COLONIAL

REPORTSANNUAL.

No. S20.

GOLD COAST

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1898,

(For Report for 1895, see No. 189.)

Itewtitet to fcotf) ftoamrt Parliament ij* omman* of Hit URawrts,

December 1897.

L O N D O N :

P R I N T E D FOR H E R M A J E S T Y ' S S T A T I O N E R Y O F F I C E ,
BY DARLfNG & SON, LTD., 1-3, GBEAT ST. THOMAS APOSTLE, E.O.
A.nd to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
EYRE & S P O T T I 3 W O O D E , EAST HAFDING STREET, FLEET STREET, E C ; O*
JOHN MENZIES & Co., 12, HANOVER STREET, EDINBURGH, and
90, WEST N I L E STREET, GLASGOW ; or

HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., LIMITED, 104, GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN,

0

:
0.-8650.18.3 Price-tyl,

________

1897.

COLONIAL REPORTS.
The following, among other Reports relating to Her Majesty's
Colonial Possessions, have been issued, and may be obtained for a
few pence from the sources indicated on the title page
'' "
ANNUAL.
;

Year.

Colony.

No.

Basutoland
186
Cylou ...
...
...
...
...
187
188
British Ouiana ...
. ,
Gold Coast
189
190
Jamaica ...
Canada ...
...
...

*
191
Bermuda
192
Bahamas...
...
-..
...
193
194
Zululand
195
Gambia ...

...
...

19(5
Malta
...
...
...
...
...
197
British New Guinea ...
...
>..
..
...
198 : Turks and Caicos Islands
199
Barbados
200
Leeward Islands
201
Trinidad and Tobago
202
Gibraltar
..
203
Fiji (Trade)
204
Straits Settlements
205
Do.
do.
206
Falkland Islands
...
..
JBritish Honduras
...
...
208
Sierra Leone ...
...
...
209
Grenada ...
...
...
*
210
Hong Kong
211
St. Lucia...
...
...
...
...
212
St. Vincent
213
St. Helena
214
Seychelles
...
...
215
Mauritius
.... ; .
216
Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Inlands
JC 1 1 1
...
^
...
...
...
217
218
Ceylon ...
...
219
IiSLgOS
'""%
* *
'**
*'*
***

...

...
...
...

1895-6
1895
1895-6
1895
1895-6
1895
1896

1895-6
1896

1895
1896
})
>

1895
1896
_n

...

...
>>

'**

MISCELLANEOUS.
No.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Subject.

Colony,

Gpld Coast
Zululand ...
Sierra Leone
Canada
Bahamas
Hong Kong
Newfoundland
Western Pacific

...

Economic Agriculture.
Forests.
Geology and Botany.
Emigration.
Sisal Industry.
Bubonic Plague.
Mineral Resources.
Solomon Islands.

_..

. COLONIAL

BEPOBT8ANNUAL.

GOLD COABT,.
189.

No. 220.
GOLD

COAST.

(For Report for 1895, nee No. 189 of this Series.)

ACTING-GOVERNOR
: f

GRIFFITH to MR.

CHAMBERLAIN.

Government House, Accra,

15th October, 1897.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a report by

Mr. Haddon Smith, Acting Colonial Secretary, on the Blud
Book for 1896.
I have, &c,
W . BRANDFORD GRIFFITH,

C.J.,

Deputy for Governor.

REPORT ON THE

BLUE

BOOK OF THE GOLD

COLONY FOR

COAST

1896.

REVENUE.

1. The Gold Coast Colony has no Public Debt. On the

31st December 1896 the amount of surplus funds invested on
account of the General Account of the Colony was valued by
the Trustees at 30,908 5*. Id. \ the value on the same date
in the previous year was 63^164 10*. 5d.; the difference of
32,256 5.5. 4d. is caused by the sale during 1896 of securities
which it became necessary to realize owing to the heavy charges
caused by the Ashanti Expedition. The payments on account
of the Expedition during the year under review amounted to
31,095 16$. 4d., and miscellaneous expenditure in connection
with the occupation and administration of Ashanti caused a
75011/97 Wt 30618 P&S5

(fi)

A8

COLONIAL
GOLD COAST,

1896.

REPORTSAtftfUAfc.

further charge upon the Colony of 13,816 3s. l i d . I t is

interesting to note here that the annual increase in expenditure,
which has been continuous since 1890, would have ceased in
1896, and that the expenditure of the latter year would have
shown a decrease as compared with that of 1895 or 27,923 10$. 6rf.,
but for the demands upon the Revenue owing to the occupation
of Ashanti. From increase in trade in the territory now at
last made accessible to merchants, the Colony may gradually
expect to see an increase in Imports, and consequently in the
Customs Revenue.
2. The subjoined statement shows the years in which the
Revenue exceeded the Expenditure and the amount of such
excesses :
s.

d.

38,549 16
... 52,614 16
V. 24,970 14
... 22,848 5

4
0
4
9

1890
1891
1892
1893

;..

...
...

...

...

...

3. The Expenditure was in excess of

following :
1887
1888
1889
1894
1895
1896

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...
...

...
...
. . . . . .

...
...
...
...

Revenue

s.

d.

17,092
35,660
13,614
8,670
35,213
44,817

11
17
6
13
13
9

9
6
1
9
1
1

in

the

4. The net Revenue collected during 1896 amounted to

237,460 6s. 7c?., being 7,384 13*. 9d. in excess of that
collected in the previous year.
5. The following table gives a comparison of j the Revenue
for the last two years, classified under the principal heads :
!

1895.

Items of Revenue.

1896.

Increase.

8 d

9. d,
Wines, Spirits, Tobacco. 157,163 0 11 162,849 l i
Guns, &c. (Specific
duties).

General
Merchandize
(ad valorem duty).
Liquor Licenses

...

