CO885-(18-19) — Page 297

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Coutour

survey at source of

Ilo River.

Surveys at Ebute Metta.

Messrs. Dronyu

and Lomax

-addition

of to the

stuff.

Report on officials.

European staff.

Mesere.

Webb,

Black, and Drouny.

116

3. About eighteen hundred (1,800) plots have been measured abutting on the railway line and commencing at about the 33rd mile-post and continuing to the 60th.

These plots were intended for agricultural holdings, and a portion of them has been allotted chiefly, I understand, to reservists.

1. A very large contour survey has also been carried out at the source of the Ilo River, in connection with the proposed water supply of Lagos.

5. A large amount of survey has been carried out for other departments, including (a) survey, location, and laying out of a tram-line from Five Cowrie Creek to the Dejection Jetty; (b) survey and levelling of portion of Iddo Island for filling in and improvement purposes: (c) a long series of surveys and soundings on the bar in the connection with the Bar Improvement Scheme; and (d) survey and soundings at Apapa for the development of the Slipway Scheme.

6. A most important survey has been carried out at Ebute Metta which has defined and detailed the greater part of the large expropriation area in that locality; it has described each holding and Crown grant on the most approved methods, and has projected the streets in such a manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the property holders and has, at the same time, made it easily possible to carry out a proper system of drainage and sanitation. Concrete pillars have been placed at the corner of each section, thus enabling the Town Warden to see that a proper alignment is established.

7. A similar principle has been adopted in Lagos, but the congested state of the buildings, and the absence of a proper Building Act have greatly hampered operations.

the

8. One European surveyor and one European draftsman have been added to the staff of this Department. These officers were found necessary in order that and projection of the new map of the Colony might be carried out with survey reasonable despatch; they were appointed by the Secretary of State, and arrived in the Colony on the 29th of October, 1906, when they assumed their duties in this office.

9. The Survey Office at Calabar has been taken over by this Department, and with it two natives who were attached to Captain Woodroffe's staff.

10. The important expropriations for the year were: (a) at racecourse for building purposes; (b) at Ebute Metta for railway buildings; and (c) Victoria Street, street improvement.

11. The total area and amounts paid in each expropriation are given in table below:-

Locality,

Race Course

Ebute Metta

Victoria Street...

▲ rea.

2 acres 3 roods 27 perches

About 3 acres

About acre...

Total Amount Paid.

£ 4,279

1.859

437

12. I have much pleasure in reporting that the officials of this Department, both European and native have, generally speaking, rendered excellent services. Of course, those who have been recently attached require time to become familiar with the routine of their new duties.

13. It has been found necessary to discontinue the services of a few of the unpaid learners, but, generally speaking, the standard of proficiency is exceedingly high.

14. Those of the European staff who are deserving of special mention are Mr. A. Cleminson and Mr. M. Olphert. The one is an officer of remarkable ability, possessing great proficiency in scientific, departmental, and professional matters. The other an excellent officer (specially proficient as (a) an organiser, and (b) a pro- fessional surveyor) well trained in departmental routine.

The remainder are equally but differently qualified, and have all performed their duties in a very satisfactory manner. Messrs. Webb, Black, and Drouyn have done and are doing excellent work. I am of opinion that they will develop into

very excellent officers. Mr. Lomax, who is in charge of the Drafting Section of the Mr.Lomax. Department, is conducting it in a satisfactory manner.

15. Of the native staff I would specially mention Messrs. D. Akitoye, J. Ben- Native jamin, V. Coker, C. Johnston, J. Pratt, M. Goyea, and I. Wey.

staff.

Mr. Akitoye, as Chief Clerk, is an exceptionally able officer. He is highly Mr. educated and is specially qualified as an organiser. He possesses a unique know- Akitoye. ledge of departmental and official procedure.

work.

Benjamin.

Johnston.

Mr. Benjamin is a well-trained surveyor and is specially qualified for cadastral Mr. Messrs. Coker and Johnston are excellent surveyors and are specially qualified Messrs. for field service, as they possess, inter alia, an advanced knowledge of practical Coker and astronomy.

Mr. Wey. Mr. Wey I consider the most promising assistant in the Department. Messrs. Pratt and Goyea are both excellent officers and, as draftsmen, would Messrs.

I'ratt and compare favourably with trained Europeans. Mr. Pratt, under my personal super-

Goyea. vision, is in charge of the projection of the new map of the Colony, an undertaking which he is fully competent to carry out.

E. P. COTTON,

Department of Surveys,

26188

SIR,

Lagos, February 18, 1907.

No. 68.

UGANDA.

TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received July 23, 1907.)

Director of Surveys.

[Copy to Acting Commissioner, August 16, 1907. No. 205. L.F.]

Treasury Chambers, July 22, 1907.

I AM to request you to inform the Earl of Elgin that, in view of the further explanations submitted in Mr. Antrobus's letter of the 11th instant (21912/1907),* the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury now sanction the proposal that the Anglo-Congolese Boundary Commission should measure, between 15th January and 31st May next, that portion of the arc of the meridian 30° East of Greenwich which lies within the sphere of their operations, at an estimated cost of £2,000, of which £1,000 will be contributed by various learned societies.

2. With regard to the arrangements to be made for meeting this charge, I am to state as follows:-

(a) In view of the fact that the expenses to be incurred during the present financial year are not expected to amount to more than £98, my Lords are of opinion that they should be met from savings under other sub- heads of the Vote, and that the application which it will be necessary to make to Parliament in respect of the year 1908-9 for the new service may be limited to the provision of the balance of the expense of measurement less the contribution of £1,000 to be made by the societies and appropriated in aid of the Vote.

(b) Their Lordships agree, therefore, that it will not be necessary to call upon the societies for payment of their share of the expenses until 1st April next.

• No. 62.

I am, &c.,

G. H. MURRAY.