k \ Wo. 189.

G O L D C O A S T .

ANNUAL SEPOET FOR 1895.

(For Report for 1894, see No* 158 of this Series.)

February 18#T.*

PRINTED FOB HUB MAJF-STT8 oTATIOKBBT tffTltif3

sr gnai amSPOTTIBWOOPB, imtststt TO fsi W W I I no« BXCIUUPTT MAJESTY,

And to be purohMod either diwc ily or through any Booktelier, from JRT&fl AUD S P 0 T T I 8 W 0 0 D B , BAJST HAipnra BTEIH, JxgiT 8XB*«V, B.O,*od

JOHN HENZXBS * Oo« IS, HJJTOTO* Srassr, BMSstnmr, and •Swat* Hifci 8T*BBT, GLASGOW $ of

HODGES, P IGGW, * Co., LxYCTitt, 104> GBAfTOH SlBIIT. Bra*!*

COLONIAL J U I ^ J I T S .

The fallowing, among other, Reports relating to He/ Hi&mif* Colonial Posr*ssions have been issued, and may b6 obtained for a few pence from the fcKirces indicated on thetit*j£age:-**

ANNUAL.

No. Colony. Year. ; — St. Helena -Ceylon Mauritius -Labuan Gold Coast British Guiana Sierra Leone Jamaica British Honduras -British Bcchuanaland Newfoundland ' -Gambia • -Bermuda • -Leeward Islands -British New Guinea Zululand -Sierra Leone - . Gibraltar -Malta Barbados -Turks and Caicos Islands Falkland Islands -St Helena -Bahamas -Hong Kong Windward Islands -Labuan - -Trinidad and Tobago Seychelles - -Mauritius and Bodrigues

British Honduras -Lagoa Basutoland Ceylou British Guiana

154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 l/o 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183

184 135 186 187 188

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

MISCELLANEOUS.

Colony.

Gold Coast ZululandV Sierra Iiooue Canada -Bahamas -Hong Kong Newfoundland

Economic Agriculture. Forests. Geoiogy and Botany* Emigration* Sisal Industry. Bubonic Plague. %

Mineral Resources.

1894 tt w w

1894-5 1894

1894-5 1894

1S94-5 1894

1894-5 1895

19

ff

>*

**

9*

n

1894 and 1895 1895

1895-6 1895

1895-6

C O L O N I A L BEPOKTfl.—ANNUAL. 3

N O . 1 8 9 . Goto

G O L D C O A S T . [For Report for 1894, $ee No. 158.]

TAB ACTING GOVERNOR to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN.

Government House, Accra, SIB, September 30, 1898.

I HAVE the honogr to transmit to you a report on the Blue Book for 1895. I regret that it has not been in my power to forward the report at an earlier date, but since my arrival in the Colony on the 17th April, I have had so much to do that I hate only been able to write it at odd moments.

I have, &c. F. M. HODGSON, *

Acting Governor*

REPORT ON THB BLUB BOOK OF THE GOLD COAST COLONT FOH 1895.

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE,

Revenue*

There was no change in the general fiscal arrangements of the Colony daring the year, and the increased amount of revenue collected shows that trade was not only satisfactory but flourishing. The revenue amounted to 230,075J. 12*. 10rf., being an increase of 11,814/. 78. 3rf. over that of 1894, which amounted to 218,26U 5*. Id.

2. The following table gives a comparison of the revenue of the two years classified tinker the principal heads s—

Items of Revenue. im. 1898. Increase.

Wines, spirit*, tobaeoo, gun, *c (specificduties).

& $, d. 164406 H 3

* S. & 167463 Oil

* «. W 7 8

st»

General merchandise (ad valorem duty).

0 40,67917 4 MM 16 R

Liquor licence! • « • 6,800 0 0 M*7;10 0 617 10 0

Stamps (postal, telegraph an re-. venue).

E ?m 14 8 T,?

Other items • - • •11,867 14 1 fwm 10 4 4.464 16 8 ;

Totalrewje • • .. • UWHl 6 7 280,076 1810 11.8J4 7 3

9 Includes 6.1811.18s. 7<*. interest on mvattroant*. t Includes 6,29*1.10*. 10o\ interest on investaieats, f '

Q 94880. Wt. 20848. A 2

4 C O L O X I A I . R E P O R T S . — A N N U A L , ;

COAOT. 3. Taking the population of the Gold Coast at 1,500^000 OB estimated from the census returns of 1891, the taxation per head amounted in 1895 to the small sum of 3*vOf<2. The annual increase of taxation per head is roughly at the rate of 2\d., as shown by the following figures:—

*• d. 1892 - . - - - 2 5 1893 - - - -r 2 8 1894 - V - - • - 2 10£ 1895 - - I - 3 0 }

4. In no other Colony of the Empire is the general population so lightly taxed, and the imposition of additional taxes should neither be difficult nor harassing when the time cornea, as it will come in the near future, for raising additional revenue to defray the cost of opening up the country by means of roads and railways, of the provision of water supplies at the more important of the trade ports, of the erection of important and long required public buildings, and of such extension of the administrative machinery as the opening up of the country will render nec?8sary.

5. The actual revenue derived from imported alcoholic licjuors was 135,2201. 3*. 9c£, being considerably more than half of the total revenue of the Colony. The revenue from the same source in 1894 was 132,261/. .17*. 2d. The revenue from merchandise other than alcoholic liquors was 56,618/. 19*. 10i., as against 51,922/ 9*. 6rf. in 1894> Whereas, therefore, by the import of alcoholic liquors the revenue wa.s increased by 2,958/. 6*. 7d., it is satisfactory to note that the increase from merchandise other than alcoholic liquors was 4,696i 10*. 4d. The comparison is better shown by the following figures:—

Increase.

Alcoholic liquors - 2*24 Merchandise other than alcoholic liquors - 9*03

Expenditure.

6* The expenditure amounted to 265,289/. 5*. llrf., being in excess of \he revenue by no leas a sum than 35,213/. 13*. Id.) and more by 38,357/. 5*. Id. than the expenditure in 1894.

7. Upon public works of all kinds the expenditure, irrespective of salaries of the fixed establishment of the rublic Works Depart­ment (10,687/. 19*. 7d.)9 amounted to 39,306/. 7*. 2d., nndupon roads it amounted to 8,343/. 13*. 9d. A sum of 5,699/. 2s. 4rf, was spent in the work of education, 8,462/. 4*. 5(2. upon tele­graphic communication, and 15,618/. 1*. Gd. in connexion with the hospitals, dispensaries, and medical arrangements generally. The armed Hausa constabulary cost the Colony 32,857/ 3*. 8d., and

COLONIAL RBPOBfSir-AtfmXAr,.

the police force 12,845/. 5*. 5&, widle a small part of the expenses GUa COAST, of the Ashanti expedition—namely, a sum of 16,279/. lis.—was i m * included in the years expenditure.

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.

8. TKe Gold Coast Colony has no public debt, and on the 31st December 1895 the net assets amounted to 143,087/. 17*. llrf., including the following investments:—

Value on 31st December.

£ *. d. General Account (surplus fund) - 61,574 8 6 Savings Bank Account - • 2,625 17 7 Public Officers' Guarantee Fund - 627 11 2

LOCAL gtfinSk 9. The Ordinance passed on the 14th November 1894, to

provide for the establishment of town councils, has not as yet been brought into operation. It is proposed to try the Ordinance tentatively at Accra, where its operation can be watched by the Government, and then to extend the municipal system of adminis­tration to other towns, as soon as its success at Accra has been assured and the natives see the advantages which will accrue to them from it.

MILITARY AND POLICE FORCE.