Stamps (Postal, Tele

graph and Revenue).
Other items

...

Total Revenue

*>

...

40,579 17

6,347 10 0
9,952 14

16,032 10 4

42,126

11,448 18

230,075 12 10 037,460 6

8. d.

239 2 6

5 1,496

3 1

8.

3 8

1 0 1.546

6,586 12

14,449

d.
5,686 10 8
&

Decrease.

2
583

7 8

7 ' 7,384 13 9 583 7

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.
Gow> COAST.
1896,

STAMPS.

6. 499 Documents w^re submitted during the year for assess

ment and stampings and 1,076 Documents for stamping without
the Commissioner's certificate. 5,028 Bills of Lading were also
stamped. The Revenue so derived amounted to 1,224 14s. lid.,
and a further sum of 80 was collected for penalties.
LOCAL REVENUE.

7. Independently of Customs Duties there is no direct taxation,

neither are there, as yet, any municipal rates ; some progress was,
however, made in 1896 with the preliminaries necessary for the
creation of a Town Council at Accra, which will necessitate the
levying of rates at Accra and Christiansborg.
EXPENDITURE.

8. There was expended during the year 1896 a total sum of

282,277 15s. 86?., being 16,988 9s. 9d. more than the expendi
ture for the previous year. The following are the principal
heads under which an increase appears :

1895.

1896.

Ashanti Special Expe

dition.

16,279 11 0

8. d.
31,095 16 4

Public Works

49,994

6 9

52,459 13 5

Constabulary

32,657 3 8

35,561 3 8

8.

Educational

5,699

2 4

6,765 16 9

Pensions and Gratuities

3,734

4 10

4,770 2 4

16,209 0 9

16,802 13 0

Supreme Court, &o.

...

Causes.

i
/

Supply of Materials
and Stores.
Arroars of pay due in
1895.
Grants to Schools and
Supplies.
Arrears for 1896 paid
in 1896.
Salaries for 1895 paid
in 1896.

GOVERNMENT SAVINGS BANK.

9. The deposits show an increase of 2,701 as compared with

Ihose of the previous year; the deposits for the year are
7,249 13s. 9d., while the withdrawals are (including interest)
7,286 16s. 3d. Interest credited to Depositors amounts to
127 7s. Od. The total amount credited (including interest) during
the year was therefore 7,377 Os. 9d. and the withdrawals
7,286 16s 3d. Prom this it is apparent that the business of
this institution is almost stationary.
e

COLONIAL
GOLD COAST.

REPORTSANNUAL.

The following is a comparative statement showing the

number of Depositors, also the total amounts at each Savings
Bank in the Colony during the years 1 8 9 5 - 6 :
10.

Total amount deposited.

No. of Depositors.
District.
In
De
1895. 1896. crease.
crease.

Accra..
Addah
Axim
Oape C o a s t . .
Ohama
Elmina
Kwitta
Saltpond
Tarkwa
Winneba
..
Totals

..

121
77
15
52
6
27
18
26
42
4

141
60
19
51
6
31
23
31
44
5

20

388

411

41

1895.

1896.

Decrease.

Increase.

& <t. d. 8. d. 8. d.
2,024 3 11 4,020 0 3 1,995 16 4
278 19 4
135 10 3
143 9 1
203 16 5
170 11 1
33 5 4
1,439 5 0 1,298 9 6
139 4 11
87l4 4
61 10 7
487 5 4
128 4 5
358 18 11
204 17 3
243 13 0
275~18 6
482 19 0
207 0 6
169 2 1
4 7 11
164 14 2
85 2 4
92 6 8
7 4 4

17

4
6
5
2
1

4,675 4 10 7,377 0 9 2,883 7 2

18

8. d.

140l5

4015

181 11 3

1
11. The Savings Bank system appeals to a small minority of
the population, namely, the educated natives living at a few
trading-centres on' the coast. It hardly touches the mass of the
illiterate population, who would far sooner bury their money
or turn it into jewelry than trust it to the safe keeping of any
one, even a Government Savings Bank. From the following
analysis it will be seen that the classes which contribute the
largest number of Depositors are Government officials and
labourers (employed for the most part by Government), and that
the traders have few representatives.
)

Occupation of Depositors.

No. of Account*.

Auctioneers
Bakers ...
Barristers
Bootmakers
Blacksmiths
Bricklayers
..
Cabinet Makers..
Clerks
Editors ...
Engineers
Goldsmiths
Institutions, &c
Labourers
Messengers
Miners ...
Ministers of Religion
Government Officials (Europeans)

(Natives)
Overseers
...
Photographers
Carried forward

...

...

...

...
...

3
2

...

"

...

... 44
...
1
* *.
3
...
4
... 27
... 51
...
1
...
6
...
4
...

30

...
...
...

74
1
2

... 262

COLONIAL RfcfrOll'tSANNUAL.
Oooupation of Depositors.

No. of Accounts.

Brought forward

...
...

Police

Printers...
...
School Children
Masters and Mistresses
Servants
1'ailors <
...
**

^Traders ...
...
...
...
Occupation not stated
Total

... 262
... 18
...
1
... *5
... 10
... 18
...
1
... 20
... J76
... 411

12. The large number of withdrawals suggests the conclusion

that a number of the Depositors simply use the Bank as a safe
and convenient place in which to keep money for brief periods.
It is to be feared that few Depositors really acquire, from the
habit of resorting to the Savings Bank, a notion of the real
importance of thrift and of gradually accumulating a sum which
will be available in time of need.
13. The total amount at the credit of the Savings Bank in the
books of the Colony is 5,668 17.v, 6d.
Of this amount
4,099 14^. Od. has been invested and is in the hands of the
Crown Agents.
TRADE.

