Reserves for aboriginals are provided by the Missions and by the Administration. Of the former, which include four under Presbyterian, three under Anglican, one under Lutheran, and one under Seventh Day Adventist control, the Chief Protector writes:

If any proof is required that the Churches are not neglecting their duty to the aboriginal races of this Continent, it may be found in the fact that in this State alone there are nine reserves controlled by religious bodies where devoted missionaries are working for the betterment of these downtrodden races. Not only are spiritual results being achieved, but practical instruction is being given in industries congenial and likely to be beneficial to the native."

The aboriginals in these reserves are estimated to number 1,761; from all the stations satisfactory progress is reported, especially in the education of the young. But the very low birth-rate, as against the death-rate, is remarked in both classes of Reserves, and shows that "the aboriginal races," in the Chief Protector's words, "are slowly dying out."

Of Settlements entirely maintained and controlled by the Government Department there are two, containing 770 natives, and two more have been provided for in the estimates for 1913-14. Their inmates are the physically and morally weakest of the aboriginals, whom "the charitable Missions are not always eager to receive," but industrial, educational and religious work is carried on, with the endeavour to raise the younger generation, "though at times the results are discouraging."

As regards general labour conditions, there is a steady demand for labour of all classes, and fairly good wages are obtained. Contract breaking and desertion by Aboriginals, frequently from mere restlessness, are a cause of much complaint, and additional powers for officers to deal with this trouble are being asked for. The importance of getting all able-bodied men to work is insisted on more than once in the Report.

The record of crime shows improvement on the previous year. Arrests for drunkenness were considerably fewer, and serious offences against morality were almost entirely absent. The opium traffic has also diminished.

A report which deals with a race so low in the scale of humanity, and one which is destined gradually to disappear, can hardly but be of a somewhat depressing character. But it is of real value in showing that, as the Chief Protector points out,

"our natives are not the irreclaimable, degraded race so frequently referred to contemptuously as niggers,' but are thinking, feeling human beings capable of wonderful possibilities if wisely and sympathetically handled." Interest is added to the pages of the Report by the numerous illustrations, taken from photographs.

Parliamentary.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

November 25.

ABEOKUTA.

Sir WILLIAM BYLES asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a public inquiry has been held into the disturbances which took place at Abeokuta, Nigeria, on August 8 last, as a result of which a number of lives were lost; and whether a full Report has been received as to the circumstances which led to the troops from Lagos being sent for, the number of persons killed, and the subsequent arrests made?

Mr. HARCOURT: I am not aware whether any special inquiry is being held. I understand that the Governor-General was proposing to await the result of the trial of persons concerned in the riots before deciding whether the appointment of a commission of inquiry was necessary.

Sir W. BYLES asked on what grounds the Egba Treaty of January 18, 1893, which, inter alia, guaranteed the independence of the Egba people so long as its provisions were kept, has been annulled, and the Egba kingdom placed under the government of the Protectorate of Nigeria?

Mr. HARCOURT: The immediate cause of the new agreement was the inability of the native Government of Egbaland to maintain order. had, however, for some time become apparent that the Treaty made in 1893, when British jurisdiction was confined to the coast, was no longer sufficient for the requirements of good government in totally changed circumstances.

New Hebrides.

It is stated in the Press that the result of the Conference held in London in the summer between representatives of the British and French Governments is that an understanding was arrived at and a memorandum drawn up embodying the amendments in the Convention of 1906 which have been agreed to. These amendments are said to be of a substantial character and are to be submitted to the Government of the Australian Commonwealth for approval before ratification. They are said to include provision for the more effective working of the Joint Court and greater efficiency in the Executive Government, but we fear there is no change in the principle of Joint Control which lies at the root of all the trouble.

From the Islands we learn that the situation shows no improvement.

NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

The Society has received through the Rev. F. G. Bowie a copy of a minute passed by the Synod of this Mission at its meetings in June last in the following terms :

The Synod puts on record its deep feeling of gratitude to the AntiSlavery and Aborigines Protection Society for the many efforts made by them during the past years to secure fair treatment for the natives of the New Hebrides, and especially for the statement of their case to His Majesty's Government at the present time.

This cordial recognition of the Society's work is highly appreciated by our Committee.

Slavery in Portuguese West Africa.

OWING to the War, it has been impossible to approach the Government on this (as on other) subjects, or to press for the publication of reports. We learn however that Lieutenant Crato, who was appointed Commissioner by the Portuguese Government to make investigation into the Bowskill affair at San Salvador, has only recently completed his inquiry and reported to his Government. In the House of Lords debate in July, when Lord Mayo asked that the report of Vice-Consul Bell, who had been sent by the British Government to make inquiries, should be published, Lord Morley said that before producing Mr. Bell's report he thought “it would be better and fairer to await the arrival of the Portuguese counter-case, if it be a countercase." Owing to the delay, therefore, in the reception of the Portuguese report nothing further has been done as to publishing that of Vice-Consul Bell.

REPATRIATED LABOURERS.

Mr. M. Z. Stober, of the Angola Evangelical Mission, wrote in a published letter some time ago of a tour made by him on the mainland, in the course of which he came upon a small settlement of returned San Thomé labourers which he describes as follows:

From Muculla we visited many towns. At one, termed St. Thomé, a new town, where about a dozen are who have returned from the Island of St. Thomé, and who have been repatriated, we found natives of from twenty to thirty years of homelessness, quite settled there. It was sad to hear them speak of their cruel sufferings, and to see the frightful scars and sores which their bodies witnessed to. They have quietly settled down, and are cultivating the ground for the supply of their daily needs. The ten, twelve, and fifteen to twenty milreis (some less) which each received on leaving was soon expended."