10. The small detachments of Hausas which had been left at Bompata and Agogo, when the Ashantis had withdrawn their army from Nkoranza in 1894, were still at those places at the commencement of the yean

11. In November, the mission of the messengers sent to England by Prempeh, King of Kumasi, having failed, and no notice having been taken by the King of a second message sent to him in September, which he was requested.to attend to by the 31st October, a military expedition to Kumasi was decided upon to compel compliance with the demands of Her Majesty's Government., The preparations for the campaign were made with the utmost expedition. Instructions were given for the immediate formation and despatch of a special service corps, and arrangements were made for the West Yoikshire Regiment, then on its way to England, being sent to Cape Coast as well as the West India Regiment from Sierra Leone, and 100 men of the Lagos Hausa Constabulary to reinforce the Hausa Constabulary or the Gold Coast Orders were also issued by the Admiralty for the assembly of as large a naval force on the Gold Coast as was

6: COLONIAL ^EFOam—AJfltW***

( t o ^ j W £ r , p9*?ible. Preliminary preparations for the expedition we /« made * 'Vrh' i n the Colony/ Shelter nutp and field ho^pitiils were ,erected

at Prahsu, as well as at four places along thi road between Cape Coast and that station ; a temporary bridge was thrown across tne Prah at Prabsu ; surf boats for landing the troops were engaged; food supplies ordered, and arrangements matured for the provision of some 8,000 natives as carriers. Steps were also taken to arm the Nkoranzas, who were to accompany the Hausa force destined to march on Kumasi from the norfh-east.

12. The command of the expedition was entrusted to Colonel Sir Francis Scott, the Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Hausa Constabulary, who, accompanied by the Head Quarter Staff, left England on the 23rd November. The whole of the troops engaged in the expedition had disembarked at Cape Coast by the 28th December., and before the end of the year were on the march to Kumasi.*

13. The civil police foroa was separated from the Hausa Constabulary by an Ordinance pissed on the 30th June 1894. In December the constables stationed at several of the small towns were withdrawn and concentrated in the larger towns. The force suffers from the want of proper police stations, but it is hoped that it will be possible to remedy this want in the near future. The improvement which has been effected in the pay and prospects of the men has had the result of attracting a better and more educated class of men to apply for appointment.

PUBLIC WOR.

14. A large number of public works were either completed or commenced during the year. Among the former may be men­tioned a bridge over the Sweet River on the road between Cape Coast and Klmina, the clearing away of the houses in Accra burnt down by the fire in April 1894 and the marking out of new streets, die church of Accra, and the erection at Accra of a Queen's warehouse and a hospital for the Hausa Constabulary. Among the latter were the erection of an additional building to the Colonikt Hospital at Accra, additional bungalows for Government officer*, a court-house at Axim, Government officers' quarters at Saltpond, drainage work at Cape Coast, and the improvement and getting into order of the streets of the coast town of Winneba,

LEGISLATION. 1 l & < Nine Ordinances were added to the statute book, and

included:— • No. 1. An Ordinance to make better provision for the ' i Registration of Instruments affecting Land in the Colony;

* The result of the expedition is now a matter of history. The force met with no opposition, aid enter*} Kumasi oh the 17th January, and King freinpeh and hia> adherents were brought down to the coast, and lodged m filmma gaol.

COLONIAL UTBPOIITS.—ANNUAL. 1

No. 2. An Ordinance to amend the Statute Law of the Colony j . Qo&*CteAi?. and ^

No. 3. An Ordinance to make temporary provision as to com­pulsory Labour for Public purposes.

Ordinance No. 8 wa* passed for the purpose of ensuring to the Government a sufficient number of porters for service with the Ashanti Expedition. By native custom it is obligatory on persons of the labouring class to give labour for public purposes on being called upon to do so by their Ohiefe or headmen, and the Ordinance followed the lines of native custom, and strengthened the hands of the Chiefs and headmen upon being summoned to provide their quota of porters.

POPULATION.

16. During the year the countries of Nkoranza and Adanai, the former situated to the north and the latter to the south of Ashanti, were included within tho protectorate by treaty. ••JEhtr" Nkoranza tribe had revolted from the Ashanti confederation in 1892, and had been overcome by the Ashanti array and many of its towns and villages destroyed, including the well-known Mohammedan trading centre of Kintempo. A gradual revival of trade at Kintempo, which is being rebuilt, is now taking place, and it is hoped that with the protection now afforded to the Nkoranzas the trade from the interior, which was diverted by the destruction of the town, will once more flow towards it.

17. The question of forming on the Gold Coast permanent settlements of Kroomen, who are the coolies of West Africa, has been under the consideration of the. Government, and steps have been taken to acquire the necessary amount of land for a village site at Accra. An Ordinance dealing with the allotment and regulation of village sites is also in course of preparation, and it is hoped that a start will bo made in 1896 towards carrying out this important scheme.

18. The number of Christian marriages celebrated during the year was 124, being a decrease of 35 in the number celebrated in 1894. The numbers during the last six years have been as

' follows:— 1890 • - - - 93 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895

* 94 , - 110

- 135 - 159 - 124

Total Christian marriages in six years - 715

8 C 0 L 0 X U I . BBPOKTS.—ANNUAL.

19. It is satisfactory to note that the action taken by the Government in 1891, in requiring the establishment of cemeteries in the principal towns and village?, is being appreciated by the natives. Formerly it was the practice of the native to bury his relations within his dwelling house, but this practice is fast becoming a thing of the past, and the cemeteries established by the orders of the Government are now being freely used, many of the graves being marked with rude memorials to distinguish them. Cemeteries are kept up at the expense of the Government in Accra, Christiansborg, Cape Coast, Elmina, and Add*

20. During the year steps were taken by the Government for the complete suppression of the worship of the Fetish Katawero. This Fetish, which was located in Akim Swaidru, was accredited with powers of life and death, and many a wealthy native fell a victim to its supposed powers, it being a rule that the property of persons stated by the priests to have died by order of the Fetish should be divided between tho Fetish priests and the Head Chief of the country. The shrines of the Fetish were broken down, the eacred groves destroyed, and the people delivered from the tyranny of the rapacious priesthood.

EDUCATION.

21. Education in the Gold Coast Cojony has made rapid and substantial progress during the past three years, in spite cf the many difficulties to be overcome in such a country as West Africa..

22. The lack of properly trained teachers is in itself a great bar to the development of a thoroughly intelligent and useful scheme of instruction, and the various missionary agencies at*work in the Colony are under the circumstances to be congratulated upon the results of their labours.

23. Three years ago there were but 72 certified inspected schools in the Colony giving instructions to some 7,350 scholars. There are now 100 such school*, containing 9,954 children in attendance,—an increase of nearly 40 per cent, in the number of schools, and 21 per cent in the number of children in attendance.. The average attendance of the scholars has risen in the same' proportion, ahd the grant awarded by the Government for the past year has reached the sum of 3,174)/. 6*., a grant equal to a sum of 8*. 6d. per head for each child examined. The sum awarded by the Government is exclusive of grants for new buildings, repairs to old ones, grants to teachers, and grants towards the purchase of school books, furniture, and general apparatus, and, m addition, the Government entirely supports two of the largest and most efficient schools in the Colony, with 1,328 children in attendance, in addition to schools for the Hausa force and the civil police.

COXX>NIAIi BEFOBTS.—AX$VAX<. " V0

Denomination. No. of Schools. On Rolls. AYtffnge

Attendance. Examined. Giaut Earned.

Per Head.

Basel Mission - 83 2,705 2,472 1,012 19 0 #. d. 8 2 |

Wesleyan Mission 44 4,04* tm 8,654 1,896 2 & 7 8

Roman Catholic Mission 16 2.014 1,599 1,571 770 5 0 9 91

Government Mission - 7 1,191 808 910 -Totals • 100 9,954 8,607 8,179 6 0 8 5*

25. ^The subjects of instruction include reading, writing, and arithmetic, geography, history, and grammar, whilst in a lew of the larger town schools, shorthand, book-keeping, and music are taught.

