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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Mr. Mackinder stated that he was still receiving suggestions and corrections to be embodied in his lectures on India, and that in this connection he had been greatly helped by members of Dr. Heath's staff who had personal knowledge of India. It was decided that Mr. Mackinder should have a revised proof prepared and that it should be submitted, through the Colonial Office, to the India Office, with an intimation that the lectures had been read by Sir Philip Hutchins.

Sir Charles Lucas said that he had seen Mr. Blair, of the Education Department of the London County Council, with regard to the use of the Committee's lectures in the Council's schools, and Mr. Mackinder informed the Committee that Mr. Blair had arranged with him that his lectures next winter, to London teachers, should deal with the use of the slides and lectures. It was suggested that the opportunity might be taken of bringing to the teachers' notice the lectures on the United Kingdom.

A letter was read from the Secretary of the Royal Colonial Institute, inviting Sir Charles Lucas to serve on the Visual Instruction Committee of the Institute. Sir Charles Lucas said that he had replied deprecating the duplicating of committees. It appeared that the Council of the Institute were taking action on the offer of Mr. T. H. Hill to provide lectures on the Colonies, in his own county. Mr. Mackinder said that he had been assured by the Secretary of the Institute that the Institute would confine themselves to organizing lecturing, and that their work would not clash with the work of the Committee. Sir Charles Lucas and Sir Philip Ilutchins enquired whether a member of the Institute might le invited to join the Colonial Office Committee, but Sir Cecil Smith was of opinion that no good purpose would be served by taking this course. It was agreed that Sir Charles Lucas should inform the Royal Colonial Institute that it was not possible for him to join their Committee, and should ask to be kept informed of the progress of their work.

Sir Charles Lucas stated that a memorandum explaining the work and the finan cial position of the Committee and asking for a grant of £1,000 from the Rhodes He read a letter from Trust had been sent to Lord Rosebery through Lord Crewe. Lord Rosebery promising to bring the matter before the Rhodes Trustees, but holding out little hope of a grant being made. Mr. Mackinder promised to see Lord Milner on the matter when he returned from Egypt.

Sir Charles Lucas reported that a grant of 100 guineas had been obtained by Sir Cecil Smith from the Mercers' Company, and it was agreed that a formal letter of acknowledgment and thanks should be sent to the Company, signed by Sir Charles Lucas on behalf of the Committee.

Sir Cecil Smith referred to the need for a concise statement of the Committee's work which could be circulated with a view to obtaining further subscriptions. It was decided that the memorandum submitted to the Rhodes Trustees should be revised by Mr. Mackinder and printed for this purpose. Sir Cecil Smith agreed to sign a letter to the principal City Companies forwarding the revised memorandum and referring to the grant made by the Mercers' Company.

It was decided to defer making any communication to the Press.

The Committee approved of the payment of £25 to the Secretary, from the Princess of Wales's Fund, in respect of the year ending the 31st of March, 1910.

8395

No. 11.

Sin C. LUCAS to THE MERCERS' COMPANY.

DEAR SIR,

Downing Street, 18 March, 1910. Your letter of the 11th inst..* intimating that the Mercers' Company had been good enough to make a grant of 100 guineas to the Visual Instruction Committee, was laid before the Committee at their meeting to-day, and, on behalf of the Committee, I have to express most grateful thanks for the assistance which has been thus given to a work which is of much importance and permanent value.

Apart from the substantial nature of the grant, my Committee highly appreciate the interest thus shown by the Mercers' Company in the task which they are endea- vouring to complete and which Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, with his great Colonial experience, has warmly supported from the first as an original and most influential member of the Committee.

I am, &c.,

• NA

10614

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No. 12.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 11 April, 1910.)

[Answered by No. 13.]

:

(No. 149.) MY LORD, Government House, Lagos, Southern Nigeria, 15th March, 1910.

WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, General, of the 23rd of November, 1906,* I have the honour to forward à copy of a report by the Director of Education on the working of the scheme of lantern lectures on the United Kingdom during 1909.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 12.

F. S. JAMES,

Deputy Governor.

REPORT ON EMPIRE LECTURES GIVEN IN 1909.

During the year 1909, Empire lectures, illustrated by lantern slides, were given by the Inspectors of Schools in the Central and Eastern Provinces, but in the Western Province these lectures could not be given, as, during the first half of the year, no member of the staff could be spared for this purpose, and during the latter portion the lantern was in continual use at the evening classes held at the King's School for teachers and others.

2. The reports from the Inspectors of the Central and Eastern Provinces state that the lectures were attended with an encouraging amount of success, the audiences, both children and adults, being attentive and appreciative, and in many cases showing an intelligent interest, as evidenced by the questions asked by them after the lectures.

3. The most successful lectures were those given at Warri, Calabar, and Bonny, and, in addition, at the last-named place a series of lectures were delivered by the European staff to the 65 teachers attending the vacation school for teachers during the Christmas holidays. They were found to be a most valuable aid to the instruction given.

4. One important result of these lectures has been to bring home to those attending them the greatness of the Empire, besides broadening their outlook on the world in general.

5. There is no doubt that these lectures form a very valuable and attractive feature in the education of this Colony, and it is the more to be regretted that, owing to the difficulties encountered in the transport of the lanterns and acces- sories from one bush school to another, greater use cannot be made of this means of instructing the natives of this Colony.

Education Office,

Lagos, 2nd March, 1910.

10614

No. 13.

E. G. ROWDEN,

Director of Education.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Miscellaneous.)

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. James's despatch,

No. 149, of the 15th of March,† and to express my satisfaction at the success which

No. 110 in Miscellaneous No. 188.

† No. 12.

SIR,

C. P. LUCAS.

Downing Street, 21 April, 1910.