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my letters on the subject of the teaching of elementary hygiene, and there appears to be a satisfactory interest displayed in the subject.

2. This, I am of opinion, should be encouraged, and to save delay I would ask whether it is possible for the Crown Agents to be instructed to send out the works and slides detailed on the attached list.

3. So as to be in a position to give the necessary information with regard to the cost, &c., of books and slides to members of any of the other missions who may communicate with me on the matter, I would ask that I may be supplied with a detailed

price list.

4. propose that the cost of the books and slides referred to above, and supplied through the Crown Agents, shall be recovered from the missions by the Treasurer locally.

I have, &c.,

F. B. PEARCE,

Acting Commissioner.

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2. The Board of Education have since caused school teachers throughout the Colony to be notified that unless at his next visit the Inspector finds evidence of reasonable effort to carry out the scheme, disciplinary measures will be resorted to under the by-laws of the Board.

3. It appears to me that before much result can be expected, the teachers must themselves be taught, and I shall endeavour to induce the Board to make arrangements towards this end.

4.

With respect to the fourth paragraph of your Lordship's despatch under reply, I have to report that the Board at present has no funds out of which the cost of magic lantern slides could be defrayed.

32806

I have, &c.,

W. HART BENNETT,

Administrator.

No. 69.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

1| 2 | 3]

Reference :-

885

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

9 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Enclosure in No. 67.

LIST OF BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS REQUIRED FOR BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. "A course of simple lectures on elementary hygiene," by Dr. Strachan, Chief Medical Officer of Lagos.

"A course of Lectures on Health," by Dr. W. H. Best, Medical Officer, Lagos.

Course of Hygiene for the use of Hong Kong Schools."

Series of lectures issued by the Gold Coast Government for use in Government Schools for educational purposes.

A treatise on Hygiene for use in the schools of Southern Nigeria, by Dr. J. W. Collett.

A short treatise on Malaria, its cause and prevention, for use in the elementary schools of Trinidad, by Dr. J. R. Dickson, Assistant Medical Officer of Health for Trinidad and Tobago.

Lectures on elementary hygiene and sanitation, by Dr. Prout, Chief Medical Officer, Sierra Leone.

Tropical Hygiene Primer" by Dr. C. W. Branch, Medical Officer, St. Vincent. "Primer on the Commoner Tropical Diseases for use in Schools," by Dr. T. S. Kerr, late Principal Medical Officer, Straits Settlements. Published by Messrs. Luzac and Company, 46, Great Russell Street, London.

List of lantern slides required:-

One set illustrating malaria.

One set illustrating dysentery,

One set illustrating bilharzia,

and a price list of slides prepared for use in Colonies similarly situated to Nyasaland.

32385

(No. 91.) MY LORD,

No. 68.

BAHAMAS.

ACTING GOVERNOR BENNETT to THE EARL OF ELGIN, (Received September 10, 1907.)

Government House, Nassau, August 22, 1907. WITH reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 28th March last,* on the subject of the teaching of hygiene in the schools, I have the honour to report that the Inspector of Schools states that at his last inspection he found that at many schools nothing had been done in this direction, and that in others lessons had been commenced but discontinued, and had been either forgotten or given to pupils who had since left.

No. 51.

SOUTHERN NIGERIA.

ACTING GOVERNOR THORBURN to THE EARL OF ELGIN. (Received September 13, 1907.)

(No. 490.) MY LORD,

Government House, Lagos, Southern Nigeria, August 26, 1907. As desired in paragraph 5 of Your Lordship's Circular despatch of 28th March,* I have the honour to transmit copy of a report from the Acting Director of Education on the progress made in the teaching of hygiene during 1906. 2. The report is extremely meagre and the results obtained are not at first sight encouraging, but at the same time it shows that some progress is being made with instruction in this important subject, and that although the children have not assimilated sufficient knowledge to pass an examination they are developing an intelligent interest in the elementary laws of health, the observation of which is of such great practical importance in this country.

I have, &c.,

J. J. THORBURN,

Acting Governor.

Enclosure in No. 69.

REPORT FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.

THE TEACHING of ElemENTARY SANITATION IN THE SCHOOLS Of Southern NIGERIA, 1906.

Western Province (Lagos).

Eleven schools offered candidates for the schools' examination in Sanitation held in the month of March. Of these two were disqualified, the teachers not holding the necessary certificates. In the remaining nine schools 406 children were examined in general knowledge of the subject as set forth in Dr. Strachan's Syllabus, and 36 were examined in Stage 1, that is to say, a more detailed knowledge of hygiene and the nature and causes of diseases. The number of children who passed is 292, that is to say, 183 of those examined in general knowledge and 19 of those examined in Stage 1. These figures show a marked increase on those of last year. Although a large percentage (55 per cent.) of the presentees failed, the results are by no means discouraging, a fair proportion of the children showing an intelligent interest in the subject and having a useful acquaintance with such elementary laws of health as concern themselves as inhabitants of a tropical town.

At the annual competitive exhibition of the work of all the schools held in the month of December, 100 children were examined in Sanitation. The judges reported that the results on the whole were very good, and that, the children showed excellent knowledge of local conditions.

• No. 51.