26. A purely literary education for Gold Coast children would be of little value., and the Government is, therefore, encouraging the missionary agencies to include in the training of the children some one or more of many branches of useful industrial work that will enable the boy when he leaves school to turn his .education to some account and to help to develop the resources of his own country.

27. Plantation work in connexion with the schools is extending and flourishing, and already profitable crops of coffee are grown by the scholars at Aburi, Akropong, Begoro, and many other schools in the Akim and Ewahu districts, under the direction of the Basel Mission.

28. At Begoro, too, successful attempts have been made with cacao and the kola nut, and machines have been introduced for the subsequent treatment o|^|he coffee when picked.

29. At Akropong a f ifnencemenfc has been made with carpentry and bookbinding, also under the Basel Mission management, and a most excellent workshop has existed at Chri«tiansbf>rg for many years, where youths who have passed through the Basel Mission schools may receive practical instruc­tion in carpentry and smith's work.

30. Annual examinations of teachers for certificates are held at five centres in the Colony, and during the past two yeats have been numerously attended. During 1894-95 no less than 93 candidates attended the examinations of whom 26 were successful, and during 1895-96 some 79 candidates were examined, of whom 30 gained certificates. Frizes are also awarded to the successful

' teachers at the examinations. Thus the Colony has gained during the past two years 56 teachers, who have passed an examination and are now certified as fit to give instruction to others.

' 31. No scheme for secondary education yet exists, nor in fact is the country yet in want of such a measure. A scheme of Gold

24. The following tabulated statement will show more plainly Goto ihan words can describe the present position of the various 1 1

< durational agencies now at work in the Colony:— ~

10 . COLONIAL REPORTS.—-ANNUAL.

S w A ^ Goa«t Government scholarship, tenable at the home universities for four years, U as, however, drafted by the late Governor, Sir Brandford Griffith, the pass being the Senior Cambridge Local Examination*; but if will, I think, be some time before a Gold Coast native reaches to this required standard and ea^ns a scholarship.

32. An exhibition of school industries is held annually at Acjra for two days* This exhibition increases in popularity every year, and the exhibits increase also in number and variety, on account of the valuable money prizes awarded by the Government.

TRADE.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

33. Trade, excepting during the latter part of the year, when the general unrest due to the Asbanti expedition caused it to diminish, was satisfactory. The total value of the imports (invoice value, including freight and other expenses) was 931,5372. Is. Id., and the value of the exports 877,803/. 12*. Id. The total value of the trade of the Colony for the year amounted, therefore, to 1,809,340k 13s. 10</., - being an increase of 146,166/. 14*. lrf. over the value for the year 1894, which amounted to 1,663,173/. 19$. 9c/., or roughly at the rate of 9 per cent.

34. The trade of the Colony during the last six years—that is to say, since the present ad valorem duty of 10 per cent, has been in force, is shown as follows:—

Tear. Exports. Totals. Tear. Paying Duty, Admitted Free.

Exports. Totals.

IW - • • £ s. d.

3*7,480 17 10 £ s. d.

214*02118 6 & 9. d.

061,348 0 6 £ 8. d.

1,163,451 3 10 484.138 1 7 801,593 1 C 684.804 IS 8 1 50,086 2 8

\m • - • 422,028 8 1 175,068 4 4 665»0fti 8 8 1,262,064 3 3

im * • • 475,346 18 S 248,006 8 7 722,106 19 1 1,440,460 3 4

ISM • - • 007,100 7 I 206,721 1 8 800.348 10 11 1.663»178 19 9

im - 653,357 19 8 278,179 111 877305 12 1 1300,340 13 10

It will be seen from these figures that trade has increased in six years by nearly 650,0002., or upwards of 65 per cent.

35. The principal articles of trade a r e : ~ ; ' Jw^0rfc.-*-Ootton, woollen, and silk £oods, spirits, hardware,

cooper's store?, rice, flour, provision!, tobacco, building materials, and wearing apparel ' (

2?x/wrfj.—Palml oil, palm kernels, rubber, gold dust, timber, kok nuts, and nmtey skins. s /

COLONIAL KKP0B1 c.—AKKUAL. # 1$

38. Tbt bulk of the trade U; with the United Kingdom, a* tote shown by the following comparative tables:—r u

Import*.

Year. From the Jotted Kingdom.

From British Colonies.

From Foreign Countries. Totals,

1890 -£ #. d.

mmu s £ *. d, 6,861 0 4

£ 9* d. 139,502 1 6

£ 9, d. 562,102 16 4

1891 • 483^92 18 8 <J,085 6 10 177,302 17 11 665,781 3 0 '

1892 - 407,087 16 10 9,9*413 11 180,132 : 8 597,094 2 5

1893 « 584086 16 1 8,719 5 10 188,597 2 4 718,368 4 3

18M» - 582,273 14 8 13,168 14 1 217388 0 1 815,830 9 10

1896 • 680,000 7 6 91,164 18 7 210,87115 6

•

Exports. . . . . ^

Year. To the United K inborn.

ToJBritish Colonies.

To.Forefgn Countries. Totals.

1890 - , -£ 9. d.

494^37 1 11 £ 9. d. 64? 10 2

£ 9. d. 108*467 8 5

£ 9. d. m&& 9 6

1891 > 645,492 16 6 2,036 6 0 136,776 18 2 684304 Id 8

1892- 471,218 19 10 2^53 1.8 9 191.791 0 8 mm s 3

1893 • 680400 1 5 27,016 16 7 164,790 1 1 722,106 19 1

1894 • 608,258 6 7 29,786 3 1 212,320 1 3 860,S43 10 11

1895 . 580,415 1 6 38,211 6 2 • 268,177 4 8* 87/303 12 3

3 V. The Customs receipts during the year at the principal ports of th 3 Colony are shown as follows:—

i?ort.

Imports, exclusive of Spirits,

Gunpowder, and Guns.

Spirits, Gunpowder. Guns, Total.

£ s. d. £ d. £ 9. d. £ 9. 4. £ s. d. Aiim - • - 8359 7 0 6,11912 6 418 10 0 67 16 0 9349 6 6

Cape Coast • • 10,010 1C 6 20,597 8 10 1,170 16 0 1,081 4 0 8*409 18 4

Saltpond • - 6,365 18 11 1536018 6 8S2 9 0 167 8 0 98316 8 5

Winneba 2,200 10 11 16394 15 * 288 7 6 3412 0 17,777 5 11

Accra • 17,411 6 2 28340 6 6 1316 17 0 300 10 0 47,974 18 S

Adda - 3308 10 0 11,808 16 0 9* 1 0 16 14 0 16464 0 0

Kwltta I - 3,068 15 3 10*32 11 8 • ~ 123 4 0 13,714 10 11

Other staii JOS 3,001 2 1 26,000 1 3 978 1 6 86 18 0 29375 2 10

— -fltotalf • 66,6181910 195389 * 9 4175 1 0 1*76616 0 18*37110 7

28 • C O L O N I A L K E P O H T S . — A N N U A L .

CtoLP COAST. 38. The following tables show the general classification o f all 1895. imports and exports:—

Imports.

Value in Sterling,

Articles. Of Imports in

Detail, including, Expenses.

Total Value. including Bxpenses,

i

1. Lit* animals, food, drink, and narcotics £ 0. d.

248370 IS 4 £ . f. «*.

246370 5 4

2. Baw materialsi

(a) Textile - - • - Nil. —

* (b) Metal - - * - Nil. — 23,941 4 10 28,941 4 10

8. Manufactured articles:

(a) Textile - » — • - • 320,314 2 6

81,112 0 8 — 189,930 8 8 570366 8 10

4. Coin and Bullion 85,868 12 7 85368 12 7

— 931337 1 7

Exports.

