PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
TTT]
Reference :-
THC.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- [ COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Triangu- lation.
Mapping work,
Recorde.
Comple-
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and the ground, of utilising the large and generally well-executed amount of work that had been done in Northern Nigeria was most regrettable.
3. Paragraph 4.-I beg to draw His Excellency's attention to this excellent performance. This triangulation is the first survey executed in the Northern Pro- vince of permanent value, and forms a starting point from which the framework of the Protectorate survey can be readily extended in all directions.
In view of the heavy work falling on the officers in the co-ordination of the various mine surveys, the upkeep of records, map compilation, and office corres- pondence, the completion of such a large area of accurate triangulation reflects excep- tional credit on Captain Giles's technical and administrative ability and energy.
4. Paragraphs 6 and 7.-From the materials available I propose publishing:-
(i.) A sketch map of the minefield, 1/250,000, showing general features. A cheap edition only will be advisable.
(ii) A mining map, scale 1/62,500, in quarter-degree sheets, showing topographical details and names and numbers of licences and leases. In view of the constant supply of detail that will be constantly coming in from the field, a provisional edition of the majority of the sheets is advisable for the present.
5. Paragraph 8.-The records have been exceptionally well kept and have entailed many hours of overtime by the office staff.
"
"
6. Paragraphs 11 to 14.—(a) On the close of the minefield 426 granted tion of pro- areas existed. Owing to cancellations and other causes, this number was eventu
ally reduced to 398.
granime.
Grants
under **ex-
ceptional
Con-
ditions."
Areas
recon-
mended.
Total num-
Captain Giles's original programme was to survey these areas together with a few additional grants that would be made during 1913 under the "exceptional conditions clause.
""
(b) These additional grants largely exceeded expectations and their number had reached 167 by the end of 1913, giving a total number of grants of 565.
Of these Captain Giles accounted for 451.
(c) In addition, he accounted for 36 areas which had been recommended by the Advisory Committee, and which, though not actually granted, it was considered advisable to survey while his parties were in the locality in order to avoid waste of time and expenditure on transport in returning to them.
(d) Captain Giles therefore accounted for a total of 487 areas, and in doing so ber of areas exceeded the amount of work that was expected from the party.
accounted for.
Revende from sur- ver fees.
Actual
revenue.
Suggested
Indeed, in view of casualties and labour difficulties, I submit with every confi- dence, for His Excellency's consideration, that the results achieved have been entirely satisfactory.
7. Paragraph 16.-Captain Giles shows that, had the 1913 Minerals Proclama. tion been in force during the period under review, his revenue would have exceeded the total cost of No. 1 party during its whole period of engagement by £470.
It is true that the Proclamation was not in force, but the figures are of value in showing that a special military party can be self-supporting,
The actual revenue that has been earned, if survey fees which are recoverable from certain mining companies are successfully collected by the Northern Provinces Government, amounts to £4,916 0s. 2d.
8. Paragraph 17. (a) Captain Giles's suggestion that No. 2 party should be increase of increased has already been anticipated by His Excellency having added five non- No. 2 party. commissioned officers to the original estimate for the party.
State of No.2 party.
Efficiency
of No. 2
party.
(b) No. 2 party at present consists of:-
Lieutenant A. B. Clough, R.E.; landed March 20th. Lieutenant V. G. Oliver: expected about April 30th. Two non-commissioned officers; in the minefield.
Ten non-commissioned officers; expected March 27th.
(c) The delayed arrival of No. 2 party, of which the engagement was advocated on the 22nd August, 1912, 13th May, 1913, and 4th December, 1913, has, unfortu- nately, prevented the non-commissioned officers from working alongside No. 1 party, and benefiting by its experience. The value of this has been fully proved by the rapid way in which the two non-commissioned officers who arrived in December learned to adapt themselves to local conditions in the camps of No. 1 party. The
75
case is one in which one day's actual work teaches a man more than many days spent in endeavouring to follow instructions and advice that he has never seen put to practical use, and which are inevitably required by a newcomer in any land.
Consequently, during the first few weeks of field work, the same inonthly output cannot be expected from No. 2 party as that which they would have shown if they had landed a month earlier.
The delayed arrival of the officers has been particularly unfortunate, but, owing to the careful preparations made by Captain Giles, many of the difficulties experi- enced by No. 1 party will be greatly decreased, and there is no reason to suppose that the high state of efficiency of that party will not soon be reached,
9. As given in paragraph 6 (6) of this letter, 114 grants of which notification Outstand- had been received by Captain Giles up to the 31st December, 1913, were not under- ing work. taken by No. 1 party.
4
Of these, 58 lie in the Nassarawa, Zaria, and Kano portions of the minefield and are therefore accountable for by the Director of Surveys, Northern Provinces.
The remaining 56 lie in the Central Province and form the first item in No. 2 party's programme.
(b) The Government Inspector of Mines states that during January and February he received notification of the grant of 20 areas in the Central Province additional to the above.
(c) No. 1 party has therefore left No. 2 party a legacy of 76 grants according to information received up to 28th February, 1914.
10. (a) In addition to the grants, there are at present in the Central Province Work of minefield about 171 areas which have either been recommended by, or are under No.2 party. consideration by, the Advisory Committee, and which will entail surveys at an early date. The majority of these applications were made under the old Proclamation. On April 1st, No. 2 party has therefore the following work in sight:-
76 areas granted to 28th February, 1914.
171 areas that will shortly be granted.
247 total.
(b) This work will fully occupy No. 2 party for at least eight months, for the Time taken
rains will cause delay, and also, as pointed out in paragraph 9, the return of work to clear off for the first weeks will be below the average.
The above period is based on the assumption that the minefield remains closed and, therefore, that no grants are made under the new law.
It also does not provide time for the survey of any applications which may be received under the old law after April 1st, and which may be granted under the old
exceptional conditions" clause.
11.
arrears.
It is, therefore, apparent that, if all arrears of surveys under the old law Re-open-
are to be cleared off before the minefield is declared open, the earliest date at which ing mine- this can be effected will be December 15th, 1914.
This will mean that the minefield will have been closed for a period of over two years, although, owing to the unexpected working of the "exceptional conditions clause, the benefit of such closing will only be felt by the survey party for about eight months.
If the opening of the minefield is deferred to this late date, there will probably
be such a sudden and heavy influx of applications that No. 2 party will be unable to deal with them without undue delay resulting.
field,
Central
Province.
If part of No. 1 party is re-engaged as suggested below, they will land about Suggested September, and I recommend that we should anticipate their arrival by opening the date of re- minefield on September 1st.
opening.
12. I therefore submit the urgent advisability of the approval of proposal 6 of Re engage- my letter 239/524, of 4th December, 1913, viz., the re-engagement of certain ment of members of No. 1 party.
No. I party.
Owing to the advisability of forming a permanent civilian survey section for the minefield at an early date, I now qualify that proposal by recommending the re-engagement of Captain Giles and two non-commissioned officers only (Lance- corporals Lethbridge and Stock), the remaining three to be civilians selected by the Colonial Office.
13. Paragraphs 18 and 19.--The views expressed by Captain Giles are those Time spent which are held by all officers who have had experience of survey work in tropical in the field.
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