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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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With regard to Queen's College, he stated that he had not considered the effect of opening it to girls. A change he thought highly advisable was that boarding accom- modation should be provided at the College. He saw no reason for changing the

system of education thereat; nor did he think it desirable to turn the College into a training institution for pupil teachers. The closing of Queen's College would, he opined, be little short of a calamity.

Mr. Blair went on to say that he was of opinion that the Cambridge Local Examinations were a suitable test, for the award of the Guiana Scholarship, but sug- gested that it should be incumbent on the winner to have obtained first class honours, with distinction in specified subjects, and that the scholarship should be extended to the study of agriculture and engineering; he doubted whether advantage would be taken of facilities afforded in agricultural training, as there was a strongly rooted objection to the idea among the parents of children in the Colony.

On Mr. Blair's withdrawal, it was agreed by the Committee that sufficient evidence had now been obtained, and they proceeded to the consideration of their report. They then adjourned sine die.

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The change to have effect with the scholarship to be competed for in December, 1901. I feel confident that there are many parents of successful candidates who are able to supplement a scholarship tenable for say five years by whatever other amount might be required to meet the reasonable expenses of the holder of it.

I have, &c.,

SYDNEY OLIVIER,

1926

Administering the Government.

37651

SIR,

(No.-519.)

No. S.

JAMAICA.

HENRY A. BOVELL,

Chairman.

ACTING GOVERNOR OLIVIER to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received November 19, 1900.)

-[Juswered by No. 18,]

King's House, Jamaica, October 30, 1900.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 39, of the 30th January last,* forwarding copy of the report of a Committee whom you had appointed to consider questions relating to the position of students holding scholar- ships in the United Kingdoms granted by Colonial Governments, and expressing your general concurrence in the recommendations made by the Committee.

2. This Government has obtained the views of the Jamaica Schools Commission, the Superintending Inspector of Schools, the Revd. Canon Simins, l'rincipal of University College, and of others qualified to form an opinion on the subject as affect- ing this Colony. While most of the recommendations made by the Committee are concurred in by the gentlemen above referred to, and while this Government would be glad to see them adopted if no additional, or but little additional, expense were involved, I have decided, after consulting my Privy Council, that it would not be advisable in the present financial condition of the Colony, at any rate at present, to increase the annual charge on public revenues with respect to these scholarships, whilst the greatest possible economy, with reductions wherever practicable, has to be exercised with regard to every branch of administration and expenditure. I have arrived at this decision with much regret, as the adoption of the Committee's recom-~ mendations, if feasible, would have been of considerable benefit to the holders of these scholarships during their course of study.

3. It appeared to me that the most serious factor in the condition under which these scholarships are held is the fact that they are only tenable for three years, while it requires not less than four or five years to complete a course of instruction enabling the holder to possess the necessary qualifications for a profession, such as that of law, medicine, &c. To meet this want, I propose, with the advice of the Privy Council, and the full concurrence of the Jamaica Schools Commission, to modify the present regula- tions respecting the scholarship so as to give the successful candidate the option of choosing any one of the following scholarships, viz.:--

£200 a year for three years.

£150

£120

"

four

five

"

(No. 8.)

SIR,

No. 9.

BARBADOS.

ACTING-GOVERNOR WILLIAMS to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(Received January 17, 1901.)

[Answered by No. 19.]

Government House, January 4, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 18, of the 30th of January, 1900, transmitting a copy of a Report of a Committee appointed by you to consider questions relating to Colonial Scholarship Students, as well as a copy of your letter to the Chairman of the Committee.

2. At the request of the late Governor, Sir James Hay, the Board of Education has given all the points raised its most careful consideration.

3. The Board is of opinion that it is expedient that parents should not be entirely divested of pecuniary responsibility in respect to the education of their children and further that, even assuming that the sum granted to the Barbados scholars, annually, i.e., £175, were inadequate for entire maintenance, scholars have, in nearly every case, won open scholarships at their universities, thus supplementing the Barbados Scholarship.

4. Having this in view the Board does not recommend the augmentation of the value of the Barbados Scholarships.

5.

With regard to the other points raised, the Board expresses the view that the conduct and manner of life of the Barbados scholars, up to the present, has been such as to satisfy the Board that scholars are not in need of the official guidance and control, medical or otherwise, suggested by the Committee. The Board points out that a Barbados scholar meets with friends from his own island at the several Universities, and experiences no difficulty consequent on lack of suitable advice and aid.

6. The Board gratefully acknowledges your suggestion that it may be possible to employ distinguished Colonial scholars in the Public Service of the Colonies, and is confident that the prospect of such a course will prove a valuable incentive to those studying at the several Universities.

7. I have given very careful attention to the opinions of the Board, and I think that past and present experience justifies it in taking the views it does.

8. Should, however, future events show cause for the stricter supervision sug- gested by the Committee, the Colony will no doubt gladly avail itself, where necessary. of the methods set forth in the Report.

5269

No. 10. MAURITIUS.

I have, &c.,

RALPH WILLIAMS.

ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received February 11, 1901.)

(No. 12.)

SIR.

[Answered by No. 13.]

Government House, Mauritius, January 9, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 29, of the

No. 1.

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