THE COLONIAL OFFICE LIST FOR 1886: COMPRISING Historical and Statistical Information RESPECTING THE COLONIAL DEPENDENCIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, AN ACCOUNT OF THE SERVICES OF THE OFFICERS IN THE COLONIAL SERVICE, A TRANSCRIPT OF THE COLONIAL REGULATIONS, AND OTHER INFORMATION. WITH MAPS. TWENTY-FIFTH PUBLICATION.-TO BE CONTINUED ANNUALLY. COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS, BY THE PERMISSION OF the secreTARY OF STATE HARRISON AND SONS, 59, PALL MALL, BOOKSELLEBS TO HER MAJESTY AND H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES 1886. Price Six Shillings. THE Editors request that all Colonial Officers will notify to them any material additions which they may desire to be made to the record of their services, as early · in the year as possible, as all matter intended for insertion in THE COLONIAL OFFICE LIST should be in their hands towards the close of October. Several communications were received too late, and have had to be held over for next edition. Sometimes when changes in the Establishment of a Colony are in progress at the time the sheets of THE COLONIAL OFFICE LIST are received for correction, the Colonial authorities retain them until such changes are completely recorded. But this really militates against the correctness of the whole work at the time of its publication, depending as it does on the date at which the last returns are received. The sheets of the LIST are sent to the Colonies at different dates according to the distance of each Colony from England, so calculated that if each Government kept the Returns about three weeks or a month for correction, they would all be in the hands of the Editors early in November, and the book might be got through the press before Christmas; but if particular returns are delayed for two months or so beyond the estimated time, the publication is delayed, and general inconvenience caused to the subscribers. The Editors will always be glad to receive corrections of errors or omissions in THE COLONIAL OFFICE LIST, and also any suggestions as to its arrangement, from gentlemen in the Colonies; but the low price at which the book is sold, would prevent them from adopting any suggestion involving a material addition to its present bulk. The Editors take occasion to remark that they have frequently received complaints, especially from foreigners, that the book does not contain a complete account of the "British Colonies," inasmuch as it does not include India, Aden, Ascension, the Niger, &c. It is, therefore, as well to explain that it purports to be primarily an official handbook for the use of persons serving under or having relations with the Colonial Department. The affairs of India, including Burmah, Aden, Perim, and Socotra, are under the Secretary of State for India, by whose direction voluminous information is published every year as to them. Ascension is under the Admiralty, and the affairs of the Niger are under the Foreign Office. But in the Appendix to Part II. of the present Edition some notice has been inserted of the more important extra-Colonial territories and protectorates (except mere guano islands) of this country. In this Edition a brief statement has been given of the Customs Tariffs, and ,a List of the Foreign Consuls in each Colony has been added at the end of the Establishments in Part II., instead of the General List which formerly appeared in Part IV. A brief account of the Royal Colonial Institute has also been added to Part IV. at the suggestion of one of the officers of that Society. The Institute is of great advantage to colonists in England, that it is hoped that this notice of its constitution and functions may add to its utility. DOWNING STREET, March, 1886. |