CO885-9 — Page 507

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

SIR,

(Saint Vincent. No. 67.)

62

Government House, St. Vincent, September 13, 1906. REFERRING to the Secretary of State's despatch, St. Vincent, General, of 4th ultimo, and to the circular despatch of 26th August, 1905,* on the subject of the teaching of the rudiments of hygiene in the schools of the tropical Colonies, I have the honour to report that the last-mentioned despatch received from Your Excel- lency in October last was referred by me to Doctor Branch, and certain books were obtained from England with a view to judge of their suitability for introduction into the primary schools here. Enquiry was also made by me from Mr. Harbin, the Inspector of Schools, as to the nature of any steps that might have been taken in Grenada in connection with this question.

2. The books, when examined, did not appear to meet the want, and no information as to action in Grenada was forthcoming. I consequently conferred further with the Board of Education and with Doctor Branch, who has, at my request, now prepared a tropical hygiene primer,† which deals in a very practical way with the diseases which flesh, coloured flesh more particularly, is heir to in this Colony, setting out very plainly the contributing causes and the ways and methods by which the evils may be combatted.

3. I received copies in print of this primer, which has already received the approval of the Board of Education, only this morning, and now forward herewith three copies.

4. The primer will be distributed to all school teachers with instructions to include the subject of hygiene, as therein set out, in the school curriculum. Later on, when teachers have had time to get accustomed to and digest the novelty of such teaching, it may be possible and expedient to arrange for a course of simple lectures on the subject to be given.

His Excellency

Sir R. B. Llewelyn, K.C.M.G.,

&c., &c.,

&c.,

Grenada.

39619

63

No. 37.

BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA PROTECTORATE.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PEARCE to THE EARL OF ELGIN.

(Received October 27, 1906.)

(No. 247.)

Government Offices, Zomba, British Central Africa, MY LORD,

September 14, 1906. In the absence of the Commissioner I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Lordship's despatch "General" of the 4th of August,* and regret that the report mentioned in the circular despatch of the 26th of August, 1905,† has not been forwarded.

2. I may perhaps venture to explain that the reason of this is, that, as Your Lordship is aware, there are no Government schools in this Protectorate, nor are the mission schools in any way under Government supervision.

3.

On receipt of the circular despatch above referred to, copies of the various documents which accompanied that despatch were duly distributed to the mission centres in this country and, in acknowledging the receipt of these papers, the heads of the missions appeared to appreciate the suggestions contained therein, and stated that the papers would be valuable to them in drawing up a course of instruction for their native teachers, and the Scotch missions contemplated including the subject of hygiene in their new Educational Code.

4. I am now making enquiries from the various mission centres as to what steps have been taken to further the teaching of elementary hygiene, and will in due course report further on the matter.

I have, &c.,

EDWARD J. CAMERON,

Administrator.

39798

No. 38.

F. B. PEARCE,

I have, &c.,

Deputy Commissioner.

39682

7

No. 36.

MAURITIUS.

ACTING GOVERNOR SIR G. BOWER to THE EARL OF ELGIN. (Received October 27, 1906.)

(No. 355.) MY LORD,

Government House, Mauritius, September 12, 1906. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, "General," of the 4th of August last, calling my attention to Mr. Lyttelton's circular despatch of the 26th August, 1905,* with regard to the teaching of elementary hygiene in the schools of tropical Colonies, which still remains unanswered, and to inform you in reply that the question has been awaiting the return from leave of absence in Europe of Dr. H. Lorans, Medical Director, who prepared the original scheme on which the Government has been working and in which certain details were lacking. A copy of the scheme§ is transmitted herewith. and it was impossible to proceed without them. has been requested to deal with the matter as mission to your Lordship.

• No. 4. + Not reprinted.

Those details were of importance Dr. Lorans has now returned and expeditiously as possible for sub-

I have, &c.,

GRAHAM BOWER.、

↑ Not printed. Printed as Appendix II. to Enclosure in No. 51.

(No. 128.)

MY LORD,

SEYCHELLES.

GOVERNOR DAVIDSON to THE EARL OF ELGIN.

(Received October 29, 1906.)

[Answered by No. 39.]

Government House, Seychelles, September 28, 1906.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the circular despatch of the 26th August, 1905, † on the subject of the teaching of the rudiments of hygiene in the schools of the tropical Colonies. I regret that, owing to the Medical Depart- ment having been short-handed during the absence on leave of the Chief Medical Officer, the subject has not received earlier attention.

2. I propose to appoint a small Committee consisting of the Honourable Mr. L. O. Chitty, the Auditor, Dr. R. Denman, the Chief Medical Officer; Mr. Mackay, Inspector of Schools, and Mr. W. L. Rind to consider and report as to the best practical method of introducing the efficient teaching of sanitation in aided schools.

3. I am inclined to think that the only possible method-having in view the reduced administrative staff and the language difficulty in teaching Creole children -is that the Chief Medical Officer should deliver yearly a series of lectures to teachers of primary schools on elementary hygiene, for the teachers to communicate to their pupils, as well as advanced lectures to the higher classes in the two secondary schools in Victoria.

4. I propose, subject to your Lordship's approval, to assign a sum of Rs. 100, to be expended partly by way of remuneration to Dr. Denman for the preparation and delivery of lectures and for his travelling expenses and partly by way of prizes

• Not printed.

† No. 4.