§ MR. COLERIDGE KENNARDasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the steamship Kinfauns Castle is now the property of the Russian Government, and is being fitted out for warlike purposes; and, if so, whether he will inform the House from whoso and to what name the said ship was transferred, and the date of the transaction?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware whether or not the Kinfauns Castle is actually the property of the Russian Government; but she was purchased on behalf of the Russian Volunteer Fleet Society. Nor am I able to say whether she is being fitted out for warlike purposes. I am informed that before she left England she was fitted up for the accommodation of a large number of men, to carry emigrants to the Amoor and tea from China to Odessa. The Kinfauns Castle belonged to the Castle 1116 Mail Company, and the negotiations for the sale began in November, 1883, and were concluded shortly afterwards. The registered managing owner at the time of the sale was Sir Donald Currie, who transferred her on behalf of the Castle Company. No record is kept of the names of purchasers in the case of vessels sold to a foreign flag. She left this country early in 1884.