Imports and

Exports,

14. The total value of the Imports in 1896 was 910,210 and
the value of the Exports 792,111, thus making the total value
of the trade of the Colony for the year 1,702,321, a decrease of
107,018 on the year 1895 in which the Imports and Exports
were valued at 1,809,340. The decrease shown in these
statistics may perhaps be partly explained by the prohibition of
the gunpowder trade for a time, and by the employment of a
large number of people in Ashanti who were- withdrawn, from
their ordinary pursuits in the Coast provinces.
15. The following table shows the state of the trade of the
olony for the last seven years, that is, since the present Customs
Tariff has been in force :
Imports.
Exports.

Year.
Paying duty.

1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896

464,188
422,026
475,346
607,109
653,357
647,682

Totals.

Admitted free.

201,593
175,068
243,006
206.721
278,179
262,528

GX4,304
665,064
722,106
850,343
877,803
792,111

1,360,086.
1,262,158
1,440,460
1,663,173
1,809,340
1,702,321

GOLD COAST*
1896.

$
COAST.

1896.

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.

Notwithstanding the unfavourable result of the foregoing

comparison of the trade statistics of 1 8 9 5 and 1 8 9 6 , the value of
the trade of the latter year was greater than that of any year
prkr to 1 8 9 5 ; this may be taken as a healthy sign.
16.

1 7 . The principal articles of trade are :

Imports.

Cotton, woollen and silk goods, spirits, hardware, rice flour,

provisions, tobacco, building materials, and wearing-apparel.
Exports*

Palm oil, palm kernels, rubber, gold dust, timber and minor
industries such as coffee, cocoa, monkey skins, and Kola nuts,
1 8 . Tt. is shown by the following comparative tables that the
greater proportion of the trade is with the United Kingdom :
Imports.
From British
Colonies.

From Foreign
Countries.

Year.

From the United

Kingdom.

1891

*. d.
488,892 18 8

s. d.
6,086 6 10

.9.
d.
177,302 17 11

d.
666,781 8 0

1892

407,037 16 10

9,924 18 11

180,182 1

597,094 12 5

1898

524,036 16 1

8,719*5 10

185,597

2 4

718,353 4 3

1894

582,278 14 8

18,168 14

217,388 0 1

812,880 8 10

1895

630,000 7 6

91,164 18 7

210,871 15 6

981,637 1

1896

659,561 11 10

31,483 19 5

219,164 19 2

910.210 10 5

Totals.

9.

Exports.

Year.

To the United
Kingdom.

To British
Colonies.

To Foreign
Countries.

Totals.

8.

d.

684,804 19

1891

8. d.
545,492 16 6

8. d.
2,035 6 0

#. d.
136,776 18 2

1892

471,218 19 10

2,033 18 9

191,791 V

665,064

1893

680,300

1 5

27,016 16 7

164,790 1

722,106 19

1894

608,258

6 7

29,765 3

212,320 1 3

850,843 10 11

1895

586,415

1 5

88,211 6

253,177 4 8

877,803 12 3

1896

536,106

4 0

37,471 5

218,533 14

792,111 8 10

3 3
1

COLONIAL

REPORTS'ANNUAL,

19. The Cu&toms receipts during the year at the principal

ports of the Colony were as follows :
Imports, exclusive
of Spirits, Gun
powder and Grjus.

Port

Spirits.

Gun
powder.

Guns.

Totals.

87

14,217

...

5,749

7,974

396

Cape Coast ...

10,648

20,735

2,198

546

40,119

Saltpond

6,929

17,470

2,037

258

26,695

Winneba

2,475

15,037

704

44

18,261

Accra

16,214

28,400

2,5U9

201

47,855

Adda

3,698

10,568

79

21

14,857

Kwitta

2,636

11,080

181

43

13,948

Other Stations

8,908

25,135

961

20

80,024

58,265

136,391

9,093

1,224

204,975

Axim..*

Totals

&

20. The following statement shows the general classification of

all Imports and Exports :
Value in Sterling.
Articles.
Total value,
Of Imports in detail,
including expenses. including expenses.

I.Live
animals, food,
drink, and narcotics.
II.Raw materials :
(a) Textile
(b) Metal
(c) Other
...

240,840

37,149

III.Manufactured articles:
(a) Textile
(b) Metal
(c) Other
...

528,728

IV.Coin and Bullion

103,492

Total ...

...

910,210

GOLD COAST.

10

COLONIAL REPORTS-ANNUAL.

GOLD COAST.

1696.

Value in Sterling.

Articles.

I.

Live animals, food,

drink, and narcotics-.

E L - -Raw materials:
(a) Textile

Produce and
Manufacture
of the Colony.

British
and Foreign
and other
Colonial
Produce and
Manufacture.

*. d.
34 0 0

*. d.
1,459 17 3

. d.
1,493 17 3

(b) Metal

86,273 6 5

(c) Other

631,768 12 8

i i i . Manufactured articles:
() Textile ...'
...
(6) Metal
(o) Other *~

2,635 6

718,098

86,273 6 5
631,768 12 8
2,635 6 9

680 1 4
6

...

22 2

IV.-Coin ami bullion

Totals

Totals.

2,673 1 11

2,650 19 5
66,586 17 6

1 4

680

66,586 17

74,013 2 3 792,111

3 10

21. The supply of the staple articles, such as palm kernels,

palm oil, and rubber, has not been satisfactory, but whether this
has been due to bad prices, or to the withdrawal of a large
number of able-bodied men from their ordinary avocations to
serve as carriers in the Ashanti Expedition, or to other causes,
it is not easy to determine.
22. The following figures show the trade in three important
Exports for the last three years :
Palm Oil.

Pal in Kernels.

Rubber.

Year.
Gallons.

Value.

Tons.

1894

Value.

Lbe.

