CO885-24 — Page 139

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

1 Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

260

TRINIDAD.

lands on which there is no timber, in lots of not more than two acres, at a nominal rental of 28. per acre for a period of two years (circular 5570/14/3517, a copy of which is attached).

Returns received from the Wardens show that this offer has resulted in 4024 acres having been taken up by 246 persons.

Arima

Ward Union.

Tacarigua

Montserrat

Oropouche and La Brea..

Naparima

Couva

Savana Grande and Moruga

Toco

Tobago

Number acres rented.

Number Tenants.

236

125

581

41

43

38

28

24

164

13

12

Not stated.

9

5

2

Not stated.

0

In St. Anns and Diego Martin, Cedros, Manzanilla, and Mayaro no land has been taken up.

In Toco, where the area taken is small, very large quantities of provisions are normally grown. In Tobago, owing to the large number of small proprietors, there is no demand for leased land'

At the beginning fears were expressed that prædial larceny would act as a deterrent.

The Government, however, issued a warning notice that special attention would be directed to this offence, and on circularizing all the Wardens only one reported that any case had come to his notice of the fear of such larceny proving a hindrance to planting provisions.

The Committee issued an appeal to the inhabitants of the Colony (a copy of which is attached bulletin No. 83, pages 250-255), urging the necessity of planting provisions, and giving examples of the generous offers made by estate owners of land free of charge. As the result of these various efforts there was a great deal of activity in planting provisions throughout the Colony, and although at first prices were higher than normal they soon fell, and the Colony has gone through a period of strain without any marked hardship to the classes to whom ground provisions are an important part of their food.

The Committee is continuing this season the encouragement of the planting of ground provisions.

W. G. FREEMAN,

Adopted at a meeting of the Committee, 28th May, 1915.

(Circular.)

THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY to THE Warden of

Chairman.

2nd October, 1914. Subject: Crown Lands to be rented in lots for growing of Provision Crops.

In view of the probability of a scarcity of provisions occurring, in consequence of the existence of war, the Governor has been pleased to authorize Wardens to rent Crown lands on which there is no timber, in lots of not more than two acres, to approved applicants, for the purpose of growing provision crops, at a rent of 28. per acre for a period of two years, to be paid in advance, with the option of renewal, if the tenant is found satisfactory, for a further period of one or two years. A form It is not proposed of agreement will be drawn up and forwarded to the Wardens. that any actual survey to define these lots should be made, but that they should be marked out by the Warden or his ward officer with a tape line or rod, as used by private owners.

Colonial Secretary's Office,

2nd October, 1914.

S. W. KNAGG8S,

Colonial Secretary.

13429

(No. 40.)

SIR,

261

UGANDA

No. 100.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Received 23rd March, 1915.)

Government House, Uganda, 8th February, 1915. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 459, of the 20th November, 1914,* and, in accordance with your instructions, to submit the following report on the general measures which have been taken in Uganda in consequence of the outbreak of war.

2. Immediately prior to the outbreak of war arrangements had been made to undertake punitive operations against the Turkana tribe, and the 4th Battalion King's African Rifles was distributed with this object. Lieutenant-Colonel Ward, Officer Commanding, and two companies were in the East Africa Protectorate, through which one of the columns operating was to march, two companies forming the northern garrison were concentrated in the Rudolf Province, and an additional These dispositions left two companies company was en route to reinforce these.

in the Buganda Province, one of which was posted at Entebbe and one at the military headquarters at Bombo.

3. Upon the receipt of intelligence that the European situation rendered an outbreak of hostilities probable, the marching orders of the columns concentrating for the Turkana expedition were cancelled, the company en route to reinforce the northern garrison was recalled, and, at the request of the Governor of the East Africa Protectorate, a detachment of police was sent to relieve the East African military post at Maerich on the Turkwell River, in accordance with the pre- arranged scheme. The various officers who had duties to perform under the scheme of defence were warned of the position, and orders were issued that the southern frontier was to be watched, and all movements on the German side of the border immediately reported. On the 31st July Lieutenant-Colonel Ward reported, from the East African column of the Turkana force, that he was proceeding to Nairobi by order of the Governor of East Africa, and that his troops were marching back to the railway.

4. On the 3rd August a telegram was received from the Governor of East Africa, who, in accordance with the scheme of defence, had assumed the office of High Commissioner, stating that he had appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Ward Officer Commanding Troops for both Protectorates. He also stated that he had issued a Proclamation calling out all officers of the Royal Naval Reserve, and that the Lake steamer service would not be maintained. The orders relating to Royal Naval Reserve officers were subsequently cancelled, but, in the meantime, the Bailings of the Lake Kioga steamers had been disorganized at a time when their services were particularly required for the movement of troops and transport.

5. The intimation of the outbreak of war was received early in the morning of the 5th August, and was at once made public in a Gazette Extraordinary, which also included a Proclamation placing the military, police, and volunteer reserve forces on a war footing, and calling out the King's African Rifles Reserve.

6. Upon the outbreak of war the two companies of the King's African Rifles at Entebbe and Bombo, which had been held in readiness to embark for East Africa for the defence of the Uganda railway, were ordered to sail for Kisumu, Instructions were at once sent off to recall one of the companies which formed the northern garrison, and to hasten the return of the relieving company which had been on its way north. These troops were, however, beyond the reach of telegraphic communication, and were from three weeks' to one month's journey distant from headquarters. In the meantime no regular troops whatever were available for the southern frontier, and, as reports received on the day of the outbreak of war revealed the presence on the border of several parties of German troops designed for offensive action in Uganda territory, the situation gave rise to considerable anxiety.

* 45801: not printed.