Value in Sterling.

Articles. Produce and

Manufacture of the Colony.

British and Foreign and

other Colonial Produce and Manufacture.

Totals.

1. Livo animals, food, drink, and] narcotics • • - O

£ 9. d. 58 7 0

£ 9. d. 8,815 3 0

£ 9, d, 3388 10 0

2. Raw materials: .

(a) Textile • • 704 5 9 — 704 5 9

(6) Metal - . . . 91,566 19 9 — 91,566 19 9

(c) Other - • 728,108 8 1 — 728,108 3 1

3. Manufactured articles:

(a) Textile* 8 4 8 6,788 9 8 6,774 13 11

(*) Metal • • • — 1,008 11 2 1,008 11 2

{*) Other • 46 17 0 4,143 14 7 4,19011 7

4. Coin and Bullion • 41,681 17 0 41381 17 0

Totals • • • 890,487 18 10 57.315 15 5 877303 12 3

COLONIAL REPORTS.—ANNUAL. 1 3

Year. Palm Oil. Palm Kernels.

1

Rubber. Year.

Gallons. Value. Tons. Value. Lbs. Value.

1894 • '•:•*

1896 - •

4313365

4388327

£ *. d. 287,628 8 9 281,415 0 9

17,138

15359

£ i. d. 112378 8 1

98384 11 10

33*7327

4,022386

£ #, d. 233360 6 6

3*2370 0 5

40. The amount of rubber exported during the year is the highest on record* The increase was not, however, it is to be regretted, due to greater industry on the part of the natives engaged in the trade, but to speculations on the part of European firms/which importedkrge quantities from the neighbouring Colony of Lagos for re-export from the Gold Coast These speculations have come to an end, and as it is understood that large quantities of rubber are being exported from the Congo Free State, the profits to be made out of rubber are likelj to diminish unless the trade is fostered by improved communication with the interior districts of the Colony.

41. The export of mahogany and other woods of the Colony shows a marked falling off, but this may be fairly set down to the exceptionally dry year. The rivers by which the logs are brought to the sea were, in consequence of the comparatively small r: intall, so low during the greater part of the year that the logs could not be floated down. The trade of the last six years is shown by the following figures;—

Year. Value.

Feet. £ J. d.

1890 • 6,875 510 18 0

1891 • 1.850,236 22,096 12 5

1892 - 2,180,614 86,407 6 0

1893 - 3,412,486 50,428 9 4

1894 - 5,012,670 69,405 13 10

1895 - 3,587,337 28,244 14 5

42. The export of cacao, coffee, and kola nuts, to which minor industries attention has been prominently called in previous reports, continue to be most satisfactory, and it is gratifying to be able to record that there is every indication of further and continuous improvement in the future. The export of copra and guinea grains has, on the other hand, declined.

39. The supply of the staple articles, viz.—palm oil, palm GOLD

kernels, and rubber—has been satisfactory, as the following figures 1

show:— .

1* COLOmAl REPORTS.—ANNUiX.

•' i'

Year,

1—*r Cacao. T •

TBS! • ?

(toffee. ? Copra. Guinea Grains. Kola Nuts, •' i'

Year, Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Lbs. Value. Packages. Value.

1898-

i

8,480 £ *Y cL 98 17 10 21,437

* #. 630 13

d. 3 248304

£ $. 831 5

d. 0 83324

£ s. d. 621 8 8 979

£ #. d. 25,716 6 7

1894- 20319 64817 4 41,488 1366 3 4 649300 1,940 1 7 174,412 1,18617 4 1309 88311 18 11

1895* 28306 47011 7 61,766 1,763 17 5 488306 1,718 If 6 164398 880 16 * 2368 8036618 9

43. Tike slaughter of monkeys is decreasing! probably because the traders in monkey skins have now to go further into the interior to find the monkeys they require. In the last six years no less than 884,768 monkev Wins have been exported, to the value of 105.3002. 13*. 3c?., and as only skins in good condition with few shot holes in them are saleable, it is probable that within that period a> many as one million monkeys have been massacred in the Gold Coast.

Year. Number of Skint. - Valce.

1S90 - 169.040 £ s. d.

88,058 9 1

1891 », 187,070 80,403 11 11

1892 • 188,846 34,807 19 5

1893 - • " fSMK? 46,818 15 0

1894 - 168,405 41,001 14 10

1895 - 90,548 14,220 3 0

884,788 195,300 13 3

44. The market prices of nearly all articles of export have shown a decline, and in many cases as, for example, mahogany, kola nuts, cacao, guinea grains, and monkey skins, the fall in prices has been most marked, so that the year cannot be said to have been a favourable one for exporters* It must be remarked, however, that the values entered in the invoices, which are the values taken by the Government, are the approximate values at the port of shipment

45. A report upon trade in West Africa would not be complete without a reference to the liquor traffic about which so many conflicting opinions have been expressed,

46* As stated in paragraph 6, the actual revenue from alcoholic liquors was 135,220/. 3*. 9c?., being an increase of 2,058£ 6*. Id, over the revenue of 1804. The increase is shown by districts as follows:—

COLONIAL REPOBT9.—ANNUAL. IS

District. 1894. 1895. ' Increase.

Axim • • - . \ • £ f.

4 50 7 6 £ #. d.

6419 12 6 £ #. d.

1,169 5 0

Cape Coast . i • * 90J58 2 6 20397 8 10 889 6 i

6 15360 12 6

14398 0 0 15394 15 6 89115 6

28,781 18 6 28346 6 6 184 8 0 10349 7 1 11308 15 0 1389 711

11366 14 2 10362 11 8 - , . 24361 9 6 96366 1 6 we'll a

4,45114 6

Less decreases Saltpond and Kwitta • • - 1,496 17 6

Totals • • - 182361 17 2 185329 5 9 2358 17 0

GOLD Com* 1895.

47* Only in the Axim and Adda districts have material increases taken place, and they are to be accounted for by special causes and not by an additional craving for drink on the part of the normal population. In the Axim district the investment of capital by English companies and English firms in mining and timber concessions has had the result of attracting labour both imported and native, and Adda is the district from which the countries of Attabubu and the other Brong tribes recently added to the Protectorate draw their supplies.

48. A comparison of the importation of the alcoholic liquors into the Gold Coast during the years 1894 and 1895 is given in the following t a b l e .

Description of Liquor.

Quantity imported. Increase. Decrease* Description of

Liquor. 1895.

Increase. Decrease*

Bum - • * • Old Wine Galls.

965,111 Old Wine Galls.

1,007340 Old Wine Galls.

22319 Old Wine Gall*.

Gin and Geneva • 817,778 333319 15,441

Whisky 7,720 12,769 5349 ft Brandy 875 677 — 498

Wines - 20319 18366 1,663

Ale and porter 1U,947 28314 4367

Liqueurs, Ac - 2353 2,426 — 527

Totals - 1351,013 1398,601 46376 2388

Total increase in 1895 • , — , — j - , , , » ,

44388

In Imperial measures the actual importation during the year 1895 was Ijl65,500 gallon*. The*population> with that of the

COLONIAL BEPORTS.- -ANNUAL.

GOLD CoAiff, additional countries incorporated into the Protectorate daring •; the year may ba set down at 1,700,000.

49* It has been often contended by many persons that the quality of the trade gin imported into West Africa is so deleterious as to be harmful to the persons drinking it, but this contention is, I think, sufficiently disproved by an analysis made by Mr. G. W . Robertson, Fellow of thaOhemiM Society and an Associate of the Institute of Chemistry, at tne request of Sir Claude MacDonald while Commissioner and Consul General for the Niger Coast Protectorate.

