CO885-(16-18) — Page 345

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.88

+885

17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

66

It may be interesting to note that, while the boys attending the lectures at Hong Kong and Colombo would be largely of one nationality, Chinese and Singalese respectively, those at Singapore comprised many races, English, Eurasians, Chinese, Malays, Tamils, Filipinos, Jews, Armenians, &c. These, again, ranged in intel- lectual capacity from boys holding a Cambridge Local Senior Certificate to boys studying in the sixth standard, thus obliging the lecturer rather to adapt himself to circumstances than to follow the book of lectures accompanying the lantern slides.

If I may be allowed to say so, many of the slides have not been happily chosen. Thus in lecture 1, notwithstanding our "roads" with craft of every description, and Keppel Harbour, with its 1 miles of shipping, we are shown the roofs (principally) of offices at Collyer Quay, and the picture is called "A view of Singapore Harbour." And this is all that boys of Hong Kong and Colombo see of Singapore.

Hong Kong, again, has something better than "Queen's Road," and particularly in contrast to things in Singapore and Colombo might have been shown the Peak (Cable) Railway, houses and streets rising in tiers one above the other; houses with chimneys as in England; the long sedan chair as common as the ricksha in Singapore and Colombo.

After the "map of route from Hong Kong to London" those of the Mediter- ranean, Western Europe, and Straits of Dover might very well have given place to slides of an interesting nature, e.q., those just mentioned above, ships crossing in the Suez Canal or passing through with the electric light at night, &c. In short, things which boys here have not seen.

*

Out at sea, deck scene," and the "saloon, P. and O. steamer are certainly not the best of their kind that can be taken. The same remark applies to many others.

Most interest appeared to be shown in lecture 6-"the great towns, their in- dustries and commerce"; in lecture 7-the "defences of the Empire," and in the latter half of lecture 4, showing views of Oxford and Cambridge, bump races, athletic sports, &c.

As the lectures were given to school children of from 13 to 18 years of age, more might have been shown of school life in England, play-grounds, games, snow- balling, dormitories, class rooms and so on, views in which they would find interest, and could contrast with their own experience of things out here.

R. W. Hullett, Esquire.

NOTES on Lantern and Slides.

I have, &c.,

C. M. PHILLIPS.

In general the apparatus was satisfactory and suitable for local conditions, but the following might be noted:-

(1.) A lantern of higher illuminating power-say a similar lantern with 4 instead of 3 burners would have been better for the large number of scholars present (300 to 400).

(2.) The "finish" of the slides and boxes was not good. For instance, many of the slides would not enter the slide-carrier until the apertures of the carrier had been enlarged considerably.

June 7, 1906.

J. R. BARTLETT,

Science Master.

67

Governor of British Guiana intimating that as there is already a good lantern at Queen's College in that Colony, a further one need not be sent with the set of slides now being prepared for transmission.

I am to request, therefore, that unless you see reason to the contrary, the order given for the supply of a lantern may, if it is not too late, be cancelled.

I am, &c.,

26786

SIR,

No. 99.

BRITISH GUIANA.

C. P. LUCAS.

MR. H. J. MACKINDER to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received July 21, 1906.)

Clare Market, Kingsway, W.C., July 20, 1906. I BEG leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant,* with reference to the West Indian edition of the lantern lectures on the United Kingdom.

2. I presume that the lantern at Queen's College can be transported to other parts of the Colony if required, and have, therefore, cancelled the order for the supply of a special lantern for British Guiana.

28609

SIR,

No. 100.

I am, &c.,

H. J. MACKINDER.

INDIA OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received August 4, 1906.)

[Answered by Nos. 101 and 128.]

India Office, Whitehall, London, S.W., August 3, 1906. WITH reference to Mr. Lucas's letter (No. 37132/1902), dated the 5th May, 1905,† I am directed by Mr. Secretary Morley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Elgin, a copy of a letter from the Government of India, dated the 14th June, expressing their willingness to co-operate in the scheme for promoting the growth of a knowledge among the school children of the Empire of the conditions of parts of the Empire other than their own by means of a series of lectures illustrated by lantern slides.

Mr. Morley will be glad if Mr. Mackinder may be requested to adapt the lectures and slides to Indian requirements, and to forward forty-three sets to this Office for transmission to India.

I have, &c.,

A. GODLEY.

26010

No. 98.

BRITISH GUIANA.

COLONIAL OFFICE to MR. H. J. MACKINDER.

[Answered by No. 99.]

SIR,

Downing Street, July 18, 1906. WITH reference to your letter of the 26th April last,* on the subject of the West Indian edition of the lantern lectures on the United Kingdom, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to inform you that a despatch† has been received from the

• No. 81.

† 26010: not printed.

Enclosure in No. 100.

No. 9 of 1906.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. HOME DEPARTMENT. EDUCATION.

To The Right Honourable JOHN MORLEY, O.M., His Majesty's Secretary of State

for India.

SIR,

Simla, the 14th June, 1906. We have the honour to address you with reference to your predecessor's despatch, No. 67-Public, dated the 19th May, 1905, regarding a scheme for promot- ing the growth of a knowledge among the school children of the Empire of the conditions of countries other than their own by means of a series of lessons or lectures illustrated by lantern slides.

22847

• No. 98.

† Not printed,

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