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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

TTTTT CO. 885

23 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

34934

SIR,

22

No. 40.

NIGERIA.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(No. 15A.)

(Received 14th September, 1914.)

Government House, Nigeria, 25th August, 1914. WITH reference to your despatch, "Miscellaneous," of the 17th of October, 1913,* I have the honour to enclose a copy of a notice published in the Southern Nigeria Gazette of the 19th of November last, inviting officers to forward to the Visual Instruction Committee copies of photographs taken, or of sketches made, by them of typical scenes in Nigeria suitable for reproduction as lantern slides or used as illustrations for publications. I am causing this notice to be republished in the next issue of the Gazette, with a special note drawing the attention of officers to the requirements of the Committee.

2. I desire to express my regret that you were not notified at an earlier date of the action taken on receipt of the despatch under reference.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 40.

GOVERNMENT NOTICE.

A. G. BOYLE,

Governor's Deputy.

THE notice of officers and others is invited to the fact that the Visual Instruc- tion Committee of the Colonial Office is desirous of obtaining a collection of photo- graphs giving views of typical scenery and illustrating the different aspects of life in Southern Nigeria, with the object of making a selection there from suitable for lantern slides which shall form a portion of a set of lectures on Tropical Africa, thus completing the series of lectures illustrated by lantern slides showing the most noteworthy features in the life and working of the British Empire.

2. The type of photograph well suited to the Committee's purpose is the artistic photograph by the competent amateur, which brings out some definite point of interest. It should be remembered. that clear prints are well adapted to the making of lantern slides in the absence of the original negatives: A short descrip- tion of each photograph would be of great assistance to the writer of the lectures.

(It is requested that in the event of any photograph not being available for use as a book illustration the person offering it will make a note to that effect).

3. The Committee would be glad to be supplied with a few rough water-colour sketches of such a character as to give a general idea of the natural colouring of a particular photograph. The process employed is to impose colour on a plain photo- graphic slide, and, failing sketches, satisfactory results have been obtained by care fully written instructions helped out, where possible, by small patches of water- colour.

4. Persons offering photographs should send them in strong packages marked "The Visual Instruction Com- "Photographs, Empire Series." and addressed mittee, c/o The Colonial Office, London, S.W."

By His Excellency's Command,

A. G. BOYLE,

Lagos, 19th November, 1913.

Colonial Secretary's Office,

No. 154 in Miscellaneous No. 276.

Colonial Secretary.

7658/11

SIR,

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No. 41.

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL EDUCATION OFFICER to THE SECRETARY, VISUAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.

Education Offices, Victoria Embankment, W.C., 15th September, 1914.

Mr. Hugh Fisher's Pictures.

REFERRING to Mr. Christie's recent interview with you and to previous correspondence, I have now to inform you that the Committee of the Council con- cerned have selected, for reproduction, 24 of the 30 pictures which the Visual Instruction Committee were good enough to place at the Council's disposal. remaining six pictures are returned to you herewith.

12015/08

No. 42.

The

I am, &c.,

R. BLAIR,

Education Officer.

MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE VISUAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE HELD AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE AT 3.30 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, THE 7TH OF OCTOBER, 1914.

PRESENT.

SIR CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH (in the Chair).

SIR JOHN STRUTHERS.

SIR CHARLES HOLROYD.

SIR PHILIP HUTCHINS.

MR. KEITH.

MR. NOALL (Secretary).

THE minutes of the last meeting, having been previously circulated, were

adopted.

The correspondence was reviewed. The Secretary was directed to inform Mr. Cana that the Committee regretted that they were unable to entertain his application to be allowed to use some of the Committee's photographs to illustrate the "Junior" encyclopædia.

It was reported that fifty letters signed by members of the Committee had been addressed to the headmasters and headmistresses of public schools.

A letter was read in which Messrs. Newton & Co. gave a statement of the sales

and hirings of slides during the last four months, and expressed the opinion that in

the present circumstances the results were quite satisfactory.

Messrs. Philip & Son had sold a total of 1,739 copies of the five books already issued, during the half-year ended the 30th June.

The Committee were informed that the book of lectures on the "West Indies and Guiana" had been published on the 27th of July.

Mr. Tilby had written all six of his lectures on Tropical Africa and expected to be able to place them in the hands of the Committee, for first inspection, within a fortnight. Messrs. Newton were engaged in making slides from about 150 views selected from the material in hand, but photographs had not yet been received from the Governments of the Gold Coast, Nigeria, Uganda, or the East Africa Protec- torate. The Governors had been reminded, and the Committee agreed that, at present, it would not be advisable to write to them again officially. Sir Cecil Clementi Smith undertook to communicate with the Governor of the Gold Coast.

The Committee then considered the question of the publication of these lectures. Mr. Keith pointed out that the delay in supplying photographs from the Colonies and Protectorates would prevent the issue of the book for some time, but suggested that the work should be allowed to proceed as quickly as possible. Sir John Struthers was of the opinion that there was little prospect of immediate sales of the book and slides, and consequently not much reason for pushing on the production.

After discussion it was decided that Mr. Tilby should be instructed to complete his lectures as far as possible, and to deliver them to the Secretary. Photographs should be dealt with as they arrive. Publication would be delayed until further instructions. Of his total fee of £80, Mr. Tilby would be paid £30 on account on the receipt of the lectures, and a further £30 when they were approved.

Mr. Keith suggested that in any case the lectures should be dealt with by Sir Charles Lucas before publication.

The whole question would be considered again at the next meeting.

* No. 25.

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