PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
UPLETE C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
178
pleted it in 1907 under my direction, if I failed to draw attention, not only to the very hard work done by them, but to the value and accuracy of their work.
The nature of the country, with its dense forests, matted undergrowth, and extensive swamps, rendered triangulation impossible and opposed every technical difficulty known in survey to speed and accuracy When to this is added the enervating effect of the climate in the "bush on mind and body, and the fact that all transport is by carrier, the results of the work in speed, accuracy, and economy undoubtedly compare favourably with those attained by the surveys of other countries.
Not only to the staff of surveyors, however, is all the credit due, for we have throughout received every assistance from the permanent departments of the Gold Coast, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the many Government officials whose kind help has always been at the service of, and been greatly appreciated by, that tem- porary department, the Mines Surveys.
F. G. GUGGISBERG, Major, R.E.,
Late Director of Surveys.
Survey Office,
198, Clarence Gate Gardens,
179
&c., with any degree of accuracy on the map now being published, and it is pro- posed, if men can be made available, to commence this very important work in the course of this year.
Cantonments,
23007
Accra,
8th April, 1908.
E. F. W. LEES, Captain, R.E.,
Director of Surveys.
No. 118.
London, N.W.,
March 6th, 1908.
APPENDIX.
A REPORT On the Work of the Survey Department from January 1st to March 31st, 1908.
1. On the termination of the Mines Survey Department, a small Survey Department was formed on the 1st January, the present staff consisting of :-
Captain E. F. W. Lees, R.E., Director.
Corporal G. V. Mathieson, R.E., Chief Surveyor.
Corporal R. N. Kilby, R.E., Surveyor.
Mr. J. B. Esuman-Gwira, Native Surveyor.
Mr. E. J. Smith,
Mr. T. H. Vaughan, §
Native Assistant Surveyors.
Mr. Josiah, Native Draughtsman.
Mr. Benson, Clerk.
The native staff, who, with the exception of Mr. Benson, had been in the employ of the Public Works Department since the termination of the Mines Survey, joined the Survey Department on the following dates:-
Mr. Smith, 1st February.
Mr. Vaughan, 27th January.
Mr. Josiah, 25th February.
Mr. Gwira has not yet joined the Department.
2. Chief Surveyor Mathieson landed at Sekondi on the 18th January, and the Director and Surveyor Kilby at Accra on the 19th January; Chief Surveyor Mathieson was put in charge of the field party, but, owing to the quarantine regu- lations, difficulties were encountered in transporting the necessary stores from Accra to Sekondi, and it was not until February 3rd that, having been joined by Surveyor Kilby, he was able to leave Sekondi; since then the field party has been employed on concessions on the rivers Prah and Ofin, and has completed work to the value of £300.
3. The native surveyors being unable to leave Accra owing to the quarantine regulations, a detailed survey of the town of Accra was commenced; owing to Mr. Vaughan being taken seriously ill on the 25th February, and to the fact that it was found necessary to put Mr. Smith through a course in theodolite work, the work has not made the progress which was anticipated; a plan of the evacuated area was made by the Director personally for the purpose of laying the new roads.
4. At the present moment negotiations are in progress with reference to the surveys of concessions in Ashanti, near Tarkwa, at the mouth of the Prah, and near Jemma.
5. Up to the present no steps have been taken to record heights, hill features,
(No. 350.) MY LORD,
SOUTHERN NIGERIA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 26 June, 1908.)
[Answered by No. 130.]
Government House, Lagos, Southern Nigeria, 9 June, 1908. REFERRING to my despatch, No. 93, of the 8th February,* and previous corres- pondence on the subject of the establishment of a Survey School in Lagos for training native surveyors, I have the honour to report that I have temporarily engaged Mr. C. A. A. Barnes, formerly 2nd Assistant Director of Works under the Gold Coast Govern- ment, for the post of Native Instructor, at a salary of £200 a year. Mr. Barnes came to Lagos, I understand, to offer himself as a candidate for the appointment. I enclose the letter† from Acting Director of Surveys recommending his employment. 2. He is employed subject to a month's notice, pending a reference to the Gold Coast Government as to his work and character, Colonial Secretary, Gold Coast, 27th and I enclose a copy of a lettert from the May, 1908.
Colonial Secretary of that Colony in reply to the enquiries which were made. I gather there from that Mr. Barnes's case has been under the consideration of the Colonial Office, and I request that I may be informed whether there is any reason against his employment by this Government in the above capacity, should he give satisfaction in the performance of his duties. Copies of his testimonialst are transmitted herewith.
3. I shall be glad to learn that the European Instructor has been selected and will proceed to the Colony at an early date, as promised in Lord Elgin's despatch, No. 846, of 23rd October, 1907.‡
I have, &c.,
24037
No. 119.
UGANDA.
W. EGERTON,
Governor.
TREASURY to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 4 July, 1908.)
[Copy to Governor, 22 July, 1908 (No. 172), and to the Director of Military Operations, 14 August, 1908. L.F.]
SIR,
Treasury Chambers, 3 July, 1908.
I HAVE laid before the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury your letter (4948/1908) of the 10th March last,§ further with regard to the expenditure on surveys in the Uganda Protectorate.
In reply I am to say that my Lords have learned with much satisfaction that the Secretary of State for the Colonies concurs in their views as to the costly nature of the service, and they readily accept the amended proposals which he has put forward.
• No. 112.
↑ Not printed.
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‡ No. 95.
No. 113.
Z 2
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