Mr. Robertson's report is dated the 14tR Ootober 1895, and is as follows:— " Analysis of sample of trade gin received 2nd October 1895.

*' I have the honour to report as follows

" It contains-;-Per cent.

. * ' • . - .

* Absolute alcohol - - - 39*3 " Acidity, expressed as acetic dcid - 0*0068 " Ethers, expressed as acetic ether - 0*021 1 1 Aldehydes ^ - Present in small quantity. «' Furfural - - - „ . „ . " Higher alcohols - - „ „

« The only alcohol that can be estimated quantitatively is ethyl « alcohol: there is no methyl, and the higher alcohols, as shown " b y Sivalle's method, only exist in traces. The spirit is flavoured " by more than one essential oil, and apparently oil of juniper is " one of these oils. The liquid contains no sugar, and leaves but * a small extract.

* " In my opinion the liquid essentially consists of a pure distilled " spirit with essential oils. Of course no attempt to identify u tnese oils in the quantity sent—viz., 632 c,c.— was made. The " ethers are returned as ethyl acetate, but from, a fractional " distillation amyl acetate was qualitatively found to be present.'9

It would seem from this analysis that the trade gin of West Africa is neither more nor lesr deleterious than the gin sold all over London. *

SHIPPING.

60. Although the steamers placed by the General Steam Navigation Company in the West African trade were taken off early in the year, the • number of steamers arriving with

OOLOXUX. B1P01W.—ANHTTAL 17

merchandise at ports in the Colony shows ft6 failing oflf, as will Oou> COAS*. be seen from the following figures:~ I W ,

Nationality of Vessels*

Sailing Vessel** Steamers.

Nationality of Vessels* 1994. 1996. 1994. 1895. Nationality of Vessels*

No. Tonnage. No. Toiinagis No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage.

United Kingdom * 091 9 /991 99&099 971 980419

Germany • - — 99 109,199 79 99.796

Franoe • 4 1.990 9 978 49 49,766 46 49,49*

Italy • - - ' 9 3,064

UnitedStetes • 7 8,870 7 9369 — — Other nationi • — — 1 ooa BBS 1 1,008 4 11,604

Totals 94 9,025 14 6m 996 511*967 999 634,951

5 L Nearly all the steamers become coasting steamers as soon as they have enteited, that is to say, they touch at one or more of the 19 ports of entry to unload merchandise or take in produce. 122* steamers entered at Kwitta, whereas only 88 entered at Accra, but it must not be inferred from those figures that there is more trade at Kwitta than at Accra. With the exception of the small but rising port of Danoe, Kwitta is the first port of entry eastward, and the steamers which enter there nearly all touch at Adda, Accra, Saltpond, Cape Coast! Axim, or other ports. Similarly Axim, at which 60 steamers are recorded as having entered, is the first important port of entry westward, but the trade of that port is less than that of Cape Coast, where only 51 steamers are recorded as having entered, or, in other words, made Cape Coast the first port of call.

AGRIOULTUEB.

52. The land is not generally cultivated. Naturally rich, the soil will produce almost any commodity of market value. It abounds in the oil palm, mahogany, and other valuable woods, rubber trees and vines, and the kola tree with its valuable nut, hut, chiefly on account of the absence of proper roads, and the general ignorance of the natives, products which require a careful preparation of the soil and supervision, such as coffee, cacao, cotton, rice, & c , have not been cultivated systematically. The wants of the natives are few, and are met by planting maize, yams, cassada, and plaintains; the plantations being shifted from one spot to another as may be necessary.

63. The establishment by the Government of a botanical station at Aburi in 1890 has been the means of inducing the

0 94530. B

18 COLONIAL BUFOmTd.—AFKtTAt.

. GOLD Com. natives in the immediate neighbourhood of the station to interest themselves in the cultivation of coffee, and, ** the figures jjiven under the bead of exports show, not without result Machinery for coffee pulping has been imported, and it is intended to give

Practical instruction to the natives in its use, so as to show them ow the berry can best be prepared for export,

54. The system of apprenticing natives to the botanical station for instruction in agriculture, to which referenoe is made in paragraph 51 of last year's report, has, it must be admitted with regret, not been a success. A change is to be made. It is proposed to select a certain number of natives of edueation (a competitive examination will be held, the standard being Standard VI. of the elementary schools), who will be trained for one year under the curator of the botanical station in the Gold Coast, then for one year in the botanical station at Jamaica, and, finally, for one year in the Royal Gardens at Kew. The lads thus selected and trained will be required to apprentice themselves to the Government for a definite period, ana will be employed in such manner as maybe considered best for disseminating a proper knowledge of cultivating products of economic value among the natives, and stimulating them to apply themselves to an industry which will be of benefit to themselves as well as their country.

55. There are large quantities of sheep and cattle in the Colony, chiefly in the hands of the Mohammedan population, A ready market for them is found in the Coast towns, and there is no doubt that the industry of sheep rearing and cattle breeding is largely increasing. The native oxen are small, but are sturdy and strong, and at the time of writing this report a native of standing in the Colony is training a yoke of oxen to draw timber from land in his position along the new road, which is being constructed between Accra and Kibbi a circumstance which I am glad to mention, because it illustrates the fact that if roads are constructed by die Government wheeled traffic will follow.

56. Locusts were again very troublesome in many parts of the Colony during the year under review, and did considerable damage to the standing crops. They have been identified by the authorities of the British Museum ad of the same species as those of Abyssinia, and it is probable, therefore, that the swarms which have passed through the Gold Coast came originally from the eastward. Prior to 1893 the last visitation of locusts appears to have occurred as far back as 1852, It is generally sta+M that the swarms in 1895 were less numerous than in 1894, the eggs having been destroyed by the heavy rains, but in many districts the rise in the price of the native-grown foodstuffs has testified to the ravages which they committed. In Wassaw, for example, the price of 100 stalks of maize rose from Is, 3d. to 3*. 6<L The visitation of locusts is being watohfed by the Government with anxiety, but the heavy bush throughout the oountry must render

COLONIAL RETORTS.—ANNUAL. 19

concerted actidi against the locusts difficult; the heavy rains and Gow> the annual burning of grass and bush by the natives will, it is l i

believed, do much to counteract the evil* "

MANUFACTURES, MINKS, &O.

57. I the report on the Blue Book for 1894 (paragraph 52) I referred to the existence of petroleum in Appollonia. A company has been floated in order to work the springs, and machinery for the purpose is bring imported.

58. Several companies and syndicates have been launched for taking up timber and mining concessions obtained from the native Kings and Chiefs, and already some activity has been displayed, mining machinery and other plant having in some cases been sent to Appolionia, which is the principal field of operations. One company intends to connect the port of Half Assinie, bv means of a light railway with the Tando lagoon, in order to facilitate the conveyance to the Coast of the timber cut down on their concessions.

59. Concessions of various kinds purporting to cede valuable tracts of country, often for most inadequate sums, having greatly increased in number, it was decided to issue the following notice, which was published also in the English newspapers:—

Colonial Secretary's Office, Accra, October 10, 1895.

"Whereas grants and concessions have been made by Chiefs within the Protectorate without the consent of the Governor of the Colony:

H Notice is hereby given that no document hereafter made purporting; to grant or convey any right over or interest in land, save and except the right to occupy agricultural land for the

Imrposes of native husbandry, or the right to occupy building and for the erection of a native house, will be recognised in any

way by the Government unless it shall bear the signature of the Governor, or of such officer as he shall appoint tor the purpose, in token of Her Majesty's approval.

"Grants and concessions already made without such consent will be recognised only to such extent and on such conditions as may hereafter be determined, but the grantees of rights in respect of which there is a reasonable prospect of efficient and continuous work being done within a reasonable time will receive* all due consideration.

