CO885-(26N14) — Page 4

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

885/26

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Question.

1. At bar or entrance, what

in :-

(1) the minimum width? (2) the

minimum

navigable depth, L.W.O.S.T.

(Note.-If between the en- trance and the deep sea there are bars or shoals where a lesser depth occurs than the mini- mum indicated above, a list of such obstructions and of the depths over them (L.W.0.8.T.) should be given.)

2. In the approach channel from bar or entrance to berthing accommodation, what is :-

(1) the minimum and

maximum width? : (2) the minimum and maximum depth, L.W.0.8.T.?

3. What is

(1) the rise and fall of tides

(a) ordinary springs,

(b) ordinary neaps?

(2) the rise of ordinary

nea pe above L.W.O.S.T.

4. What is the

maximum

available depth of water—

() at piers or wharves,

L.W.O.S.T.?

(b) in the case of enclosed docks, in the en-

trance locks, if any, and at dock quays, H.W.O.N.T.?

5. What are the respective

lengths of piers, wharves,

or (in the case of enclosed dlocks) dock quays, where

the maximum depth off water, referred to

Question 4, exists?

in

What percentage does

the total of these lengthe

bear to the total socommo- dation at the port?

Answer,

28

SCHEDULE L

PORTS AND HARBOURS.

Qucation.

6. What are the dimensions

(length, loaded draught,! and beam at that draught) of the largest vessels which under existing circum- stances, can be

(s) berthed alongside

any pier or

(L.W.6.8.T.)?

wharf

(b) in the case of en-

closed docks→→→

(1) admitted direct to?

or

(2) admitted through the entrance lock of any important dock or docks, H.W.O.N.T.?

7 What are the dimensions

(length, breadth, and depth over sill H.W.O.N.T.)

of the largest dry dock or floating dock in the port?

8. Are operations in pro-

greas

to increase

depth of water-

the

(a) at the entrance and

in the approach, channel-

(b) in the case of en-

closed docks, at the i

entrance lock, if any. of any impor tant dock or docka-

(c) at the principal

bertha-

to 40 feet at L.W.0.8.T. (in the case of the berths at enclosed docks, H.W.O.N.T.), and is ac- commodation being pro- provided for vessels 1,000 feet in length and of 100 fest beam?

If not, to what extent is deepening being effected, and for vessels of what dimensions (length,¦ draught, and beam at that draught) is modation being provided or in contemplation?

accom-

Answer.

29

APPENDIX IN

STATISTICAL

REPORT ON BLUE BOOK REPORTS AND OTHER COLONIAL

PUBLICATIONS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON BLUE BOOKS AND BLUE BOOK REPORTS.

1. We have the honour to submit our Report on Blue Book Reports and other Colonial atatistical publications.

2. Colonial Regulation No. 189, which deals with Blue Book Reports, runs as follows:-

"The Blue Book shall be accompanied by a report containing a brief account of the financial position of the Colony, its industries and commerce, the condition of its inhabi- tants, and other matters of interest to persons outside the Colony, with a summary of the more important occurrences of the past year. Opinions, forecasts, controversial matter, details of merely local interest, and tabular statements other than those required for the elucidation of the text should be excluded."

3. Blue Book Reports have also been dealt with by successive Secretaries of State in a series

of Circular despatches. We invite special attention to the Marquess of Ripon's Circular of the 11th of May, 1894, and to Mr. Chamberlain's Circular of the 31st of January, 1899.

4. In a subsequent Circular, dated the 30th of April, 1908, the Earl (now the Marquess) of Crewe intimated that, since the issue of the Circular of the 31st of January, 1899 (which suggested in considerable detail the outlines on which annual Blue Book Reports should be prepared) a tendency had grown up to revert to the practice of giving in the Reports unnecessary and uninteresting details, and he suggested that the Governor should be responsible for securing that the Reports, while following in a general way the principal headings suggested in the Circular of the 31st of January, 1899, should not be absolutely bound by them.

6. We are fully in agreement with the above-quoted instructions, but, as we indicate in subsequent paragraphs of this Report, we recommend that further measures should be taken with a view to checking the tendency, which still exists, to prepare the Reports upon stereotyped lines.

6. In the past it has been the practice, as is shown by Colonial Regulation 189, that the Reports now under consideration should be in the nature of a commentary upon the contents of the annual Blue Books. In our opinion this is no longer desirable and we suggest that the Reports, while they will no doubt be founded to some extent upon the returns and other material contained in the Blue Books, should not be regarded as dependent upon or allied to the Blue Books but should stand by themselves. We suggest that their title should be changed and that they should in future be called "Annual General Reports.'

7. The Reports are primarily prepared for the purpose of laying before Parliament (we in succinct and readable shape such material quote the Circular of the 11th of May, 1894) information regarding the financial position of the Colony, its industries and commerce, and the condition of the people, as would be likely to interest the large and increasing number of persons in this country who desire to inform themselves on Colonial questions." Our object in the various changes which we suggest is to make the Reports, as far as possible, a vivid and interesting record for presentation to Parliament, and attractive to other persons in this country who are interested in the progress of His Majesty's Oversea Possessions and Protectorates.

8. In considering the lines upon which the Annual General Reports should in future he prepared, we have thought it desirable to examine the outlines suggested in Mr. Chamberlain's Circular of the 31st of January, 1899, and we now proceed to submit our views as to the altera- tions which appear to us to be advisable in the light of subsequent experience.

9. We feel, however, that any of our recommendations which may be accepted by the Secretary of State should be communicated to the Colonial Governments in the nature of suggestions rather than as instructions. We think it undesirable to prepare a detailed outline of a model report, since past experience has shown that such an outline tends to fetter too closely the discretion of the Colonial Authorities. The object to be aimed at is the production of a useful and readable report in respect of each territory, and we believe that this end is more likely to be achieved if the writers of the reports are encouraged to rely on their own discretion in matters of detail, subject to the general warning that they are not to burden the reports with details which are of no interest outside the Colony nor with statistics which are only of value for local departmental purposes.

10. We suggest that each Report should be prefaced by a brief geographical and historical note on the lines of the introductory remarks which preface the accounts of the various Colonies, &c., in the Colonial Office List.

11. The report itself should begin with the "General Observations," which at present are usually, if not invariably, inserted at the end of the Blue Book Reports. These observations should include a review of the social and general conditions of the territory in the year in question, and of any important events which had marked the year, such, e.g., as changes in the Constitution.

12. We note, in this connection, that the instructions contained in the Circular of 1899 indicated that the General Observations should include remarks on future prospects of trade and on openings for investment of capital. We agree, but we suggest that it should be left to the discretion of the writers of the Reports whether these matters should be dealt with under'

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