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From: "Jill Martin" <>
Subject: Re: Fw: Message from Jill MARTIN re Geelong
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 12:41:52 +0200


Hello Dianne

I thought of trying to photocopy the diaries, but I'm not sure how well they will come out. Same applies to scanning. The ink is quite faded in parts. He began writing them on 26 Jun 1910 aboard the SS Geelong. They were written for his wife, and I think were mailed in installments. Two are in the form of notebooks, and one is on ordinary paper, very curled up and with some holes made by moths I suspect. I am a slow typist, but will try to type some every day. Perhaps you can give me an e-mail address for the GRHC and I can do as he did and send it in bits. I feel as the custodian as it were that I must keep the originals in the family. One of my sons is a bibliographer, so I know they'll be in good hands.

Some history of the case follows in the meantime (written aboard the SS Miltiades on 17 Sep 1910). When I type it all out I'll leave all the errors with my inserts in square brackets so it's as close to the original as possible. With some personal experience in dealing with transcribed documents, I know how important it is not to do any editing. Fortunately his handwriting is quite clear.


"It will be remembered that I went [to Australia] at the request of the Geelong Harbour Trust to be a witness in the trial of a dispute between the Geelong Harbour Trust and the Maritime Insurance Company in Liverpool arising out of the loss of the Dredger 'Walrus' which had been bought from the Natal Government and was totally lost on a voyage from Durban to Australia and was insured against total loss at a premium of four pounds, four shillings [can't do the symbols] per cent. The insurance Coy now refuse to pay.

"It is unnecessary for me to give a history of the case at this point. Suffice it to say that the day I left Melbourne 14/9/10 was the 38th day it had been before the court and was not then finished. The Judge Sir John Madden when I left was addressing the jury. Summing up is I believe the term used."

He says he was there in his capacity of "Superintending Engineer from Durban who had been most in touch with this vessel". As far as I can gather the dispute concerned the seaworthiness of the ship. The Geelong Harbour Trust won the case and the insurers paid out. It seems that his evidence clinched the case. The Premier of Victoria, J. Murray, wrote to the South African Prime Minister ".. it is felt that the happy result of the trial was to a very considerable extent influenced by his evidence".

Best wishes, Jill Martin

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