CO885-(18-19) — Page 238

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

7407

14

No. 20.

EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.

MAJOR E. H. HILLS to COLONIAL OFFICE.

I

(Received February 27, 1907.),

(No. 1.)

Nairobi, British East Africa, February 5, 1907. SIR,

1. WITH reference to your letter, No. 45930,* enclosing instructions for the inspection of the Survey Department of British East Africa, I have the honour to inform you that I arrived at Nairobi on January 29th, and proceeded without delay to make the inspection.

2. I trust to be in a position to furnish a full report by next mail, but in view of the fact that it is important to obtain an early decision on the question of the survey estimates for 1907-8 I judge it preferable to deal, in a preliminary manner, with a few of the more important points that arise in this connection.

3. I found, on arrival here, that, in deference to your criticisms on the first estimates, a revised set had been sent to you for approval. These, while marking a substantial reduction upon the original proposals, still involved a very considerable increase of annual expenditure, and I made it my first duty to examine them critic- ally with a view of ascertaining what reductions could be made without impairment of efficiency, and whether the proposed scheme provided for a natural and steady growth of the Survey Department upon scientific lines, rather than a sudden increase to meet temporary difficulties.

4. As the result of this examination I drew up a fresh set of estimates, based upon those for the current year with certain additions and, as time somewhat pressed, I sent you a telegram,t copy of which is attached for reference, embodying my recommendations.

5. A few points in this telegram call for special notice:—

(a) A sum of £1,500 is asked for, to allow of the appointment of three

District Surveyors who will act as Land Rangers.

The duties of a Land Ranger, as apart from the survey work, would be principally confined to the inspection of property boundaries, to the detection of infringements of the occupation laws, and to reporting upon new land suitable for occupation. This work would not in general take very much of his time, and, as it is of great moment to maintain the closest connection between the cadastral survey branch and the Land Department, it appears that the combination of survey and land ranger duties is politic.

(b) The demand for land has in the last few years been so rapid that it has been quite beyond the power of the Land Office to survey and mark out new farms as taken up. Hence, quite rightly, large use has been made, and is now still being made, of the services of private licensed surveyors. It is obviously desirable that in the future this work should be done by the Survey Department, but as a sudden break of policy is unwise, it would seem best that the change should be spread over a few years. I accordingly recommend that the use of licensed surveyors be discontinued by successive steps in three years, and the work taken up, pari passu, by the Survey Department.

The expenditure upon fees to licensed surveyors during the current financial year will be just over £6,000. I propose that this sum be added to the vote for the cadastral branch by three annual increments of £2,000, thus giving this branch a natural growth with- out increasing the total annual cost of cadastral survey work in the Protectorate.

I may further explain that the sum paid to licensed surveyors is recoverable, in its entirety, from survey fees payable by the settler. When the cadastral branch takes up the work systematically it will undoubtedly do it at a cheaper rate than the private surveyor, working often on isolated plots, and, as the same fees will be paid, the survey Department will soon be earning money.

• No. 1-10 in African No. 717.

↑ Not printed.

15

(c) The total effective increase proposed for the cadastral branch next year

is thus £3,500. This will be sufficient to enable the present staff of

five subordinate surveyors to be replaced by:-

3 District Surveyors.

4 Senior Staff Surveyors.

5 Junior Staff Surveyors.

The suggested arrangement further provides for an automatic increase

in subsequent years, so that, for example, in 1909-10 the staff of this branch will stand approximately at:-

4 District Surveyors.

Senior Staff Surveyors.

9 Junior Staff Surveyors.

in addition to the Deputy and Assistant Directors and the subordinates

of lower grades.

It need, however, hardly be pointed out that all predictions as to the future of the Department are quite uncertain, owing to the impossibility of foreseeing the rate of inflow of new settlers into the country.

(d) The heading " special expenditure" shows a large reduction, but it should be explained that this is chiefly due to the fact that during the current year there was a heavy building item which will not recur, and in any case charges for building services will not, in future, appear in the survey estimates.

(e) The proposals contained in my telegram were shown to the Commissioner of Lands and the Director of Surveys, who are both satisfied that while the immediate enlargement of the survey staff is not quite what they hoped would be accorded, they provide for a progressive development which, combined with certain improvements in method to be dealt with in my full report, should enable the Department gradually to overtake the present arrears.

The Director of Surveys is further of opinion that the system of step by step augmentation now put forward presents many technical advantages over the more rapid increase for which he asked.

6. A copy of this despatch has been furnished to the Acting Commissioner.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 20.

E. H. HILLS.

Major E. H. HILLS to UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

TELEGRAM.

British East Africa survey estimate, 1907-8.

Recommend that estimates be as for 1906-7 with following exceptions. Trigonometrical branch other charges. Local transport and labour add £1,000 addition proved necessary by year's experience.

Cadastral branch add £1,500 to allow of appointment of three District Surveyors who will also act as Land Rangers; see Commissioner to Colonial Office, No. 688, of December 18, paragraph 12.

Propose to extinguish work given to licensed surveyors, and take it over by cadastral branch by successive steps spread over three years. In 1906-7 total pay- ments to licensed surveyors will be £6,028. For 1907-8 reduce payments to licensed surveyors to £4,000, and add £2,000 to vote cadastral branch.

Total increase cadastral branch thus £3,500 divided £2,800 personal emoluments £700 other charges.

Special expenditure £754 against £2,635 for 1906-7. Trigonometrical work ready for topography in six months.