Value,

4.213,935

2*7,623

17,136

112,373

3,027,527

232,550

..1.895" 4,338,627

231,415

15.559

93,384

4,022,385

322,070

126,857

13,046

85,349

3,735,439

313,817

1896

2,394,563

COLONIAL

11

BEPOEf8ANNUAL.

The following statement shows the quantity and value of

rubber exported from the Gold Coast to the undermentioned
countries during 1896 :
23.

Countries.

Quantity.

Value.

United Kingdom

Lbs.
3,307,685

283,044

424,093

30,398

3,661

375

Germany
Belgium

...

In the previous year 3,597,052 lbs., valued at 294,325, were

exported to the United Kingdom, while 424,197 lbs., valued at
27,610, were shipped to Germany.
24. It is hoped that native collectors of rubber have at
length realised that the only economical method of drawing-off
the sap from the tree is to tap it, and that to fell the tree is most
wasteful and destructive. Those who travel in the forests can
now see the trees scored with vertical and lateral incisions.
Without the co-operation of the natives effective Government
supervision for the protection of rubber trees is impossible, and
forest laws would therefore be a dead letter.
25. The export of timber has largely increased during the
year under review as compared to 1895 ; the timber country of
the Colony is the Western District, the ports of shipment being
Axim and Chama. The following statement will serve to show
the trade of the industry for the last six y e a r s : Year.

Qunntity.

Value.

Feet.

&

1891

1,350,226

22,096

1892

2,130,614

36,407

1893

3,412,486

50,428

1894

5,012,670

69,405
2b|CS

1895

3,587,337

28,244

1896

6,063,381

52,233

GOLD COAST,

*****

12
GOLD COAST.
1 8 9 6 t

COLONIAL

BEPORT8--ANNUAL.

I t is stated that the native lumberman damage the trade

by cutting down trees irrespective of their defects and imperfections, and that consequently the market is flooded with
defective timber. Defects may be of various descriptions, such
as those enumerated under the following technical headings :
26.

" Hollow portion,"

"Shakes,"
Star Shakes,"
" Knots " (not greatly detrimental to the value of
the log provided they are small),
"Wormed."
2 7 . The dimensions of mahogany logs most in demand are 1 6
to 3 0 feet in length and 2 4 to 3 6 inches square.
2 8 . The cultivation of coffee and cocoa is still in its infancy in
the Colony \ plantations near the coast suffer from the scarcity
of fresh water, while if situated far from the port of shipment
transport becomes a varying item to the producer. Notwith
standing m a h j ^ i s a d vantages the export of coHee and cocoa
shows a very loir increase as will be seen by the following
table:
CoL'ne.

Cocoa.

' Copra.

Guinea-grains.

Kola-nuts.

Year.
lbs.

Value.

lbs.

Value.

lbs.

Value

lbs.

Value.

Packages.

Value.

1893

3,480

93

21,437

630

243.3M

831

183,*24

621

979

25,716

1894

20,312

548

41,488

1,265

649,600

1,940

174,412

1,188

1,202

28,511

1895

28,906

4?0

51,755

1,753

482,608

1,712

154,693

530

2352

30,565

1896

86,7.'4

V.275

141,836

4035

273.840

832

28,594

193

3,150

33,278

29. Monkey skins are scarcer than formerly, the increasing

warfare carried on against the unfortunate animals which supply
this artitrie-of commerce having resulted in the extermination of
the species in the less distant provinces. In 1894, 168,405 skins,
valued at 41,001 were exported, whereas in 1896 the number of
skins fell to 67,660, valued at 8,662.
30. The Gold Mining industry is carried on chiefly in the
Wassaw district, and much public attention was called to it, and
to the difficulties (mainly that of transport) which retard its
development, during the year. This was principally duo to the
prominent place given to this subject in an address which the
Governor (Sir William Max well) delivered to the African section
of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in July. The Colonial
Government determined to improve communication between
Tarkwa and the Anfcobra River, and a vote wj*s inserted in the
Estiximtesfor 1897 f(Jr this purpose.
j

. COLONIAL REPOBT8ANNUAL.

13

The following table shows the weight and value of gold GOLD COAST,
exported from the Colony cluring each of the last seven years

31.

1896

Yea*,

Weight.

1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896

Value.

Oz.

25,460
24,476
27,446
21,972
21,332
25,416
2^,941

91,657
88,112
98,805
79,099
76,795
91,497
86,186

s.

d.

0 0
0 0
17 0
4 0
17 5
12 0
7 2

3$. Judging from trade statistics, the consumption of alcohol

has undergone a considerable reduction in the year 1896.
There appears to be no reason to think that a demand for
spirituous liquors i? spreading among the native population.
33. In the following table is given a comparison of the impor
tations of wines and spirits in the Gold Coast Colony during the
years 1895 and 1896, from which it will be seen that the fall in
the quantity of rum has been very considerable ; gin and whisky
have also been imported in decreased quantity.
Quantity imported.
Description of Liquor.

Increase.
1895.
..

Decrease.

1896.

Oid Wine. Old Wiue. Old Wine. Old Wine.

Gals.
Gals.
Gals.
Gals.
Rum ...

...

...

in

1,007,340

833,135

174,205
2,415

Gin and Geneva

...

333,219

330,804

Whisky

...

12,769

11,432

...

677

822

145

*. *

18,956

22,177

3,221
3,006

Brandy

...

Wines...

*>

Ale and Porter

...

...

23,214

26,220

Liqueurs, &c.

...

...

2,426

2,189

...

...

1,398,601

1,226,779

Totals

...

1,337

237

6,372

178,194

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.

14
GOLD COAST.

SHIPPING.

1896,

34, The number of vessels was practically the same as in

1895, but the' tonnage was greater.
The figures are as
follows:
Steamers.