" By His Excellency's Command, " F . M . HODGSON,

* Colonial Secretary/' *

60. The following table shows the amount and value of the gold dust and nuggets exported from the Gold Coast during each of the last seven years

o 9 4 1 1 0 . o

20 C Q U > J C I A & HJSPOETS.~Al f i r t rAL.

. TlB8F. r Weight* i K . / : .jit,.;

188* 0*«.

28,667 108,908 10 0

1890 25,460 91,657 0 0 <

• * h

1891 24,476 88,118 0 0

1881 - * 1f^48 *8,805 17 0

1898 21,972 79,099 4 0 •

1894 fl>88* 73,795 17 5

1895 25,416 91,497 12 0

61* Notwithstanding the fact that gold dust is not a legal tender, merchants still accept it in the way of trade. During 1895 as much as 11,557 ounces, of the ,value of 41>606l. "18*. Irf., were accepted and exported, as compared with 10,447 ounces in 1894, of the value of 37,610/. M* T& The output from the mines during 1894 was, therefore, 13,859 ounces, of the value of £3,887/. 8e. 5d. ^

GAOLS AND PRISONERS.

62. There are three gaols and nine lock-ups in the Colony, and 2,006 persons, classified as follow*, were committed to confinement in them:—

For debt . . . . 376 For safe custody until trial or for want of

security • > • - 564 For purposes of penal imprisonment - 1,066

Of the 1,066 persons committed for penal imprisonment, 868 were committed for three months or less, and of the remainder 408 were old offenders.

63. The following table gives statistics for the past five years:—

Tears.

••

Males. Females. Juveniles. Totals.

1891 - 1,677 85 8 1,766

1892 1,475 48 11 1,584

1898 - 1,518 61 15 1,589

1864 - - 1,550 74 20 1,844

1896 - * v 1,859 101 46 2,006

COLONIAL WJPCWaTS.-T-ANNUAL, 21

84 During the year 729 prisoners were treated in the gaol infirmaries, and the attendances, or out-patients, amounted to* 10,681. >•«

d5. rphe following comparative statement of sickness and'death -among prisoners during the last five years is worthy of notice:—

,, • *~ * L-

Year. Total Number of Prisoners.

Treated ia Hospital.

total Attendances or Oat patients.

• ' • m — W *

Deaths*

1821 • 1,766 SIS 11,028 7

1892 - 1,534 240 12,888 16

1898 - ( • ' i . 1,5*9 837 9,262 27

1894 - - 1,644 389 5,773 17

1895 - - 2,006 729 10,661

66. The la^e number of admissions into hospital during the year, as compared with previous years is, the Chief Medical Officer states, largely explained by the cachetic diseases from which " the prisoners suffered, more or less acquired before admission * into prison, and to catarrhal affections induced by the excessive " heat and moisture, and the intensity of activity of the endemic 4 4 malarial poison which characterised the year/1

67. Of the 37 cases that ended fatally the following were the causes of de^th

Aneurism m • m I Bronchitis ;* 'tip '•' * • 4 Cancer of liver - m mm 1 Cardiac disease - - m - 3 Debility - m 4 Diarrhoea • m * 9 Dysentery • m • 8 Fever - m a* 1 Disease of kidnev m m 1 Phthisis * m m - 2 Rheumatism * m Ml I Tuberculosis • m • 1 Wound • m 1

68; The year 1895 was remarkable for the small rainfall. The greater number of the deaths among the prisoners occurred during the latter balfyenr when the heat was very great and debilitating.

o 2

i t * COLONIAL REPORTS.—ANN UAL.

69. The forms of hard labour consist of breaking and carry in g-atones, repairing and clearing roads, picking cotton and cocoanut fibre, raftbon's and bricklayer's work, coopering, whitewashing: prisons and other public buildings, transport services; and in the Accra gaol, where classes under qualified instructors have been formed, carpenters' and joiners* work, tailoring of all kinds, boot and i/hoe making and mending and other work in leather, basket making and weaving, as well as cloth weaving.

70. Light labour is represented by sweeping, minor sanitary work, and plaiting straw tor mats*

71. The total cost of the prisons establishment has during the last five yews been as follows

£ $. d. 1891 - • - - 4,230 10 0 1892 • - - # - - (5,387 1 8 1893 - > . - • - 5,511 8 8 1894 • - - - - 5,720 13 1 1895 - - - - 6,601 4 7

72. The want of a central prison, in which convicts can be confined in separate cell?, and can be brought under proper disciplinary restrictions, has long been felt A building to be erected in the vicinity of Accra has been designed, and it is hoped that an early commencement in its erection will be made.

CRIMINAL STATISTICS.

73. During the year 6,499 offences were reported to the police, as compared with 6,700 in 1894* Of these cases 1,682 were discharged or dismissed, 4,509 wpre summarily dealt with, and 276 referred to the Supreme Courts.

„ HOSPITALS. .

74. Public hospitals are maintained by the Government at Accnt, Cape Coast, Elmina, Axim, and Kwitta, and free dispensaries at Ada, Akuse, Chama, Saltpond, and Winneba.

75. A public hospital wad erected at Kwitta during the year, and a military hospital at Accra, for the treatment of the Hausa Constabulary at headquarters, war completed and brought into use*

76. At Accra and Cape Coast permanent hospitals exist for contagious diseases, and at the other stations temporary arrange­ments are made as the necessity for them arises.

77. The number of patients treated, both in the hospitals and at the dispensaries, has lamely increased, and there can be no doubt that the boon conferred upon the public by these institutions is very largely appreciated

COLONIAL BBP<>*m~ANtWAIi, » f f

78. The following (able shows the number of in-patients treated Goit>0<u«v i n the hospitals during tbe last sis | e * r a ?

Tear*

Fitieatf discharged.

Total." "* Tear* i

Cored. * * • Bettered. Not

improToa* Deatbs.

Total." "*

I S M - ;:| 769 179 40 47 1,084

i*rt>. v • SIS 41 48 S7S

1892 • • •'• * . . . •> 94e 972 1898- sss 994 S€ 94 ***** IS94 * 1,050 295 83 84 M61 1895 - WW SIS 61 95 2301 •

79. Smallpox, which towards the close of 1894 threatened to spread in an epidemic form throughout the Colony, was fortunately successfully contended with. 193 eases came under treatment, the disease being of a mild type. 138 persons were vaccinated, with successful remits in 96 eases.

80. The general health of the Colony was extremely bad, the endemic fever assuming a peeudo-epidetnic form of a malignant type, closely approaching in its clinical manifestations the Yellow 1 ever of the West Indies, The death rate among Europeans wa# very high, and the excitement induced thereby amounted at OM time almost to a panic, and served to intensify the fatal tendencies of the prevailing fever in the latter part of tbe yean The disease was practically limited to Axon, Chama, Elroina. Cape Coast, Saltpond, and Accra, but witfi varying fctten&y *t «**h of tbe*e places. To insanitary causes, aggravated by the excessive humidity o f the atmosphere, high shade temperature, and practically m rainfall, intensifying the action of pathogenic organisms of every kind, and especially the endemic malarial poison, must be attributed the malignant type of the fever.

81. Tbe European mortality from all causes was as under:—

Among Officials. Non-OAelals.

Per 1,000, Per 1,000. Accra • * 22 72 60*97 Axim • • m 7*76

807 89*29 250 NH.

Utoaai * - Hit. Saltpond • * * m $

2 4 CWOm*& . v m ^ ^ ^ V A U

82. The following table shows the number of lunatic patient* treated in tike Government Lunatic Asylum since its establishment in 1887:—

<• t »•

» t. V '•

Rdmainiog* am

Tear. Admitted.

Otrod* _ Hot . Deaths.

