have accommopassengers. Provided that on and after the 16th day of January, 1904, dation for 40 firsteach of the steamers shall have proper accommodation for at least 100 first-class passengers up class and 50 second-class passengers; and

A

to 16th January, 1904, and afterwards for 100 first-class and 50 second-class passengers.