Sailing Vessels.
Nationality of

1895.

1895.

1896.

1896.

Vessels.

United Kingdom...
Germany ..*
France
*

Italy
United States
Other Nations

Totals

...

No.

Tonnage.

No.

Ton
nage.

No.

Ton
nage.

No.

Ton
nage.

642

105

271

380,213

254

366,867

1,540

79

92,765

87

108,168

" 3

875

45

49,469

50

65,870

3,209

4,670

222

559

14

5,008

16

6,874

11,604

19,199

399

534,051

400

553,794

35. The mail service with England has improved as regards

the time occupied by the outward vovage.
Communication
between Europe and the West African Colonies continues to be
.almost exclusively in the hands of the African Steamship
Company and the British and African Steam Navigation
Company, the large majority of whose steamers are of less than
300 horse-power, and are admittedly built for a coasting trade.
No contract exists between the Government and these Companies
for the carriage of mails according to a time-table.
LEGISLATION.

36. During the year 1896 the Legislative Council passed

15 Ordinances, of which the following are the more important:
37. Ordinances Nos. 1, 2 and 12 of 1896 provide for the
detention during Her Majesty's pleasure of Prempeh, the late
King of Eumasi, his father and mother, and certain of his
chiefs.

 CbLONIAL

REPORTSANNUAL.

Ordinance No. 3 of 1 8 9 6 , " The Village Sites Ordinance,"

empowers the Governor to set apart Government land as a
village site, whereon houses can only be built on certain
conditions.
38.

GOLD

3 9 . Ordinance No. 6 of 1 8 9 6 , " The Telegraphs Amendment

Ordinance, 1 8 9 6 , " is a short but useful Ordinance empowering the
Governor to place any section of a telegraph line under a
native chief, whose duty it then becomes ( 1 ) to preserve such
section from injury, and ( 2 ) , in the event of injury to the line,
to report the same forthwith to the Commissioner of the District.
The further duty is imposed on any such chief, and on the
inhabitants of his town or village, of rendering active assistance
in arresting any person who maliciously damages the telegraph
line. For a breach of this duty the chief and village may be
fined by the Governor.
Ordinance No. 7 of 1 8 9 6 , " The Ferries Ordinance, 1 8 9 6 , "
empowering the Governor to declare any ferry ( 1 ) whose owner
has been in the habit of levying tolls not sanctioned by native
custom, or ( 2 ) which has been neglected or mismanaged, or ( 3 )
which is the subject of rival claims, or ( 4 ) whose owner has con
sented to its transfer to the Government on compensation being
given, to be a Public Ferry. Provision is made for fixing the
tolls of Public Ferries and tor the letting out of such tolls to
contractors, and power is given to the Governor in Council to
make rules regulating the management of Public Ferries,
40.

Ordinance No. 8 of 1 8 9 6 , " The Survey Ordinance, 1 8 9 6 , '

provides for the appointment of official and private surveyors,
and contains sundry provisions facilitating survey by compelling
owners to attend and point out boundaries and give information.
The Ordinance also provides for the upkeep of boundary marks
when once made,
41.

4 2 . Ordinance No. 9 of 1 8 9 6 , " The Weights and Measures

Ordinance, 1 8 9 6 , " practically applies to this Colony the main
rovisions of the Imperial W c i g s and Measures Acts. The
mperial Standard Pound, Gallon and Yard are taken as the
basis of the weights and measures to be used in the Colony, and
the various parts and multiples of the pound, gallon and yard that
may be lawfully used in trade dealings are set forth in schedules.
Provision is made for obtaining Colonial standards and duplicates
thereof for the purpose of verifying weights and measures in
the Colony. Provision is also made for the inspection and
marking of weights and measures and weighing machines.
The Ordinance contains the usual provisions with respect to
offences in relation to weights and measures, and the Governor in
Council is empowered to make rules as to fees for marking, &c, of

11

16
GOLD COAST,
i m

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.

weights and measures, and generally for carrying the Ordinance

into effect.
43. Ordinance No. 10 of 1896 provider for the detention, in the
Colony, of Nana, the Ex-Chief of Benin.
44. Ordinance No. 13 of 1896, "The Compulsory Labour
Continuance Ordinance, 1896," continues for another year the
Compulsory Labour Ordinance of 1895.
45. Ordinance No. 14 of 1896, " The Reprint of Statutes
Ordinance, 1896," an Ordinance authorising the present Chief
Justice to prepare a revised edition of the Local Ordinances.
POST OFFICE.

46. Postal business shows an increase. The falling off of

inland money orders is very marked, but the value of foreign
money orders has mo/e than doubled itself as compared with
1895 i the following comparative table will show the steady
increase of work in the Department:

tO

<N

00

"8 PI
, 0 0 4

CO

co

CO

00

00

o>

to

o>

IUO

rH

tO

CO

*1

rH

to

co

CO

CO

i>

rH

o
rH

TO
rH

l>

l>

<M

<M

3,518 j

rH

00

rH

CO

3,224

rH

2,762

rH

2.379

oo

2,368

ST

rH
rH

1,902 |I 102

17

REPORTSANNUAL.

