CO885-(19-20) — Page 358

يليسيا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

134

Now I have just sent off for a number of specimen bottles. When these come a number of them might be sent to such planters as Messrs. Hudson, Kennaway, Frew, Mallet l'aret, &c., with a circular, explaining to some extent what they already know, the ravages of insect pests, and asking them to send in any found These injurious to cultivation, or biting man or animals, or breeding upon animals. I will work up by further enquiries, &c., and finally forward them with as much knowledge concerning them as possible which can only be obtained locally. This should be of some assistance to the Entomological Research Committee, but I would strongly advise them to form some definite scheme for co-operation with them; their suggestion is a little indefinite.

13th May, 1911.

19413

No. 87.

LEEWARD ISLANDS.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

L. N.

SIR,

135

Enclosure 1 in No. 87.

(St. Christopher, Nevis. No. 167.)

Government House, St. Kitts, West Indies,

5th May, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's despatch, No. 188, of the 19th April, enclosing a copy of one from the Secretary of State with papers on the subject of the work which is being carried on by the African Entomo- logical Research Committee.

2. I have consulted the Senior Medical Officer of St. Kitts as to the possibility of this Presidency co-operating with the Committee by some means other than contributing to its funds, and I now enclose a copy of a minute by Dr. Fretz ex- pressing the opinion that except by means of making a grant to the Committee it will not be possible to co-operate.

3. I am entirely in accord with Your Excellency's view that this Government cannot contribute annually to the funds of the Committee.

His Excellency

I have, &c.,

T. LAURENCE Roxburgh,

Administrator.

C.O.

Reference :-

885

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

(No. 305.)

SIR,

FA

(Received 13th June, 1911.)

[Answered by No. 107.]

*

Government House, Antigua,

25th May, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch marked Miscellaneous" of the 22nd March last, requesting me to consider whether the co-operation of this Government with the African Entomological Research Com- mittee was desirable, and, if so, what would be the best means of effecting it, and enclosing four copies of printed papers on the subject of entomological investigation in the British Colonies and Protectorates in West and East Africa.

2. I enclose despatches from the Administrators of St. Kitts-Nevis and Domi- nica and the Acting Commissioner of Montserrat in reply to the despatches which I addressed to them, transmitting copies of your despatch of the 22nd March, and suggesting that they should consult the Senior Medical Officers of their respective Presidencies as to the practicability of co-operation with the West African Ento- mological Research Committee. In my covering despatch I pointed out that I did not consider that it was possible for this Government to contribute annually to the funds of the Committee. I was unable to send a copy of the printed papers to the Com- missioner of the Virgin Islands, as four copies only were enclosed in your despatch, and it was necessary that one copy should be retained for reference to the Chief Government Medical Officer, Antigua, and for record later in the Colonial Secre- tary's Office.

3. The Chief Government Officer, Antigua, has reported that the District Medical Officers of the Presidency have not sufficient time at their disposal to devote to entomological investigations, but the Assistant Chemist attached to the Federal Agricultural Department hopes to be able to make some progress in a short time in the collection of blood-sucking insects.

4. I am inclined to believe that the most practical suggestion for co-operation with the work of the Committee in the West Indies that has been put forward is that made by the Commissioner of Agriculture in his letter of the 6th instant to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, and I am confident that, if Dr. Watts's suggestions are approved, it will be possible for him to obtain in each of 'the five Presidencies of the Colony the assistance of persons who will be glad to give their help in furthering the work of the Entomological Research Committee.

5. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your despatch marked "Miscellaneous" of the 5th ultimo. I shall be much obliged if I may be favoured with five additional copies of the printed papers enclosed in that despatch in order that they may be distributed to the press of the Colony.

I have, &c.,

• No. 78.

+ No. I.

BICKHAM SWEET-ESCOTT,

Sir Bickham Sweet-Escott, K.C.M.G.,

Governor of the Leeward Islands,

Antigua.

SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER to ADMINISTRATOR.

HIS HONOUR THE ADMINISTRATOR,

Co-

Entomological investigation is intimately connected with tropical diseases, therefore a subject of far reaching consequences and great importance to us. operation with a committee such as is mentioned will be of inestimable benefit. From the variable conditions prevalent here, concerted action for making a collection to aid in this study will not be an object easily attained; besides which, the collector must be one with time at his disposal, and funds to meet essential expenses, for set of collecting apparatus, &c. do not believe that we have amongst us in the general community one imbued with the scientific spirit, willing or able to take up such work independently, nor is there a trained scientist to interest official or other residents in the collection and observation of noxious insects, and to afford instruc- tion in the use of scientific methods. I am thus compelled to come to the conclusion that, except some grant be possible to aid in this useful work, it will be impossible to co-operate.

W. H. FRETZ,

3rd May, 1911.

Enclosure 2 in No. 87.

(Dominica. No. 192/811.)

Government House, Dominica,

SIR,

8th May, 1911. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's despatch No. 198 of the 19th ultimo, on the subject of co-operation by this Presidency in the work of the African Entomological Research Committee.

2. I concur in the opinion expressed by Your Excellency that it is not con- venient for this Presidency to contribute to the funds of the Committee; but I have referred Your Excellency's despatch to the Senior Medical Officer, a copy of whose letter on the subject of co-operation with the Committee is transmitted herein.

I have, &c.,

His Excellency

Governor.

The Governor,

Antigua.

9399: not printed.

227

W. H. PORTER,

Acting Administrator.

I

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