CO885-(21-23) — Page 49

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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6

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Governments, and consequently their contributions to our funds are on a lower scale. If it he decided to keep these two sections distinct, it will be necessary to make certain alterations in our present financial arrangements, and also in the clerical work in the office. In either' case, the designation of the Controlling Committee will require reconsideration. Another matter to be discussed is in connection with the proposed new monthly journal. Are the contributing Colonies to be asked to pay for this publication or, if not, how many free copies sare to be given to them? Again, the issuing of this journal will necessitate the requisition of a considerable number of periodicals (and perhaps books also) which are not available in London libraries. Previously the Committee had decided not to form a library of its own, on the ground of expense, and the question arises as to what is to be done with the periodicals which we shall continually be accumulating. Are we to provide the necessary bindings and book-shelves ourselves, or should these publications be handed over to the authorities of the Natural History Museum, on the condition that they are to be stored in a manner that will render them conveniently available for our purposes?

The Committee has already recognised the desirability of starting the new journal as soon as possible, and in view of the very satisfactory nature of the August Conference it was thought advisable to engage the services of Mr. W. North for this purpose, at a salary of £300 a year. This appointment has already been officially confirmed by the Colonial Office, but the Committee is asked to decide what the title of Mr. North's position is to be.

After a general survey of the subject it has seemed inadvisable to attempt to produce the new publication before the beginning of next year, as it is essential that Mr. North should have a certain amount of preliminary training and experience before definitely embarking upon what is likely to prove a somewhat arduous task. He has already compiled a card index of all the ascertainable periodicals which contain entomological information of whatsoever kind. The number of these is somewhat disconcerting, as they total over 1,200 in no less than 15 different languages. Only about 650 of these periodicals are available in the Natural History Museum; another 100 have been found in other libraries, principally at the Com- mercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade and at the Board of Agriculture; while the remaining 450 cannot be traced. These last comprise numerous foreign journals dealing with forestry, agriculture, viticulture, &c., many of which we certainly must acquire. I have not had time as yet to examine this list of periodicals critically, but no doubt it will be found that a considerable number need not be consulted at all; but still it seems probable that our final list will amount to at least 700.

As the work of card-indexing insect pests can, to a great extent, be done con- currently with the abstracting and reviewing of the literature, it is desirable that this section of our work should be under Mr. North's control. It is, however, of the greatest importance that such an index should not be begun until a really comprehensive scheme has been thought out, so as to make the record as complete and as uniform as possible. To this end Mr. North has been compiling some experi mental indexes, and these have served to reveal many difficulties which will have

to be met.

There has been a considerable influx of insects during the quarter, about 22,000 specimens having been received, of which 5,600 are blood-suckers. But the number of contributors is not so great as for the previous quarter, the totals being 32 for Africa and 4 for the West Indies.

Unfortunately, owing to the holidays and also to the additional calls on my time in helping Mr. North with his new work, the arrears have continued to accumulate. The promised West Indian contribution of £250 a year towards the cost of an assistant is now practically assured, and efforts have been made to find a suitable candidate for the post, but so far without success.

The usual financial statement has been circulated, but it is necessarily incom- plete, so far as the probable expenditure and receipts during the next six months The date upon which the new contributions from the various are concerned. Dominions and Colonies will begin has not yet been fixed; nor is it now possible to estimate the expenditure which is likely to be necessary in connection with the pro- posed Bureau during the last quarter of this financial year. But, even after allowing

for Mr. North's salary up to March next to be paid out of our present funds, we may fairly estimate that we still have a reserve bilance of about £900 in hand. Dr.

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L. O. Howard writes from Washington that our two Carnegie scholars will be arriving in England in December. He evidently thinks highly of their work and general capacity, and expresses the hope that they may be provided with posts that will be commensurate with their abilities and training.

Mr. J. J. Simpson has now completed an eight months' tour in Sierra Leone, and, remarkably enough, he has found it to be a country singularly free from blood-sucking flies, as compared with other parts of West Africa. On the 3rd November he sails for Acera, on the Gold Coast.

Mr. S. A. Neave left England on the 15th September, and there has not yet been time to have news of him. He ought by now to have reached his proposed camp at the foot of Mount Mlanje, in Nyasaland..

ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE.

General Financial Statement as at 30th September, 1912.

Cash in hand :----

London, County and Westminster

Bank, on deposit at call

Crown Agents

Scientific Secretary

Cash receivable :-

Balance of Government Grants

Bulletin (estimated)

Interest on deposits

Estimated liabilities for the remainder of

the financial year :--

Salaries

1 [!

s. d.

£ s. d.

cocaco

පපු

972 0 0

Bulletin

280 0 0

Unexpended balance of Carnegie Fund

773 13 4

Travelling Expenses

30

0

Specialists' Fees

50

0

General Expenses

20

0

Balance of amount guaranteed for an Entomologist in Federated Malay States

270 5 0

Cash received from Government of

Western Australia

Salary of Mr. W. North Estimated balance in reserve

19 0 0

175 Q

0

909 6 2

2,000 0 0 322. 0 10 17 3 8-

1,000

130

0 0

0

0

30

0

0

£3,499 4 6 €3,499 4 6

Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Quarter ending 30th September,

Salaries

Carnegie Scholarships

Publications

Travelling Expenses

1912.

Camp Equipment (S. A. Neave)

Scientific Equipment. (S. A. Neave).. General Expenses

Interest

Payments. Receipts.

£ 2. d. £ s. d.

375 10 0

125 0 0

98 9 8

56

5 7

54 13

{}

29 10

2

25 5 2

13 13 9

£764 13 7

£13 13 9