1 1,407

COLONIAL

<o

TO

to

co

t>

co

<N

co
TO

erf

fcO

1 1 5

rH
rH
(N
C>

OL

r-T

of

0>f

Of

CO

rH

00

to"

co"

<N

CO

rH

00

r-f

rH

CO

co

rH

rH

CO

<N

rH

00

Oi
rH

rH
rH

<Ji
r-T

1,679

to

3,382

rH
rH

04

<N

<M

CO

iO

iO

*0

CO

Oi
CO
t>^

00^

tO

h- <N
<M tO
c \ CO

oo
P

CO

r~

rH

co"

RJ^

3,787

rH

1,681

rH
IO
'N

CO
rI

1,209

5,142

rH

CT5
00

r"

rH

to
00

to

1,590

00

LO
rH^

5,397

rH
rH

9,883

rH
rH

9,525

rH
CO

o g

00

i>* aT o"

o<i

l>
R*<

<M

oo"

t>

0*

CO

1 * B'l

U0235

TO

c*

CO

o
o

to"

00

CO
O

O
to"

to

<o

*H

rH

<5<l

"!N

CO

CO

00

CO

co co

CO

VC

to

<N

CO

00

00

5I

00

CO
CO

co

t>

I*

<N

03

FFJ

00

GOLD COAST,
1896.

18
GOLD COAST.

13P&
^ \

rm

COLONIAL R E P O R T S A N N U A L .

47. I t must be recorded that during the year three new Post
Offices were opened, including one at Kumasi, the Capital of
Ashanti, with which there is weekly postal communication from
Cape Coast and Accra, the journey taking 9 or 10 days.
48. The Postal Revenue for the year was 602 14s. l\d. in
excess of that of 1895. The Department obtained a special
revenue of 771 15s. Id., the proceeds of stamps sold to foreign
stamp dealers in Europe and elsewhere during the year. 3,890
bags were brought to the Colony and 3,198 bags were despatched
from the various Post Offices in the Colony, as against 3,115
received and 4,040 despatched during the year 1895.
TELEGRAPHS.

49. Telegraphic communication with Kumasi was effected by

means of a military field wire during the Ashanti Expedition.
During 1896 this was replaced by a permanent line, constructed
by the Colonial Telegraph Department. On the 31st December,
1896, the telegraph line was completed to within a distance of
25 miles from Kumasi, and by March 1897 had reached Kumasi.
50. The following table will show the steady increase both in
the number of messages sent and also in the receipts for the last
six years:

COLONIAL

19

HfcPOfcTSANNUAL.

GOLD COAST.
wO
rH

era

CM
CM
CM

CO
CO

o
3

to
rH

co
rH

CO

00
u0

u0

CO

CM

8
o

1S96.
CM

CM
CM
CO

I
a

tO

CM
c^

as
oo
CM

o
H

00

3
(3

00

CO

to

o
o"

rH

U0

00

CO

rH

CM"

CM

CM

00

CM

co
o

CM"

CM

to

to

CO

CO
CM

to
CM

to
co

to

to
CM

CM
CM

CM

o
CM

CM"

CO

co
to

t>
rH

r>

00

to

to

u0

00

to

tO
u0

a
u0
to
CO
CM

CM

o
o

r-T

CO

CO

00
u0
CO

O
CO
r-<
U0

05
CO
00

CO
CO

CM

w .8

to

rH
CM

CM

co

to

"0
CO

u0
rH

CM
rH

CM

CM

vO

CO
QO

CO

00

o
CM

rH

00

00

to

CO

&0
GOLD COAST,
1896
1

COLONIAL RfcPORtSANNUAL.

51. Interruptions are unfortunately frequent. This is attributable to many causes j for instance, tne Kumasi line goes through
a dense forest, with the result that falling trees and branches
break the wire, and the line along the coast is affected by the
action of the sea-spray, causing corrosion of the copper conductor,
which gives way under the first strain experiencea in the shape
of a stiff breeze or tornado.
Considerable lengths of wire have been stolen from time to
time, the copper wire being valued by the natives for making
armlets; in one case, in the year 1896, 240 yards were stolen.
Cases of this kind eventually led to restrictive legislation.
DEFENCES.

52. The Gold Coast Constabulary is recruited from the Hausa

country within the territory of the Royal Niger Company, and
also from the Mohammedan States in the bend of the Niger, due
north of the Gold Coast Colony. The force is nominally 1,048
strong, but is much under strength, and the men are armed with
the Martini-Metford carbine; it is also provided with Maxim
guns and 7-pr. M.L.R. steel guns. 195 men were enlisted in
1896, 54 took their discharge, 17 died, and 28 deserted. The
discipline of the Force is good.
VOLUNTEERS.

53. The strength of the Force is 280, and the sum expended
by Government in maintaining it 1,147 19s. lrf., showing a cost
to the Government in respect of each Volunteer of 4 . The
Force is recruited chiefly from the Government and mercantile
clerks, with whom it is popular.
PUBLIC

HEALTH.

54. The general health of the Colony during the year 1896
shows little or no improvement on that of the previous year.
In 1896 there were amongst the European population, 11 deaths
of officials, and 30 non-officials, as against 15 and 23 respec
tively during 1895.
The number of Europeans invalided
during 1896 was the same as in the previous year, viz., 58, An
epidemic of a malignant type of fever was prevalent during the
first four months of the year, the period in which the greater
number of deaths occurred.
55. The health of the native population was alto u. *tis~
factory.
56. The Government are taking all practicable measures to
improve the conditions of life; at Accra, the seal of
Government, the erection of bungalows at Victoriaborg has

21

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.

removed the dwellings of the officials from the thickly populated GOLD
part of the town. Bungalows are also being erected at outstations for the use of officers, and the removal of the residences
of white men from squalid surroundings and sources of con
tamination is being insisted upon as much as possible.

COAST.

1 8 9 6 ,

57. One of the main improvements in the Medical Department

has been the completion of the new wing at the Central Hospital,
which contains on the upper floor three wards and a sitting-room,
well built and airy, for the exclusive use of Europeans. This
was practically completed in 1896.

RAINFALL.

58. The total rainfall for the year was 39*31 inches, as
compared with 17*33 inches in 1895, the heaviest rainfall in one
month being 13*62 inches in the month of May. There was no
rain in February, and only *03 in August, and *09 in October.

LUNATIC ASYLUM.