The same missionary has recently sent word as to improved conditions of labour in the Cabinda Enclave, where his work lies. He writes:

"

'Speaking only for the enclave, we could state that the natives Mussorongos and others, who came contracted to the plantations and trading houses came voluntarily, their contracts being for three, six, or twelve months, the supply of labour being far short of the requirements. The usual payment received is 100 reis (5d.) daily for rations and 3 escudos (125.) monthly for wages.

"The Mussorongos and others contracted here are natives inhabiting the coast from St. Antonio to Kinsembo in the district of the Congo; they are a truculent and independent people, and freely combine to bring under the notice of the authorities any abuse meted to them on the plantations. . . . This growing spirit, and the high rate of wages being paid to get labour, which cannot long continue to be paid by the employers, forebodes trouble when a lower rate has to be paid them. The contracts are never renewed, the natives returning home at the end of the period for which they engaged, though after several months in their towns they will freely re-contract themselves. This love of the natives for their homes and friends is often most touchingly displayed; without other motive they will run off from the most liberal treatment. Recently a company of natives whose contracts were finished stopped work to the day, and eagerly awaited the steamer, spending the time in the usual mode of their exuberance—playing and dancing. On the steamer being sighted their jubilance was shown in shrill siren calls, whistlings, and shouts. It was, however, found that owing to the war many French and other nationalities were on board, and the ship was unable to take more passengers. I saw these strong men weep in deep silence at the news, and would scarce leave the beach to await the next steamer. The repatriation thus strictly enforced at the end of contract encourages greater supplies of labour and avoids much mischief. No women are contracted for the plantations here. Last month, for the first time, one or two native women accompanied their husbands owing to their hunger in the towns, but I am sure no unmarried native would engage herself willingly for work. . . . The Governor-General, Norton de Mattos, who has just returned to the Colony, is a strong, enlightened, and energetic administrator, and one has heard of his taking measures to secure justice to the natives against the clamours of interested parties. His firmness and honest pacific work must bear fruit.”

The Judicial System of Nigeria.

BY W. H. STOKER, K.C.

(Late a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Southern Nigeria.) THE Nigeria Government Gazette of February 19, 1914, contained a Memorandum by Sir Edwin Speed, the Chief Justice, designate of Nigeria, "On certain objections of the Aborigines Protection Society to the proposals " (i.e. of Sir Frederick Lugard) "for the reform of the judicial system of Southern Nigeria." The Society had addressed Mr. Harcourt on the subject of the rumoured proposals of the Government as regards the future judicial system for the amalgamated Nigerias, and had urged that any changes contemplated should lie rather in the direction of an extension of the judicial system of Southern Nigeria to Northern Nigeria than assimi

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lation of that of Southern Nigeria to the so-called judicial system of Northern Nigeria, which it had been rumoured was intended by Sir Frederick Lugard. The object of Sir Edwin Speed's Memorandum was to advocate and defend Sir Frederick Lugard's proposals. The title of the Memorandum suggests that the judicial system of Southern Nigeria needed reform, and that Sir Frederick Lugard was engaged in the task of effecting such reform. A perusal, however, of the text of the Memorandum fails to disclose any abuses in the system sought to be condemned by the title of the Memorandum, or to show any justification for, or virtue in, the system proposed to be substituted.

It is necessary to say a few words first as regards the then existing judicial system of Southern Nigeria which it was proposed to reform. The Supreme Court of the Colony of Southern Nigeria had as its highest personnel a Chief Justice, and four Puisne Judges. These held what were called Divisional Courts, which had full jurisdiction over all cases both criminal and civil. As subordinate to them in the personnel of the Court were District Commissioners and such Assistant District Commissioners as held judicial warrants. These presided over what were called District Courts, and as such, on the criminal side, dealt summarily with such less important felonies and misdemeanours as in their opinion could be adequately dealt with by not more than six months' imprisonment with hard labour, or alternative prescribed punishments. On the civil side they had a jurisdiction approximating to the original jurisdiction of Judges of County Courts in England. In more serious crimes they filled the functions of a Committing Magistrate, or Justices of the Peace in England. Their decisions in both criminal and civil cases were subject to appeal to the Divisional Court; and in criminal cases dealt with by them summarily, there was in addition what may be described as an automatic appeal to the Judge exercising jurisdiction in the Divisional Court of the Province. That is to say, at the end of every month the District Commissioner had to transmit to such Judge a list of all criminal cases decided by him during that month, which operated as an appeal on behalf of every convicted person in such list, and the Judge had power to set aside or amend any conviction contrary to law, and without hearing any argument. The District Commissioners and Assistant District Commissioners also presided over the Native Courts held in their districts, which Native Courts had a larger jurisdiction both in civil and criminal cases than the District Commissioner sitting in a District Court. The same provisions as regards appeal and also automatic appeal in criminal cases applied to the decisions of these Native Courts. Seeing that very few, if any, of such District and Assistant District Commissioners were either barristers or solicitors, or had had any adequate legal training, these provisions cannot be regarded as having been otherwise than well founded and considered.

The system proposed by Sir Frederick Lugard to be established in