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It was pointed out that the extension of the triangulation referred to by Major Hills would in some degree be effected by the work which Second Lieutenant Fish- bourne will do in connexion with the railway extension surveys.

The Committee recommended that a telegram should be sent to the Acting Commissioner asking that the three sheets of the map mentioned by Major Hills in the topographical section of his report might be sent home at once, any additional information being sent afterwards if necessary. With regard to action on the report generally, it was agreed to wait for the Commissioner's arrival, in order to consult him as to what had already been done. It was also agreed to consult Mr. Bell as to the possibility of training native surveyors in Uganda.

With regard to Major Hills's proposals for assimilating the Survey Departments of tropical African Colonies and Protectorates, the Committee recommended that the Governments concerned should be asked to adopt the titles proposed so far as they were applicable, but observed that the variety of conditions would be against uniformity of salaries and that the scales proposed by Major Hills did not fit in with other scales of salaries in force. Major Hills's definition of the qualifications required in the various grades was accepted.

2. Proposed Survey School in West Africa.

The Committee then considered despatches from the Governors of the Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria enclosing memoranda by Major Guggisberg, R.E., and Mr. Cotton on the subject of the proposal to establish a school for the training of native surveyors in West Africa.

It was pointed out that the scheme put forward by Major Guggisberg involved great expense without any return for three years and that even at the end of that time the results would be of doubtful value. In the circumstances, the Committee were unable to recommend the adoption of the proposal and considered that it would be better to arrange for the work to be confined to Southern Nigeria, the only Colony largely interested in the matter, where men could be trained in the existing Survey Department. It was agreed to arrange for a discussion of the matter with Sir W. Egerton on his arrival on leave.

3. Survey Class for Colonial Officials.

Colonel Hellard reported that the class which was to have assembled on the 22nd of May had not been proceeded with, owing to the ill-health of one of the only two officers who presented themselves. The other, Mr. Dawson of Ceylon, was a skilled surveyor who only desired to see Ordnance Survey methods in regard to special branches of the work, e.g., map reproduction, and Colonel Hellard had arranged for his wishes to be met at a later period of his leave.

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No. 48.

EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.

THE COMMISSIONER to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received May 29, 1907.)

(No. 171.) MY LORD,

Secretariat, Nairobi, May 6, 1907. IN obedience to the instructions contained in your Lordship's telegram of April 24th, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of the annual report of the Survey Department with covering letter and enclosures, also a copy of a memorandum by the Commissioner of Lands.

2. As I have not yet had an opportunity of reading Major Hills's reports I cannot delay the submission of Captain Smith's annual report. I must confine myself in this despatch to agreeing generally with the views expressed by the Commissioner of Lands.

• No. 34.

I have, &c.,

J. HAYES SADLER.

(No. 17.)

SIR,

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Enclosure 1 in No. 48.

Director of Surveys Office, Nairobi, April 10, 1907. I HAVE the honour to forward the annual report for my Department. The standing orders direct the financial, and not the calendar, year to be used

I recommend that in future the calendar year should be adopted, so that the report of the Department in future years may be reaching the Colonial Office at about the same time as the estimates for the following year.

In view of the fact that I have recently reported very fully on many points,

in answer to Colonial Office, No. 621, of 3rd October, 1906, it seems suitable to keep the present report very short; it is, in fact, little more than a report on the work actually done.

I have tried to avoid repeating what I have already said.

I have, &c.,

G. E. SMITH,

Major, Royal Engineers,

Director of Surveys.

His Majesty's Acting Commissioner,

Through the Commissioner for Lands.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SURVEY DEPARTMENT, BRITISH EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE. In the year 1906 the Department was reorganised. The Survey Department was separated from the Land Department, whilst the two new Departments, together with other Departments, were grouped together and placed under the Commis- sioner for Lands. The latter appointment was also a new one.

The Survey Department was itself strengthened by the addition of a Trigono- metrical branch, whilst the previously existing staff became the cadastral branch. I was appointed Director of Surveys, with control of both branches, and left England on the 28th June; I reached Africa on 16th July, 1906.

THE TRIGONOMETRICAL BRANCH.

Captain Knox, Royal Engineers, the Deputy Director of Surveys, Trigono- metrical branch, and Lieutenant Cox, Royal Engineers, Assistant Director of Surveys, Trigonometrical branch, with Company-Sergeant-Major Cox, reached Mombasa, on 4th April, 1906, where they were met by Sergeant-Major (now Mr.) Rehm. The latter had been transferred from Uganda, and joined my staff as clerk 2nd Corporal MacDonald, Royal Engineers, reached Mombasa a few weeks later.

Very heavy rains delayed work at first. Captain Knox proceeded with the provision of temporary trigonometrical offices.

and accountant.

His Majesty's Commissioner decided that trigonometrical work should commence in the region of Sotik. Lieutenant Cox proceeded to that neighbour- hood on July 3rd to search for a suitable base. No more suitable base than that near Kisumu, which I had previously used on the Anglo-German Boundary Commis- sion, having been found, he commenced work there on 14th July.

Captain Knox joined him on August 7th. I myself proceeded thither on 28th August, and found myself able to assist in the field for nearly two months. The astronomical measurements of latitude and azimuth, and the base measurements and base extension near Kisumu were completed by 25th September.

The linear distance covered by this principal triangulation is about 120 miles. It consists of 23 main trigonometrical points.

In the region likely to be required for settlement, 13 minor points were estab-

lished.

The total area covered was 1,375 square miles.

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