59. The following table shows the number of lunatic patients

treated in the Government Lunatic Asylum since its establish
ment in 1887.
Public

Lunatic

Any him,

1896.

Discharged.
Deaths.

Admitted.
Year.

Cured.

Relieve'1.

F.

M.

P.

M.

F.

ir.

M.

1887

11

14

1888

17

1889

10

21

11

12

1890

..

..

12

1891

..

..

10

1892

..

1893

..

'

1894

22

1895

11

im

12

..

Remaining.

Not
Improved.
F.

M.

F.

11

16

17

20

24

31

1
5

32

M
3

40

15

33

14

33

16

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.
GOLD COAST.
1896

The table given below will show the classification of the

diseases of the patients treated in the lunatic asylum in 1 8 9 6 :
60.

Disease.

Male.

Female.

Total.

23

31

Melancholia

General paralysis ...

Epilepsy

Mania

...

...

35

13

48

Dementia
Other diseases, idiotcy, &c

Totals

PUBLIC WORKS.

61. Though none of the large public works contemplated,

such as the Central Prison, Hausa Cantonment, New Public
Offices and Court House, were undertaken in 189<6, a number of
useful works, such as new quarters for officers, new ward,
general hospital, a club houge, rest houses, &c, were commenced,
and in many instances completed. The fort at Kumasi deserves
separate mention. It was begun soon after the departure of the
troops from Kumasi in January 1896, but was not complete at
the end of the year. The residency is within the fort.
62. The total expenditure of the Public Works Department
for 1896 amounted to 67,738 25. 10rf., classified as follows :
s.

d.

15,034 15

Establishment

...
Recurrent

Expenditure.

Departmental and miscellaneous charges

Upkeep of town roads, streets, and bridges
Maintenance of trade roads
Repairs to buildings

4,784
1,426
2,578
3,359

*. d.

7
4
6
1

3
2
9
9

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL,

Extraordinary

Expenditure.

New works and Buildings...

...
...
Alterations and additions to buildings
New roads and improvements of roads
Lands acquired .
...
...
Miscellaneous
...
...

^^jspd!****'

...

...
...

30,115
1,971
3,769
393
4,394

11
13
9
13
19

6
3
1
8
10

63. The main roads, the bridges, and the public buildings
throughout the Colony, have been maintained in good order, and
many improvements have been effected.
64. The construction of all the roads is under the Public
Works Department; but the maintenance of trade roads, that
is to say, the duty of obliging the native chiefs and their men to
clear and broaden their native paths, is under the different
District Commissioners.
65. The construction of a main drain at Accra, which was
in progress in 1896, should have a beneficial result on the health
of the town; it occupies the place of an old watercourse in
which the surface drainage of the greater and most populous
part of Accra collected. The new drain, lined with cement and
constructed with attention to levels* empties itself into the
lagoon to the west of the town.
66. The principal new roads undertaken were the construction
of the road from Accra to the Akim District, a distance of
16 miles, at a cost of 95 per mile, and the Danoe Dogplata
road, which in the year had been completed for 15 miles.

EXPERIMENTAL W E L L BORING.

67. Experiments in boring for water have been tried in the

neighbourhood of Accra, the total depth bored being 206 feet;
the result was not satisfactory, the water being found brackish
and unsuitable for potable purposes. Water was struck at a
depth of 148 feet. Further experiments are proceeding.
RAILWAYS.

68. Two railway surveys were commenced in 1896, one from

Accra to Kumasi via Insuaim, and the other from Takoradi
Bay to Tarkwa; the latter is supposed to go through the mining
and timber district. In connection with possible railway
projects attention 13 being paid to the selection of a suitable
place for a boat harbour.

24

COLONIAL KjtfPORT8ANNUAL,

GOLD COAST

POLICE.

1*9$.

69. The strength of the police force at the close of 1896 was
3 4 5 ; the number of men enlisted during the year was 164.
Only seven per cent of the recruits speak English, and con
sidering that the officers arc unable to speak the language of
the men the details of duty are too much in the hands of native
non-commissioned officers, and the difficulty of working the
department satisfactorily can be understood.
PRISONS.

70. The daily average number of prisoners in custodv during

the year was 138, against 146 in the previous year. There was,
however, an increase in the number of convictions. The number
of female prisoners has considerably increased, though juvenile
offenders have decreased by 8 as compared with 1895. ;
*

Year.

Males.

Females.

Juveniles.

Totals.

1892

1,475

48

11

1,534

1893

1,513

61

15

1,589

1894

1,550

74*

20

1,644

1895

1,859

101

46

2,006

1896

2,044

273

38

2,355

71. Dispipline has been well maintained in the prisons, and the
mark system works satisfactorily.
72. The several prison buildings are reported as being in good
order; the prisons at Accra and Elmina are Dutch Forts con
verted for the purpose but not suitable for earthing put modern
prison discipline. It is contemplated to erect a central prison at
Accra, and until this is done and the separate system introduced,
little improvement is to be expected.
73. Seven executions took place in the prisons during the year
1896,

COLONIAL

is

REPORTSANNUAL.

74. The health of the prisoners was good ; the following state* Ctou> COA&
ment contains health statistics for the prisons for the last fire JfJ*

Total number
of Prisoners.

Treated in
Hospital.

1892

1,534

240

12,338

16

1893

1,589

337

9,262

27

1894

1,641

339

5,773

17

1895

2,006

729

10,661

37

1896

2,355

340

3,473

26

Year.

Total attendances
or ont Pationt*. Deaths.

75. The number of punishments inflicted on prisoners during

the year was 773. 22 prisoners received corporal punishment.
76. There were five escapes during the year.
the men were recaptured.

In three cases

EDUCATION.