Rdmainiog* am

I. i t M. f. X* f •

m u 5 t — i — — 9 — 11 8

1888. • • 17 8 8 - . 1 - 9 8 18 8 1181 I • "'• 10 8 5 9 - 4 1 17 8 1888 • i ,

IS 8 - I - — - 8 » 1 90 4 M l . • 10 8 8 8 1 81 8 1898 • tl 8 7 i - 4 1 $1 8

8 4 8 8 — 9 as * v

im * 91 8 11 - /t "48 18

1888 11 4 - — 19 1 8 9 as 14* W 88 98 9 88 8 9 — 88 9 —

* 9wo finties sftsM, a ^

88. There is a large flower and vegetable garden attached to the asylum in which as many lunatics as possible are employed* During the year 12 male and 8 female lunatics were so employed.

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

84. The yea* 1895 will long be known on account of its phenomenally small rainfall. At Accra, where statistics are carefully taken, onlv 17*33 inches are recorded for the whole year. The heaviest rainfall was in March, when there were 3*69 inches. May standing next with 3*38 inches. The heaviest rainfall in one day was 1*96 inches, which occurred in March.

85. During the last six years the rainfall at Accra has been as follows:—

1890 - - - - * 29*53 inches. 1891 - • • • • - - 28-97 „ 1892 - • - - - 29-27 „ 1893 - - - - - - 28*73 „ 1894 28-32 „ * 1895 • - - • - - . 17-33 w

86. Hie average daily maximum shade temperature was 85*5°F, j

SAVINGS BANKS. : V

87. The number of depositors has increased from 330 in 1894 to 388 in 1896, and the balance standing to the credit of deposit era from 5,1621. i#. 10* to 5,578l IS*

s o

88. The increase ia the number of depositors at each bank is Cr*i*Cto*ifc shown bythe following comparative statement:— *****

•vv,_ . . . . . / • -

So. of Depositors, Beak* Increase.

1**4. 189$.

Accra • US 191 8 Adda * - 74 77 8 Axim • 19 15 8 Gape Coast * ss St 18 Charna * * s « 1 Klmlna • * • i t 97 11 Kwitta * - * IS 18 9 Saltpond IS 98 S Tarkwa • - 84 49 8 Winneb* 4 4 —

Total • 8S0 888 88

89. An attempt has been made to properly classify depositors with the following result :—

Occupation. \ No. of Accounts.

Auctioneer* -Bakers * -Barristers - -Bootmakers -Blacksmiths Bricklayers -Cabinet-makers Clerks - • ' -Editors • - • -Engineers * -Goldsmiths - -Institutions, &o. Krooboys * Labourers- • -Managers -Miners -Ministers of religion* Officials, European • Official, Native -Orerseers • - • Fhotogiaphers • Police • • •' • Printers -School children School misters and mistresses Servants • Tailors -Traders -Occupation not stated

Total •

1 2 4 2 1 a l

81 1 1 9

81 28 31

1 8 8

42 62

1 1

84 2 8 4

16 2

18 69

SSS

88 • COLOSTIAL BBPOBIS —ANNUAL.

00At?« 90. The majority of the accounts are for sums under 5?. The number of such accounts remaining open on the/81st Deceml)er was 278, as compared with 234 in 1894,

91. The following table shows the position of .the Savings Bank at the end of eich year of its* existence:—

OOWmAh KKFOBTiSU—JLKNUAL.

98 COU>mAf4 B iUK^T^—AKHfJAL.

92. I wrote b i t year as follows:--*" The rate of progress in 4 1 thrift as shown by the Government Savings Sank is to the 1 1 superficial observer distressingly *k>w, but the progress is " nevertheless surey and side by side with it is the knowledge " that many natives, instead of placing their savings in the bank, " employ them in, to tbe native, more congenial method of u increasing capital by small trading operations, which in this

< c country require only a small ^ash basis." As education spreads so also will the natives see the many advantages to be gained by thrift, and many of those who now bury their money in the ground will lodge it in the bank. There are* penny banks in connexion with eight of the schools of the Colony in which there stre upwards of 600 depositors, and it is hoped that the habits of thrift thus early inculcated will remain in many cases in after life*

POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH STATISTICS;

Past Office.

93. An increase of postal business has again to be recorded, as will be seen by the following comparative table:—

No. of Kstnwited

No. of Letters, &c

posted.

No. of Money Orders. Inland

Postal Orders.

Parcels Post.

Year. Offices open.

Kstnwited

No. of Letters, &c

posted.

registered Articles deaH

w i t h .

No. of Offices open.

Value of Inland Orders.

Value of Foreign Orders.

Inland

Postal Orders. No. of Offices open*

-

No. of

Parcels. Receipts.

18*8 17 111,041 7,836 • 9 * a. d .

1,939 8 2 £ a. rf.

6,709 3 7 3 826 £ a. 31 19 11

1888 98 146*905 9,739 : . 9 1,209 19 1 4,578 2 6 — 9 M 0 7 55 14 6

1880 •

26 -1*51,726 10,862 :. "9". 1,681 11 11 9,481 1* 0 mi- 8 lt902 102 8 9

1891 80 . 205,085 11,227 8 1,985 1 4 5,142 18 11 8 -V368 148 8 9

..

1899 - 31 225,293 13,362 5 3,193 8 v 0 7,251 1 11 3 3,379 104 19 I -

1899 81 835,112 15,956 5 3,787 11 2 9,525 13 7 1,231 3 6 7 2,782 216 6 0

1894 32 386,028 18,068 5 3,382 9 8 - 9,888 19 0 •

2,021 7 6 7 3,224 247 5 3 ~ * * *

1888 82 890,502 17,47,4 5 •1,679 5 11 15,397 9 0 2,150 18 6 '' *... i

3,518 278 1 9 '

» l a previous years the value of tfre Foreign Orders issued >t the General Post Office, Aware, has been wrongly included intlua ootmna.

30 > C O L O H 1 A X M » 0 » T 8 . ~ A 2 m t f A J 4 . *

Bo™0**»*. 94 , The inland mail services were satisfactorily performed during the year, not a single accident to them hating to be recorded. Mails are carried on the heads of the natives to all places to which postal communication lias been extended, at an average4 cost of 2d. a mile.

95. The question of increasing the number of offices available for the transaction of money order business will, it is hoped, be taken op in the near future. There is no doubt that in this and ill other ways the usefulness of the Post Office can be considerably extended*

Telegraphs. 96. The extension of the telegraph system to Prahsu, which

was commenced in September, was by the 31st December carried a short distance beyond Mansu. where a telegraph office was opened. Altogether 40 miles of line were constructed.

97* The wire between Cape Coast and Elmina was duplicated, and a commencement made towards completing the duplication of the wire between Accra and Cape Coast, between which stations the substitution of iron for wooden posts was completed.

98. There have been several instances of theft by the natives of the copper telegraph wire, copper wire being in request for native bangles, and it is in contemplation to pass an Ordinance making the Chiefs, where necessary, responsible for the safety of the wire in their respective districts.

99. There was a considerable increase in the number of messages dealt with irrespective of the traffic arising out of the dispatch of the expedition to Kumasi. The number of messages was 81,688, as compared with 73,776 in 1894.

100. The arrangements made in 1894 for the transmission of bon& fide press messages at a reduced rate were taken advantage of for the first time. It was hoped, when the arrangements were made, that the editors of the local newspapers would avail them­selves of the facilities thus afforded to make their papers of more interest, but their want of enterprise is illustrated by the fact that only a very small number of press telegrams was supplied to the newspapers during the Ashanti Expedition.

101. 889 telegrams were forwarded from the Gold Coast to Togoland, and 948 messages were received. Of the former no less than 693 were handed in at Kwitta, where there fire German mercantile firms having factories at Lome and Klein Popo.

102. The following table shows the growth of telegraph business since the 24th of May 1887, when the telegraphs were first opened for tbe transmission of public messages:—

Number of Telegrams dealt with. Beceipts. "

Number of Offices.

