CO885-(18-19) — Page 307

137

15800

SIR,

136

No. 85.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

COLONIAL OFFICE to Sm W. EGERTON.

[Answered by No. 86.]

Downing Street, 26 September, 1907. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to inform you that he has had under his consideration your despatch, No. 165, of the 11th of April last, on the subject of the establishment of a survey school for training natives of West Africa as surveyors. Copies of your despatch and of the despatch which was received from the Governor of the Gold Coast at the same time are enclosed for convenience of reference.

2. The matter was discussed with you at this Office in June last, and it was then considered that a less elaborate scheme than that proposed by the Director of Surveys of the Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria would be sufficient to meet all probable requirements, and that, as the work of the Gold Coast Survey Department would in future be greatly diminished, the proposed school might be confined to Southern Nigeria only, and be conducted under the control of the Director of Surveys at Lagos.

3. It was decided that the syllabus for the course of instruction should be prepared in this country, and that the Director of Surveys should be required to adhere to it unless he could show good reason for recommending any alteration in it. I am to enclose a copy of a syllabus which has been prepared, and which Lord Elgin proposes, with your concurrence, to send to the Acting Governor of Southern Nigeria.

4. I am in particular to draw your attention to the proposed rates of pay of the Instructors. The salary suggested for the European Instructor must be regarded as provisional. It is essential that the post should be filled by a thoroughly competent man, and it may be necessary to modify the rate of salary in order to secure the services of a suitable candidate. The surveyor who is suggested as the Native Instructor in the school is Mr. J. B. Esuman Gwira, of the Gold Coast Survey Department. He is reported to be a highly trained and expert native, but as his present salary is only £120 a year you may consider that the proposed rate of £250 a year is excessive.

5. It is understood that you recommend that the pupils at the school should be bound under indentures to enter the Government service at the end of the course. and that special arrangements should be made to secure the enforcing of this liability in the case of minors. These details, however, may be allowed to remain over for your consideration on your return to the Colony.

R. L. ANTROBUS.

I am, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 85.

Plotting from field books. Lettering and conventional signs. Scales.

Geometrical drawing.

Use of compass and clinometer.

Use of logarithms.

2nd year-

Compass surveys.

Use and adjustment of theodolite and level. Plane-table surveying.

Elementary triangulation.

Theodolite traversing.

Calculation of latitudes and departures.

3rd year-

Triangulation. Levelling. Contouring.

Division of land.

Railway surveys

Mining surveys

Marine surveys

As may be required.

During the 2nd year students will also go through a course of drawing, as

below:-

Plotting by co-ordinates.

Reduction and enlargement of maps.

Compilation.

Elementary map projections.

Finished drawing

Finished lettering.

9. For the present only one white Instructor (£450-10-500) should be appointed

(one native Instructor (£250) (Esuman Gwira).)

10.

34647

The white instructor will be classed as an Assistant Director.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.8

Reference :-

885

WEST AFRICA. Survey School.

1. School to be an extension of the existing organization at Lagos.

2. Director of Surveys, Southern Nigeria, to be responsible.

3. Pupils to be paid a small salary (£20).

4. The course to last for three years.

5. The number of pupils not to exceed 21.

6. Each year's class to consist of seven pupils.

7. The 1st year's class to be immediately under the Instructor.

For the 2nd and 3rd years the pupils to be attached to field parties, except in

the recess season during which they will be under the Instructor.

8. The course of instruction to be:-

1st year-

Practical geometry.

Very simple trigonometry.

Chaining.

Keeping field books.

SIR,

No. 86.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

SIR W. EGERTON to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 30 September, 1907.)

Glenquiech, Kirriemuir, N.B., 27 September, 1907.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Antrobus's letter,

No. 15800/1907,* of yesterday's date, on the subject of the establishment of a survey

school for training natives of West Africa as surveyors.

As far as I am competent to judge the proposed syllabus for the school seems

suitable.

I approve of the proposed rate of pay for the European Instructor. He must

be a thoroughly competent man or the school will be a failure.

I suggest that the salary of the Native Instructor, Mr. J. B. Esuman Gwira, should be fixed at not more than £200. Even that is higher than Major Guggisberg proposed.

The allowance to pupils I propose should be:-

1st year

2nd year

3rd year

£20 30

35

Legislation will be necessary to make the engagements of minors binding, and

• No. 40.

† No. 41.

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• No. 85.

8

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