77. Elementary education in the Gold Coast Colony is steadily

progressing. During the year 1896, fifteen neW schools were
added to the list of schools receiving a grant-in-aicl, thus bringing
the total number of inspected schools for., the jpear "to 115an
advance of 15 per cent. In addition to the 115 inspected schools,
there are about 70 other schools belonging to the various Missions
not yet under inspection, so that there may be said to be nearly
two hundred elementary schools, in which the greater part of the
instruction given is in English. During 1896 a Government
school was opened at Insuatm, in Western Akim. In that year
also the first examination was held for the Gold Coast Govern
ment Scholarships.
78. There is not yet much provision for higher education in
the Colony, though the establishment of the above-named
scholarships should give a stimulus to effort in this direction.
79. Industrial work in connection with the schools is steadily
increasing, and includes now some 1,000 scholars, who are receiving
systematic instruction in plantation work and other industries.
Thirty-five schools are provided with coffee plantations, while
classes for carpentry, smithWork, brick-mafcng, and bookbinding exist in several other schools.
150235

26

COLONIAL REPORTSANNUAL.

Ck>u> COAST, 80. Reading, writing, and arithmetic in English are taught in
*****
all the inspected schools j while in the large town schools,
* i n t e l l i g e n t instruction is also given in geography, history, grammar,
singing, book-keeping, shorthand, and in the case of girls, plain
needlework,
81, The principal statistics which are necessary to illustrate
the progress of Elementary education in the Gold Coast Colony
will be found in the subjoined statements A and B.

A. Totals for the year 1896.

Average
On Books. attendance.

Schools.

Teachers
examined.

No.
examined.

Grant
earned.
-

11,205

115

9,675

8,558

79

a. d.
3,400 11 0

82. The 115 inspected schools comprise 40 belonging to the

Basel Mission Society, 53 belonging to the Wesleyan Society,
16 belonging to the Roman Catholic Mission Society, and 6
Government schools. Of the 11,205 scholars in attendance at
the inspected schools only 2,183 are girls.
B. Classification of the Scholars.

Denomination.

St. St.
VII. VI.

St.
V.

St.
IV.

St.
III.

St.
II.

St.
L

SS.
II.

SS.
I.

Infants.

Basel Mission.,. 25

42

59

68

108

161

209

872

381

1,100

Wesleyan do.... 43

79

154

284

347

405

584

457

778

1,852

Fv. Catholic do....

10

80

79

109

142

208

216

285

703

Government

48

55

66

78

84

89

94

481

... 75

189

286

436

625

771 1,085 1,134

1,538

3,586

Totals

...

83. These numbers compare very favourably with those of

previous years, there being an increase in ail classes.

COLONIAL KBPOKT8ANNUAL.
GOLD COAST,

BOTANICAL.

84, Samples of the coffee and cocoa grown at the Government

gardens were sent to England in 1896. The Liberian coffee
fetched 70*. per cwt., and cocoa fetched 37.*. per cwt.
85, The authorities of Kew kindly sent some Indian Jute seed
to the Botanical Gardens; this seed was sown and germinated
freely; the plants were allowed to remain for seed j this when
ripe was harvested, the seed cleaned, and a large quantity has
been distributed to the natives.
86, The gardens have been visited on three occasions by swarms
of locusts which have done much damage; another source of
destruction to the plants is the borer, which plays great havoc
with the trees, especially the Arabian coffee; specimens of these
borers have been obtained, and have been sent to Kew for
investigation and report.

GENERAL

REMARKS,

87. When the year 1896 began, the Ashanti Expedition was
in progress. The political circumstances which led to this were
described in paragraph 11 of the Annual Report for 1895. On
Friday, 17th January, the troops entered Kumasi, the capital of
Ashanti, without having fired a shot, the Governor arrived in the
capital the next day, and, on Monday, the 20th January, 1896,
Prempeh, the King of Ashanti, made his submission to the
Governor. The sight was most impressive, and not likely to be
forgotten by those who witnessed it. The action of the Governor
received the entire approval of Her Majesty's Government.
Prempeh was removed to the coast, and was detained at Elmina
Castle until the end of 1896, when he and the other political
prisoners were removed to Sierra Leone. The Governor made a
tour through some of the Ashanti provinces, visiting Insuta,
Aguna, Mampong and Bekwai before returning to the coast.
88. Captain D. Stewart was appointed to be Resident of
Kumasi, but Colonel Pigott (21st Hussars) acted as Resident for
a great part of 1896, and did much to improve trade roads. A
force of 300 Hausas was placed at Kumasi, and the erection of a
fort was commenced. Trade however revived very shortly
during 1896.
89. The Expedition cost the Colony 120,000. Putting aside
the possible gain to trade that the annexation of Ashanti may
bring about, the gain to humanity alone should justify this
outlay.
90. The Basel Mission established a mission station at Kumasi
in 1896, and started a school, where there are already 15 Afchanti

28
.SOLD

COLONIAL

REPORTSANNUAL.

COA# children.

*****

The same mission has fince established schools in

the following Ashanti towns j^Mfampong, Agon a, Kamason.
Kwamang, Nsota, Kwaso and Dweso.
91, Merchants have also acquired sites at ivumasi for the
erection of stores.

92, Native States in the bend of the Niger, lying directly

north of Ashanti and within the British sphere of influence,
were disturbed and in some cases invaded in force by the armed
bands of Samory, the well-known Mohammedan slave-raider,
93, The assertion of our legitimate rights in the Hinterland
of the Gold Coast Colony received special attention in the last
two months of 1896, and missions were despatched to the north
under Capt^n Stewart and Lieutenant Henderson, resulting in
the occupation of Mamprusi in December 1896 and Dagarti in
January 1897.

G, B. HADDON

SMITH,

Acting

Colonial

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Accra, West Africa,
16th October, 1897.

Secretary,