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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

19

Reference :-

C.O. 885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

SIR,

THE SECRETARY OF (Cape of Good Hope. No. 212.) (Transvaal. No. 239.)

No. 17.

STATE to THE GOVERNORS.

(Orange River Colony. No. 130.) (Natal. No. 153.)

[Answered by Nos. 32, 33, 35, and 45.}

Downing Street, July 24, 1909. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of correspond- ence, in which is outlined a scheme of entomological research for the British Colonies and Protectorates in West and East Africa.

2. Funds are now available for setting the scheme on foot, and the Earl of Cromer has kindly consented to act as Chairman of the Committee of Management. A list of the members of the Committee is enclosed.

3. It will be seen that the Committee desire to keep in touch with the research work in entomology which is being carried out in South Africa, and I request that you will communicate the accompanying papers to your Ministers with a view to securing their co-operation.

1. A further communication will be sent to you as soon as the organization of the Committee and the plan of work have been finally settled.

LIST OF ENCLOSURES.

(1.) Memorandum by Dr. Shipley, 13541/09.

I have, &c.,

CREWE.

(2.) Colonial Office to the Honourable N. C. Rothschild and others, 10 March (13541).

(3.) Report of Meeting at Colonial Office, 26 March (11379).

(4.) Colonial Office to Treasury, 17 April (11379).

(5.) Treasury to Colonial Office, 10 May (11379).

(6.) List of Members of Committee.

25287

SIR,

No. 18.

BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 28 July, 1909.)

[Answered by No. 21.]

British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road,

London, S.W., 27 July, 1909.

ADVERTING to your letters of the 5th and 16th instant, No. 21848, on the subject of a scheme of entomological research for the British Colonies and Pro- tectorates in West and East Africa, I am directed to acquaint you, for the informa- tion of the Earl of Crewe, that the Trustees of the British Museum will be glad to lend their support to the Committee of Management of the scheme, and, as far as is in their power, to co-operate with the Colonial Office in carrying it out.

I am to say that arrangements will be made for the provision of a room for the Secretary of the Committee, and assistance will be rendered by the staff of the Museum in the determination of specimens so far as their other duties permit.

The Trustees think it may perhaps be left to the future to decide in what way they could render effective aid to the Committee in the publication of the scientific results.

In accordance with the suggestion contained in your letter of the 5th instant, the Trustees have authorised Dr. S. F. Harmer, the Keeper of the Department of Zoology, and Mr. E. E. Austen, the dipterist on the staff of that Department, to serve on the Committee of Management as representatives of the Museum.

C. E. FAGAN.

I am, &c.,

• NOB. 2, 5, 6, 7, and 10.

↑ No. 15.

‡ Not printed.

No. 19.

MINUTES OF MEETING OF SUB-COMMITTEE A. OF THE ENTOMO- LOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE, JULY 28, 1909.

The first meeting of Sub-Committee A. was held at the Colonial Office on Wednesday, 28th July, at 5 p.m.

PRESENT.

Chairman, Hon. N. C. ROTHSCHILD.

Dr. J. Rose Bradford. Mr. A. E. SHIPLEY. Mr. E. E. AUSTEN. Colonel A. ALCOCK. Mr. R. NEWSTEAD. Prof. G. F. NUTTALL. Dr. G. BAGSHAWE. Mr. S. STOCKMAN, Mr. H. J. READ.

Mr. GUY MARSHALL, Scientific Secretary.

Mr. A. C. C. PARKINSON, Secretary.

1. In submitting for discussion what duties the Sub-Committee should impose on the Committee's entomologist, the Chairman pointed out that the question arose whether, in addition to the collection of insects, the entomologist should secure the assistance of local officials and others; and if so, whether he would be confined to interviewing and giving explanation or instruction to persons named to him by the Committee. Mr. Austen, summing up what he considered would be the main duties of the entomologist, held that he should cover such sphere of action as is assigned to him, finding out the local men and moving them to observe and collect as well as observing and collecting himself; that he should make a study of the local con- ditions, and specially investigate any epidemic that might call for attention at the time. Mr. Austen also raised the question of the possibility of practical experi- mental investigations in the East African Protectorates in conjunction with local veterinary officers, adding that the English were far behind other nations, in par- ticular France, in the conduct of such practical experiments.

Mr. Stockman said that he thought very little could be done in this way by the Committee's entomologist, but he should seize opportunities of obtaining from veter- inary officers what information the natives had to give as to this or that fly as the cause of this or that disease, and then follow up the natives' statements of fact. Mr. Marshall emphasised the "organising" side of the entomologist's work, while Dr. Shipley laid stress on the fact that the primary need was for material and life histories. Prof. Nuttall expressed the opinion that in the short time at the entomologist's disposal it would not be possible for him to collaborate in patho- logical experiments, but that he should organise the collection of insects and be allowed to exercise his own discretion to a very large extent.

Mr. Marshall stated unofficially that Mr. S. A. Neave would be willing to accept the post of entomologist in East Africa, but that he could not start before 1st January, 1910.

As no name was put forward for the post of entomologist in West Africa, the following resolutions were moved by Dr. Shipley and carried unanimously :-

(a) That no objection be raised to Mr. Neave leaving for East Africa as late

as 1st January, 1910.

(6) That the Chairman and Scientific Secretary take steps to find a candi-

date for the West African appointment;

and after further discussion it was unanimously resolved :—

(c) That Mr. Neave be authorised to organise the collection of blood-sucking arthropods in East Africa, and to interest in the work such local men as he may think fit, the Committee reserving to itself the right of advising him to visit certain people, or to give him specific instruc- tions through the Scientific Secretary.

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