CO885-(21-23) — Page 446

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Future pro- gramme for frame. work.

Main frame- work records.

44

19. All surveys in Nigeria, except those in the old Western Province, are therefore "in the air" until the Kano, Naraguta, and the Udi frameworks are joined to the western framework in 1917. This is regrettable, as it prevents an early check being obtained, but, in view of the pressing survey requirements of a rapidly developing country, is unavoidable without largely increasing expenditure on the topographical branch.

The best general programme for the future is as follows :—

(i.) The trigonometrical section to extend the framework over the areas of the topographical branch programmes, these areas being those laid down by the Governor-General as of primary importance for the development of the country by railways and motor roads.

(ii) The trigonometrical section to measure bases for revenue surveys and execute the main triangulation in sufficiently large instalments to permit of the revenue sections proceeding with minor framework and detail revenue

surveys.

(iii) The various areas of triangulation to he joined up at the earliest possible date consistent with the general survey requirements of the Admin- istration.

The foregoing proposals contain many technical disadvantages, but are the cheapest that can be adopted.

20. It is essential that :-

(1.) All the main framework should be surveyed by one unit, viz., trigo- nometrical section.

(ii) All main framework records should be centralised and kept with the most scrupulous and methodical accuracy in the Surveyor-General's office.

IV. Adoption of the same set of Rules for the different Surreys. 21. All general principles should be laid down by the Surveyor-General by the issue of the following printed instructions, which, in every case, would pay due mental in regard to local conditions:-

Printed depart-

stractions.

Branch in- structions.

Co-ordi- nation

(i) Departmental Standing Orders. A handbook containing instruc- tions on organisation, finance, storekeeping, and other matters of depart- mental administration, the local rules and regulations of the Administration being applied to departmental requirements.

cal surveys.

(ii) Topographical Handbook.—Technical instructions for topographi- (iii) Trigonometrical Handbook,-Technical instructions for trigono- metrical surveys.

(iv.) Cadastral

surveys.

Handbook.-Technical

instructions

for

cadastral

(v.) Revenue Surrey Handbook.-Technical instructions, especially adapted for native surveyors, printed in English and Haussa.

(vi.) School Tert Book-Instructions in elementary surveying in English and Haussa.

(vii) Surveyor-General's Circulars.-Issued in cyclostyle form periodi- cally to maintain general administrative and technical homogeneity in the Department, special instructions, programmes, allotment of funds, leave. promotion, corrections, and additions to handbooks, &c.

22. With due regard to observance of the principles laid down by depart- mental instructions, heads of branches should issue their own instructions on all matters of detail by means of branch memoranda in cyclostyle form.

V. General Co-ordination of Surveys.

23. The present survey organisation in Nigeria renders efficient co-ordination impossible, and will, in the future, cause such confusion as will entail expenditure depends on on re-surveys. Fortunately, the staff of the Northern Provinces survey has been general

too weak to undertake operations on a large scale, so that but little harm has been organi-

done. In methods of survey and numbering of beacons, sufficient clashing between sation of depart-

the mines section and the Northern Provinces survey has already been observed to show the serious technical difficulties that will arise in the future. In the next field season the topographical branch (Southern Provinces) will be working over

ment.

45

the same ground as the Northern Provinces survey, and much duplication of work must exist.

I submit that there can be no possible difficulty in co-ordinating all surveys in Nigeria if the system of organisation suggested in Appendix II. and paragraph 38 is adopted, and if general homogeneity is maintained by the printed instructions mentioned in the last paragraph.

VI. Interchangeability of Personnel.

inter-

24. The European staffs of the Southern Provinces and Northern Provinces Advan- surveys should be interchangeable, for the reasons that the system :---

tages of

(i.) Offers prospects of promotion for the senior surveyors of each građe, change. (ii) Permits of transfers when work is temporarily slack in one country or of exceptional urgency in another.

(iii) Facilitates leave reliefs of surveyors, especially valuable in cases where there are an unusual number absent through leave or invaliding, and also in the case of school instructors.

25. I submit, however, that heads of branches, and also, as far as possible, Relief of heads of sections, should not be interchanged unless such change is to be permanent, heads of for it is essential to efficiency that the grave disadvantage attending all classes of branches West African service, lack of continuity, should be lessened as much as possible. tious. Every branch and section should possess a surveyor who is capable of taking charge during the leave of the head.

In the case of the topographical and cadastral branches, Southern Provinces, there is no difficulty, as suitable senior officers exist.

At the present moment, however, there is very grave difficulty in this respect in the Northern Provinces. There is no suitable officer of sufficient survey and admin- istrative experience and standing to relieve the Director of Surveys, nor is there any officer of sufficient experience to take charge of a revenue section. The gravity of the situation is accentuated by the fact that a considerable augmentation of the staff by surveyors who are only partially trained is in progress, and that the detailed organisation of the school and revenue section, and the early start of the latter, have still to be effected.

Even did a sufficiently experienced officer to relieve the Director exist, the task, in the absence of any fully-trained senior surveyors, would be beyond his powers. for he could not combine the instruction and organisation above mentioned with an efficient control over the numerous and widely scattered surveys, and the work of the headquarter office.

The situation will gradually right itself, for in the course of the next three years the senior surveyors should become sufficiently experienced to take entire charge of the various sections, and one of them, at least, should by then be capable of relieving the head of the Northern Provinces survey, or, as I suggest it should be named, the northern cadastral branch.

The reliefs of the heads of the Northern Provinces branch and the mines section is one of the chief reasons why my proposals for the organisation of the Nigeria survey as one department include the appointment of an Assistant Surveyor-General as dealt with in paragraph 43.

VII. Future of the Surrey School at Kano and the use of Native Surveyors.

and sec-

26. Paragraph 13 contains a full account of the use of native surveyors and Use of reasons for the formation of a native staff of a certain proportional strength to the native European staff.

Experience in the Southern Provinces shows that the Yoruba makes a most useful surveyor, provided that he is subject to supervision. In spite of the recent strike of native surveyors and pupils, and their consequent dismissal, I still con- sider that the Yorubas are amenable to departmental discipline, but that he loses half his value when employed out of his own country.

I understand that Captain Kempthorne, when in charge of Northern Nigerian survey work, found that Haussas of the mallam class were adapted to survey work, and from my own inspection of the Technical School at Nassarawa I am strongly of opinion that we have an unlimited source of supply in the Kano emirate for the native staff of the revenue section. There is no reason to believe that we should find any difficulty in obtaining men from Sokoto and Zaria for training.

Burveyors,