CO885-(18-19) — Page 340

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.8

885

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

202

Compass correction.

It should not be forgotten that, however good a chart or map may be, no safety whatever can be ensured by using it with a compass uncor rected for deviation or one of which the error is not properly known. The triangula- lated points of the survey are perfectly correct. As the change of variation is so small across the lake, the deviation should be obtained by testing the ship's compass in some spot in about the mean of the variation, which can be done by plac- ing the ship in a position from which two triangulated hill summits are in transit, such as Baga Island summit in transit with Gwasi Hill summit, Buguzi Tree, or Lolui Island summit, &c., &c. With the transit bearing the compass should then be corrected with the magnets and its error all round should be found at that spot. Opportunity to do this can be easily got in calm weather, and it is of the utmost importance that it should be so done, and a report on each ship's compass error made at quarterly intervals

Referring to last paragraph, page 45, No. 565, Report of Colonial Surveys the detail of the maps was only completed in coast-line and useful topography, the survey only taking such soundings as were possible during the work except in detailed plans of harbours. The paragraph states that it will be probably some time before the traffic on the lake has so increased as to make more detailed survey necessary. As I have already pointed out, that is not my opinion.

Referring to S.W. corner of northern map, if a ruler be laid along the soundings off the Bugabu coast 78, 33, 66, 66, 66, it will represent the course of the S.S. "Winifred's" first voyage round the lake in 1903. It will be seen that she narrowly escaped what might have been complete disaster on S. Mugoma and Sybil Rocks, then unknown; use of the lead on that voyage gave a shallower sounding-33 which was at once marked as a danger and notice given of it, with instructions to use the lead in its vicinity. Later the rocks were reported. Later I found and reported the northern one's position, and later again, the S.S. "Sybil" was run on it. Without soundings no one knows what the ships pass over. For instance, on the Port Florence-Entebbe run, from Ulugi Point, on Rusinga Island, the only sounding up to opposite Baga Island, 52 miles, is one of 140 feet 20 miles out, that I took on the first voyage of the S.S. "Winifred," and ships have been on that run for the last 5 years. I know of no other soundings there.

I was told by the manager of the railway and others in Africa that any unknown covered rocks must be chanced by the steamers, and that sounding gave no real safety.

I instructed steamers to use certain courses only, as the lake was practically unsounded. I was told at the Colonial Office that it would not be possible to always keep them on exactly the same line. That was not intended. The courses I gave instructions for were laid down to clear known dangers, and had they been roughly kept to, no grounding would have occurred to date. Contouring the bottom is the only way I know of finding dangers, and a view of the lake shores with a rise of 100 feet in lake level imagined, will show any observer that the contours of the land would give notice of any of the numerous conical hill-tops just below that level. The hydrographical surveyor finds the broad base of the underwater hill, and climbs up it with his lead. The ship's bottom, "chancing" unsounded waters, finds the top-with disastrous results.

A good deal of sounding could be done if the steamer captains were instructed to use their sounding machines and recorders in unsounded waters; the recorders should be tested before and after use with lead lines.

The Port Florence-Jinja run could be shortened by surveying other channels. An expert hydrographical surveyor would be able to point out what further work was necessary, and it seems a pity that work which is necessary should not be done on the lake which makes the railway pay, while so much is being done in surveying the rest of the country.

The coast-line mapped amounted to 4,032 statute miles, exclusive of that in detailed plans.

B. WHITEHOUSE,

Commander, Royal Navy.

46115

SIR,

204

No. 144.

EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE. ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 17 December, 1908.)

1

Admiralty, 16 December, 1908. WITH reference to your letter, No. 43742, of the 3rd instant,* respecting the original drawings of the survey of the southern portion of Lake Victoria, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request that you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the drawings in question are not likely to be required by the Admiralty until additional surveys are made.

It will then be necessary for them to consult the original documents, and it is suggested, therefore, that they should then be returned to this Department for that purpose and should ultimately be deposited at the Admiralty if no objection is seen to that course, as it is desirable that the originals of all charts prepared under the authority of the Admiralty should be in the possession of this Department.

46181

(No. 795.)

MY LORD,

No. 145.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

I am, &c.,

C. I. THOMAS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 17 December, 1908.)

[Answered by No. 147.]

Government House, Lagos, Southern Nigeria,

28 November, 1908.

IN reply to your Lordship's despatch, No. 497, of the 22nd of June last,† approving of the employment of Mr. W. F. Hole in the capacity of an Assistant Engineer for capital works on the railway, at a salary of £300–£20-£400 a year, for one or two tours, as may appear most convenient, I have the honour to state that, the General Manager of the railway having suggested the transfer of Mr. Hole to survey or road construction work, the Director of Surveys was requested to report on his qualifications, Mr. Hole being temporarily placed under his super- vision. I enclose copies of Mr. Cotton's letters, dated the 22nd of October and the 18th instant, from which it will be seen that he very strongly supports Mr. Hole's present application for the position of European Instructor to the Survey School. I also enclose a formal application from Mr. Hole for this appointment.

2. I recommend that he be engaged on probation for two tours of 12 months, subject to discontinuance of his services by the usual three months' notice or pay- ment of one month's salary.

SIR,

Enclosure 1 in No. 145.

I have, &c.,

W. EGERTON,

Governor.

Survey Department, Lagos, West Africa, 22 October, 1908. WITH reference to the appointment of a European Instructor to the Survey School, I am of opinion that Mr. F. Hole, B.E., &c., should be considered as a suitable man. He possesses high academical qualifications, and a large number of excellent testimonials; cannot as yet attest to his practical abilities, but, as he is about to be transferred to this Department, I would suggest that the appoint- ment of Instructor be held over until I have had an opportunity of expressing an opinion as to his fitness for the post.

L.F. transmitting copy of No. 140.

† 18700 not printel.

‡ Not printed.