Miles of Wire.

.. .

Year. Number of Offices.

Miles of Wire.

Public. Government. Cable. TotaL Inland Telegrams.

For Cable Company. Totals.

£ a. d. £ *. <L

9 108 4,399 17,180 21,529 252 0 9 252 0 9

1888 11 178 9,243 % 27,223 : 36,466 518 7 0 — 518 7 0

1889 - * - 11 178 14,493 ' 22,481 715 37,689 786 1 0 904 4 7 1,690 5 7

1890 12 178 •

17,722 22,286 1,029 41,037 927 6 0 1,233 13 3 2,260 19 3

i 1891 - 18 210 17,513 21,157 1,274

i 39,944 1,015 10 9 1,586 17 1 2,«D2 7 10

1892 . 16 265 19,773 25,365 1,516 46,654 1,182 18 4 1,822 7 0 3,005 5 4

1893 18 868 27,934 30,063 2,034 60,031 1,822 7 0 2,466 7 T 4,288 14 7

1894 20 875 39,432 32,012 2,332 73,766 2,293 8 2 2,377 . 1 3 4,670 9 5

1895 - 21 415 42,722 36,275 2,693

[•>•'-

81,690 2,509 2 9 2,906 2 * 5,415 5 1

3i C O L O N I A L REPORTS.—'AMHttixL

Goi$ COAST. im.

making:-— 1. A survey of the reefs at Aocra with a view td the designing

of a breakwater to afford shelter for lighters and launches, and a place at which heavy, goods can be landed and shipped in smooth water;

2 r A survey of the bar at the mouth of the Volta River in order to promote the development of the navigation of that important waterway;

vicinity 6f Kpong, where there are at present impediments in the way of navigation ; and

4. The inspection of some of the ports on the coast which may seem to offer conditions entitling them to consideration in connexion with railway schemes.

104. Addressing the Legislative Council on the 28th October, the Governor made the following remarks v— \

" Under ordinary circumstances these preliminary surveys and investigations must occupy several months, and it cannot be expected that reports and designs can be ready before the summer of 1896, or that definite schemes can be proposed for consideration here until this time next year. Upon the result of the work just described must in a great measure depend the decision of the Government upon the railway question. Stated generally, the railway policy of this Colony is as follows:—The conditions under which bulky produce is transported from the interior to the Coast are such that, beyond a certain distance inland, products have no commercial value ; a new producing sphere could be tapped if a railway of 50 or 60 ijriles in length wert constructed, and trade could be further developed by the gradual extension pf the line; it is therefore desirable to carry a railway inland from the place best adapted for development as a harbour. What that place shall be is the matter now under consideration. Appam has been suggested by Captain Lang, R.E., who has surveyed a route from chat place. Accra, not unnaturally, has its advocates, and there may be other proposals. Under the circumstances, it will be apparent that it has not been possible to include in the estimates for 1896 any provision for railway expenditure/'

105. The necessity for training natives as engineers in con­nexion with the proposed railway has not, been overlooked, and % scheme has been drafted by which selected candidates will be sent to Ceylon to undergo a course of instruction in the techni­cal school and afterwards at the'Government factory, the railway workshops, and on construction works in the Public Works Depart­ment. It is hoped that the arrangements will be completed and the first batch of apprentices sent to Ceylon in 1896.

reaches of the Volta in the

COLONIAL BKPOBTl—AlfKCAL. 83

106. Boring the year tome progress was made in the construe- Oou> COAII* tion of trade roads. The trade road from Cape Coast through l f M * Denkera and Sefwhi was completed to a distance of three nubs nortfc of Jukwa, some 15 miles of the trade roid from Saltpond to the interior was constructed, and the surrey and laying out the new trade road along the right bank of the Volta between Kpong and Tmkranku was carried to a distance of 120 miles. Further, the trade roal between Accra and Insawam and thence vi& Apedjuato Kibbi (Eastern Axim) was commenced, and com­pleted to a distance of 10 miles. In respect of this road the Government has been able to get much of the work done bv con­tract and it is hoped that the system of contracts for road work, will be extender].

107. The Beads Department, which was sanctioned in 1803 and established in 1895, has beea abolished, and it has been recommended that the staff, reduced, however, to two surveyors and two assistant surveyors, should he placed under the Director of Public Works and made a branch of the Public Works Department.

108. In paragraph 55 of this report I have referred to the introduction of wheeled traffic on one of the newly constructed roads, a circumstance which will probably necessitate a revision of the order for the construction of roads of only 12 feet in width. In the adjacent German Colony of Togoland the width of the roads under construction by the Government is 16 feet

109. The construction of a bridge over the Sweet River, which crosses the coast road between Cape Coast and Elmina, has been completed, and cannot fail to facilitate inter-communication between the two places.

110. The improvement of the firry services throughout the Colony has engaged tbe attention of the Government, and a Bill has been drafted authorising the appropriation by the Govern* ment of ferries in respect of which the owners are in tbe habit of levying excessive tolls, or have neglected or mismanaged them, or where they are the subject of dispute between rival Chiefs or tribes.

GENERAL REMARKS.

111. Sir W. Brandford Griffith, K.C.M.G., after an adminis­tration of the Government of the Colony for a period of 9$ years, retired from the Government service, and was succeeded on the 8th April by Mr. W. E. Maxwell, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary of the Struts Settlements.

132. The period of Sir Brandford Griffith's administration was marked by many changes and an enormous advancement in the material prosperity of the Colony. Between the time of his assuming and relinquishing the reins of office the trade of the Colony and the revenue had been doubled.

11,3. The great and important question of providing a proper and sufficient water supply for the use of the people of the principal coast towns has engaged the serious attention of tbe

.QotAXtoAi*. 0 < m m m « i ^ « c t l ^ regards awater mipply for Accra 3s referred-to in p & r i g i ^ f 6 ] <rf the BlejtoH; On the B a b Book for 18$*/ Artesian # ^ 1 ^ of the difficulty, and arrangement*jfrire ae<**aiugty made for the heeessary -plitfft and tools teing got out, and a competent foremto engaged to undertake the work of boring for water. The first trial v$ll be : ma le at Accra, and it ia hoped that, if thi borings should prove successful, it will be possible to establish artesian welts at alf tlie;pt4ndi^^«c>^ :t(m6s;- i 1 - ^ ' . '

; 114. Failiug artesian wells, the Government has under considera­tion, re«rdfe A^ supply of the inhabitants. : v : ; J

; 1J5. Tjhe clearance of the houses, in Accra destroyed by the

the town, have been proceeded with;* The improvement both in the a p ^ c e and veatUati^of L the work is completed the salutary condition of Accra should be vastly improved. The public market, which was erected by the Government in 1893, and the opening of which had to be deferred in consequence of the necessity of accommodating in it the natives who had . been rendered houseless by the fire, was opened by the Governor in November. It is nlled to overflowing with vendors 'of rn^ty poultry, fish, vegetables, and, general commodities, and has proved the boon to the community which WJ^ anticipated, V t 116. Arrangements were made wi&Beuter's Telegram^Company for the despatch of two news telegrams a week to the Gold Coast, and the service commenced on the 12th October, h :i J , 1 / r m>>'

117. The several tribes within the Protectorate have been at

grace.( The Colony has within it all the essentials for prosperity, ich in. gold, invaluable timber, in soil, which will produce almost

any commodity of trade value, it is already attracting the attention bf capitalists, and with finances and trade ina satisfactory state, there' w no reason why it should not advance in material prosperity and bring Wealth to Engliih merchants and native producers ami workers. § x > ' 4 '

/ : i r Mi HODGSON, Accra, Gold Coast, Acting Governor.

- %tember 12^18fei8. ^ - T -ll :•!