173
loaded up again, without any regard to the mute' signs of suffering which were apparent. The present may possibly not be an appropriate time to interfere with the actions of the native in this respect, but I would venture to remark that if the inhabitants of this country are to be civilised and brought up to the white man's standard, the lesson of humane treatment of the lower animals is one of the first which they should be made, if necessary, to learn. From what I have seen of the revolting cruelty which the native seems to consider quite proper in this respect, I am tempted to ask in passing, whether any mention is ever made in schools of this subject of the treatment of animals.
63. These remarks may be aptly extended to the subject of slaughtering beasts. Here the native in many cases appears to exercise what is either incredible thought- lessness, or else wanton and deliberate cruelty. The details of the slaughtering of cattle and sheep need not be entered into; as far as I have noticed they may be stig- matised generally as bad. But apart from this one has only to enquire into the method of despatching ducks and fowls which is usually practised, even in the com- pounds of Europeans by their house servants, to be convinced of the utter disregard of the native for the sufferings of the lower animals. From an evolutionary point of view it would appear none too early, considering the evident eagerness of the native to adopt the ways of the whites, to make a start upon inculcating the principles of this subject.
26500
27418
No. 232.
WINDWARD ISLANDS.
GOVERNOR SI RALPH WILLIAMS to THE EARL OF CREWE.
(Received July 27, 1908.)
(No. 115.) MY LORD,
Grenada, 11th July, 1908. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 15th of June last,* and previous correspondence, I have the honour to inform you that there is absolutely no use at present for a Government veterinary surgeon in either Grenada or St. Lucia.
2. In St. Vincent a local veterinary surgeon is being temporarily employed in connection with an outbreak of anthrax who is paid a salary at the rate of £312 per annum, and who, I am informed, does his work well.
3. I concur with your Lordship that where work of importance has to be done
it is desirable to get a very fully qualified man.
4. My close connection with the question of stock diseases in South Africa, and my personal association in that country with Mr. Stewart Stockman, have made me fully alive to the situation: but these little islands, where adequate salaries cannot be paid, and where there is the most trifling business in stock, present no field for veterinary work.
No. 230.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 21 July, 1908.)
26667
Foreign Office, July 21, 1908. [Published as No, 54 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]
28812
No. 233.
I have, &c.,
RALPH WILLIAMS,
Governor.
SOUTHERN NIGERIA.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Downing Street, 27 July, 1908.
[Published as No. 55 in [Cd. 4472], January, 1909.]
(No. 70.) MY LORD,
No. 231.
SOMALILAND.
COMMISSIONER CORDEAUX to THE EARL OF CREWE. (Received 24 July, 1908.)
Commissioner's Office, Camp Burao, 2 July, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your predecessor's circular of the 26th February, 1907,* to which I regret a reply has not been sent at an earlier date.
2.
As your Lordship is aware, there is at present no Veterinary Department in this Protectorate, and I doubt whether existing circumstances can be held to justify the appointment of a permanent veterinary officer now or in the immediate future.
3. At the same time, owing to the number of animals employed for Govern- ment transport and other purposes in this Protectorate it is desirable that all possible steps consistent with a reasonable expenditure should be taken to combat the various diseases which from time to time cause considerable loss amongst these animals.
4. The principal diseases prevalent in this country are fully described in Chapter V. of the Military Report on Somaliland, 1907, and in the case of horse sickness much useful information has been collected by local officers, and will be found in Appendix E of that report.
5. It would be useful to be furnished with the reports of experts on such of these local diseases as may be common to other Protectorates, in order to assist local officers in discovering cures or devising more effective preventive measures.
I have, &c.,
H. E. S. CORDEAUX.
27791
No. 234.
BRITISH HONDURAS.
ACTING GOVERNOR COLLET to THE EARL OF CREWE. (Received July 30, 1908.)
(No. 144.) MY LORD,
In reply to Lord Elgin's circular despatch of the 26th February [1907],† I have the honour to inform your Lordship that this Colony is not in the position to engage a competent veterinary surgeon.
Government House, Belize, 11 July, 1908.
2. There are comparatively few cattle in the Colony, and they seem to be kept only for the purpose of hauling mahogany. Outside of the town of Belize beef is very little used as an article of diet. In Belize the animals slaughtered seem to consist of beasts that are past work for hauling mahogany, or are else imported from Spanish Honduras. Even in the town of Belize fresh cow's milk is very little used, the use of condensed milk being general throughout the Colony.
3. The Colony contains plenty of land well suited for the breeding of cattle, and if this industry should ever be taken up seriously it would be necessary to appoint a Government veterinary surgeon, and the person appointed should certainly have the qualifications recommended by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 4. I have not heard of any diseases seriously affecting cattle in the Colony. I have, &c.,
WILFRED COLLET,
Administering Government.
No. 93.
• L.F.: Reminder.
↑ No. 93.
18,
230
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
885
| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
BE
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-