།:། ། ། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.
885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
42
14. A census of the Western Province was completed during 1908, including about 8,000 towns and villages, the result of which is, from a statistical and com- mercial standpoint, very discouraging, summating as it does to not more than 1,400,000 souls. This result must, however, be regarded as incomparably the most accurate estimate yet obtained, as considerable time and care was devoted to the work.
15. The method adopted in the larger towns was that of measuring four or five acres in several parts of the town (in which areas the people are actually counted), the desideratum being to select localities such that the sum of the popula- tion in these plots, divided by the sum of the areas would give a mean "constant," which, when multiplied by the total area of the town, might be regarded as a fair estimate of the total population.
16. The smaller towns and villages were estimated in various ways according to their importance, propinquity to the larger towns, and their liability to large fluxations in population during the farming season.
17. Several location surveys have been necessary in connection with the bitumen enterprise, and the alleged discovery of oil has, not unnaturally, given a considerable impetus to prospecting. A careful survey of the bituminous area has therefore become necessary, in order that overlapping of claims may be avoided.
18. A considerable number of extensive marine surveys have, in conjunction with the Marine Department, been carried out in the vicinity of the Lagos Bar. These surveys have been undertaken with the object of determining, as far as pos- sible, the nature and probable cause of the periodic movement of large areas of sand, at, and in the vicinity of the embouchure of, the harbour; and also for the purpose of determining the effect of dredging operations in increasing the depth of and maintaining the channel in a fairly constant position.
19. Observations for the determination of latitude and longitude were carried out at places in the Central Province, viz., Forcados, Onitsha, Agbor, Benin, Sapele, Isele-a-saba, Auja, Ugo, and Warri, in November and December, 1907.
These were reduced to geographical positions during 1908; the results were entirely satisfac- tory, and should be of considerable value in rectifying the large errors of the old map and establishing accurate "origins" from which new surveys may be started. Forcados, Onitsha, Agbor, Benin, Sepele, and Warri were determined by direct tele- graphic signals with Lagos Observatory; the probable error of these positions is not more than 0.25". The remaining stations were determined by transportation of 4 chronometers and 5 watches; probable error of longitude ±0.5", probable error of latitude ±2'0".
20.
Maps published during the year.
The total number of plans issued during the period under notice amounts to 231, including 5 degree sheets of the Western Province, revised plan of town of Lagos, contour plans of Ibadan, Abeokuta, Aro, Oyo, Epe, Sapele, and Onitsha. Twenty-one Crown Grants were also prepared.
Miscellaneous.
21. A Survey School was inaugurated on 1st July, 1908, with a total of six pupils.
These young men have been carefully selected from a large number of applicants, and receive instructions in the theory and practice of modern topo- graphical and hydrographical surveying. Drafting is also taught, and the advanced pupils have already entered upon a course of elementary studies in the elements of practical astronomy as applied to land and marine surveying. Prac- tical training in the field has also been imparted, with the object of giving a praċ- tical meaning to the more theoretical training obtained in school. The students take a keen and intelligent interest in their work, and their progress has convinced me, after very careful observation and frequent impromptu examinations, that they are quite as apt in intelligently understanding and applying mathematical know- ledge as the educated European of similar age and training. The object of the school is to prepare surveyors and draftsmen for the Government service, and I have no hesitation in stating that in all probability this institution will become a valuable adjunct to the service.
22. Thirty-two meteorological stations are now established throughout the three Provinces.
43
23. I regret to state that the results obtained from a considerable number are far from satisfactory. It is possible that officers in charge of these stations, when travelling through their respective districts, delegated the reading of the instru- ments to clerks and other officials who were not conversant with them; for this and other reasons palpable errors are not infrequently recorded.
24. The desirability of obtaining accurate records from the various stations is so important that the whole matter is receiving very careful attention, and it is hoped that a more satisfactory system may shortly be evolved.
25. The total distance travelled in the actual contouring of Sheets 73J, 73D, and 732 amounted to 7,800 miles, approximately.
surveys. 27.
26. Explanatory diagrams* are attached showing topographical and cadastral The Annual Report of this Department, forwarded to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary on the 10th ultimo, might with advantage accompany this Report.
E. P. COTTON,
Survey Department,
Lagos, 3 April, 1909.
Director of Surveys.
ADDENDUM.-No trigonometrical surveys have been carried out during the period under notice.-E.P.C.
16814
No. 23.
FIJI.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 18 May, 1909.)
(No. 61.) MY LORD,
Government House, Suva, Fiji, 16th April, 1909. In accordance with the direction contained paragraph 7 of your despatch, No. 97, of 3rd September, † that Captain Ley should submit an annual report on the triangulation of Viti Levu, upon which he is engaged, to reach the Colonial Office not later than 1st June, I have the honour to transmit copy of a report by Captain Ley for the period 26th October, 1908, to 2nd March, 1909.
2. Captain Ley during that period was engaged in the Namosi Province under exceedingly trying climatic conditions, with the result that his health suffered. He has now transferred his operations to the higher and cooler district of Nadari- vatu, in Colo North, where, it is hoped, his health will be quite restored without interfering with the continuance of his duties.
Enclosure in No. 23.
ANNUAL REPORT.
I have, &c.,
CHARLES MAJOR.
Summary. This report covers a period of 18 weeks, viz.: from October 26th, 1908, the date of arrival in Suva, to March 2nd, 1909, when work in the field was abandoned owing to rains. The weather, for this season, was on the whole probably exceptionally good, and enabled work of a less arduous kind to be carried on to a late period.
From preliminary enquiries as to the various sites for a base line, it appeared that the Navua district would afford the most suitable central area, and after a reconnaissance of that neighbourhood in November it was decided to spend the remainder of the season in base-measurement and work on base-extension.
The following is a summary of the work completed :-
(A.) Selection, clearing, measurement, and reduction of a base line 15,002 feet
long, with a probable error of about 1/340000.
• Not reproduced.
† No. 132 in Miscellaneous No. 210.