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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference :-

mimimmim.C.O. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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PRELIMINARY REPORT ON Mosquito-bornE DISEASES IN THE GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS PROtectorate.

THE Protectorate, compared with other tropical areas, is remarkably free from diseases borne by these pests. This, no doubt, is due both to its isolation and geographical features.

On a mainly superficial and hurried examination members of the genus Anopheles have not been found. The Stegomyia group, on the other hand, are much in evidence, and all specimens collected by me belong to this family.

In the Gilbert Islands there seem to be no mosquito-borne diseases endemic. There is a history of an epidemic of dengue some years ago, which was spread probably by the Stegomyia fasciata, and there are one or two doubtful cases of elephantiasis. Their origin may be due to the microfilaria.

On two short visits of In the Ellice group elephantiasis is very prevalent. inspection, when the ship called at each island for a few hours only and that time was fully taken up with other duties, it was impossible to collect data or to go into the matter thoroughly; but now that there is a Medical Officer resident in that group reliable information ought to be got easily and a future policy formed on that information.

Filariasis seems to be confined to the Ellice Islands in this Protectorate, but there are all the favourable conditions for its spread in the Gilbert Islands, both in the mosquito, the climate, and the water.

There appear to be three main sources of danger of introduction to the Gilbert group from the Ellice Islanda :—~

(a) Vessels recruiting labour from both groups. (b) Mission ships, with the usual "exceptions

enjoyed by such ships.

to rules and enactments

(c) Uncontrolled travel and communication between the people of the Gilbert group and the Ellice group by means of trading steamers. The Medical Officer of the Ellice group has already brought up this last point, and I mentioned it early in 1914. The Medical Officer of the Ellice group suggests that no people be allowed to travel to or from the Ellice group without a medical certificate stating that he or she is free from microfilaria. This entails a blood No doubt it will be examination. Certainly this is the only sound and sure way. irksome to the person wishing to travel, but it is equally irksome to the Medical Officer and is for the good of the whole community. Once the disease gets a hold in the Gilberts it will be a heavy burden of expenditure on the already overtaxed Medical Department.

Prevention is always cheaper than cure and a great deal

more satisfactory. Under present rules and regulations the disease is sure to get a hold in the Gilberts.

B. C. N. O'REILLY,

SIR,

Senior Medical Officer and Acting District Officer.

Enclosure 2 in No. 124.

(Gilbert and Ellice. No. 307.)

Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,

Suva, Fiji, 31st October, 1913.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for the favour of your observations, a copy of correspondence with the Rev. J. W. Hills on the subject of the regulation prohibiting Ellice Island women from going to Samoa.

I have, &c.,

BICKHAM ESCOTT,

High Commissioner.

His Britannic Majesty's Resident Commissioner,

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate.

(Reference to previous correspondence: High Commissioner's letter No. 296, of 25th October, 1913.)

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

Malua, Samoa, 18th October, 1913.

In conversation with Mr. Mahaffy to-day I referred to the hardships imposed on Ellice Islands students in our Malua Theological Training College by the regu- lations prohibiting Ellice Island women from coming to Samoa.

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As in the case of our Samoan students, we prefer them to marry at the end of their second year or so, in order that the wife may have the benefit of training for a considerable périod.

On behalf of our work I trust it will be found possible to arrange for exception in such cases; otherwise it will preclude what we consider to be an important part

of our training, and our mission work will suffer to that extent.

I also mentioned the matter of Funagogo about which I wrote lately. Trusting for a favourable consideration, if you please,

On behalf of the Samoa District of the London Missionary Society,

I remain, &c.,

J. W. HILLS.

His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.

SIR,

(No. 2086.)

Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,

Suva, Fiji, 31st October, 1913. I AM directed by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific to acknow- ledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant on the subject of the regulation prohibiting Ellice Island women from going to Samoa, and to inform you that a copy of your letter will be sent to the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands for his observations.

2. With regard to the proposed lease of Funagogo, I am to refer you to my letter No. 1942 of the 25th instant.

The Rev. J. W. Hills,

SIR,

Secretary, London Missionary Society,

Malua, Samoa.

C. H. HART-Davis,

I am, &c.,

Secretary, High Commission.

Enclosure 3 in No. 124.

(W. P. H. C. No. 224 of 1913.)

Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate,

Office of the Resident Commissioner, Ocean Island,

29th December, 1913.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's letter No. 307, dated 31st October last, on the subject of the regulation forbidding Ellice Island women from going to Samoa.

2. I am not in favour of exceptions being made as suggested in the letter enclosed from the Rev. J. W. Hills.

His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

SIR,

I have, &c.,

E. C. ELIOT, Resident Commissioner.

Enclosure 4 in No. 124.

(Gilbert and Ellice. No. 52.)

Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,

Suva, Fiji, 9th February, 1914. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you, for your consideration and remarks, copy of minute by the assistant to the High Commissioner on the subject of the representations made by the Rev. J. W. Hills respecting the regulation which pro- hibits Ellice Island women from going to Samoa.

2. You may think it desirable to communicate with Mr. Hills before making a further report.

I have, &c.,

His Britannic Majesty's Resident Commissioner, Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate.

BICKHAM ESCOTT,

High Commissioner.

(Reference to previous correspondence: Resident Commissioner's letter No. 224,

of 29th December, 1913.)