102
It is impossible to predict, even approximately, the date at which the block survey of the Island will be completed. The Surveyor-General estimates that with a staff of 70 men there is about 17 years' work ahead of him. At present, however, there are less than 50 men at work, so that the time must be proportionately increased. There is also a residual uncertainty in any estimate owing to the impossi bility of laying down the exact area/for which the large-scale map will ultimately be required. In any case, it is clear that unless the staff of both survey and settle- ment departments are very materially enlarged the final settlement of all the inhabited and cultivated regions of the Island is little more than a vision of the distant future.
In the case of areas of irrigable lands, below large tanks, cadastral surveys, ie, those showing the exact limits and acreage of each field, are necessary for water-rate assessment. Such work has been done in many places, and is now in progress in others.
Ultimately, a cadastral survey of all the occupied parts of the country will probably be demanded, and it is worthy of serious consideration whether it should not be taken in hand soon. Without it the imposition of a land tax or the State registration of titles are impossible. The present block survey plans can with facility be developed into cadastral ones, and as an approximate estimate, the cost of the further work involved may be taken as about equal to that of the original survey, say, 50 cents per acre.
Map reproduction. The arrangements for map and plan printing at the head- quarter office at Colombo are extremely good ones, and no specific alterations are recommended. With the advent of a new lithographic printing machine, now on order, this branch should be equal to all demands, which it may be noted include a large quantity of lithographic printing for other Government departments. The studio space for photographic work is much cramped, and seeing how rapidly this class of work has increased in the past, and is likely to increase in the future, a sub- stantial enlargement should be arranged as soon as practicable.
Office accommodation. With the new wing to the Colombo Office it will, apart from the studio, be sufficient for all present requirements; the accommodation at some of the provincial offices requires, however, early attention. No proper accom- modation exists at Galle, Ratnapura or Kurunegala. An office, and bungalow for the Superintendent, similar to those at Anuradhapura and Batticaloa, should be provided.
The block survey recess quarters and the headquarters of the topographical branch at Diyatalawa are in a most unsatisfactory condition. Some of the build- ings are now shared with the Volunteers, and some with the Irrigation Department, with the result that the survey party has to turn out of the camp, sometimes in the middle of its work, when the buildings are wanted for other purposes. The huts used for drawing offices being also used by the Volunteers, no proper fittings, draw- ing-tables, cupboards, &c., can be placed in them. As three separate parties recess here, the station will, in future, Le occupied by the survey for about 10 months in the year.
The department should have its own buildings, and the officers and men be given reasonably good quarters. There is no reason why officers of the survey should be worse housed than those of other Government departments. Accommodation should be provided for the Superintendent, topographical surveys, five officers in charge of parties, and 50 surveyors,
June 6, 1907.
E. H. HILLS.
103
received from the Treasury on the subject of the revised estimates for the Survey Department of the East Africa Protectorate for the year 1907-8.
2. The reductions which it has been necessary to make in the estimates as originally sent in involve some modification in the distribution of staff recommended by Major Smith in the letter which accompanied Mr. Jackson's despatch, confi- dential, No. (5), of the 31st of January.*
3. In the first place, the staff of District Surveyors has been reduced to three, and two of these appointments are already held by Mr. Galbraith and Mr. Clark. The selection of Mr. F. M. Lamb as a Senior Staff Surveyor, in regard to which I communicated with you in my despatch, No. 301, of the 28th of May, was made. in the hope that he would be found suitable for appointment to the higher grade of District Surveyor. If, however, Major Smith considers one of the other Senior Staff Surveyors better qualified for the post, he will, of course, submit his recommendations on the subject.
4. Secondly, the staff of Senior Staff Surveyors has been reduced from seven to four, so that, even allowing for the appointment of Mr. Lamb or another as a District Surveyor, Major Smith's proposals involve an excess of one over the autho- rized establishment. It will, therefore, be necessary for one of the surveyors men- tioned by him to revert to the grade of Junior Staff Surveyor, and I presume that Mr. Lind will be chosen, but I shall be glad to be informed definitely as to this point.
5. In that case, the staff of Junior Staff Surveyors will, with the engagement. of Mr. J. Spalding, reported in my despatch, No. 251, of the 6th of May,‡ be brought up to the authorised establishment of five.
21912
SIR,
No. 59.
UGANDA.
I have, &c.,
ELGIN.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
[Copy to Acting Commissioner, Uganda, July 12, 1907, No. 163. L.F.]
[Answered by No. 64.]
Downing Street, July 2, 1907. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you, to be laid before Secre- tary Sir E. Grey, the accompanying copy of correspondence§ relative to the proposed measurement by the Anglo-Congolese Boundary Commission of that portion of the arc of the meridian 30° east of Greenwich which lies within the sphere of their operations.
2. Lord Elgin presumes that in an international scientific enterprise of this kind there would be no objection on the part of the Congo Free State to the necessary work being carried out by the Commission in what is still disputed territory.
3. I am, nevertheless, to suggest that, in order to avoid any possible complica- tions, Sir E. Grey might consider it desirable under the circumstances to acquaint the Government of the Congo Free State with the course of action which it is pro- posed to take in the matter.
22342
No. 60.
I am, &c.,
R. L. ANTROBUS.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
6 T
Reference :-
C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
22135
No. 58.
EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Confidential.)
SIR,
Downing Street, July 1, 1907. Wrrи reference to my despatch, No. 278, of the 17th of May last,* I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letterf which has been
† No. 53.
11073 not printed.
GOLD COAST.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 12.40 p.m., July 5, 1907.) TELEGRAM.
Your despatch, No. 227.|| I approve of special vote referred to in paragraph. -ELGIN
No. 19.
+18261 not printed. § Nos. 42, 44 and 52.
11434: not printed.
1 No. 56.