early date, and therefore difficult to acquire except through the cooperation of those who have made collections of local literature whilst residing in the various Colonies. Every opportunity is taken of enlisting the sympathy of such collectors, and so making the Library as complete as possible for purposes of reference, regarding the history, trade, and development of the British Empire. But whilst much attention has been given to early Colonial literature, the necessity of keeping the Library well up to date has not been lost sight of, all the most recent works having been obtained and placed upon. the shelves. In the official section the Parliamentary publications of the various Colonies and India have in many instances been completed, and the collection of periodicals and newspapers, including Government Gazettes from all parts of the Empire, has been considerably increased. The Colonial Governments have also supplied copies of their most recent maps, which have considerably enhanced the importance of that branch. The Council have again to acknowledge the liberality of a large number of donors, including the Imperial, Colonial, and Indian Governments, the Agents-General for the Colonies, Societies, and other public institutions in the United Kingdom and the Colonies, the proprietors of newspapers and other periodicals, and a large number of Fellows of the Institute and others, a complete list of whom is appended. On December 31, 1896, the Library contained 29,778 volumes and pamphlets (all of which relate to the Colonies and India) and 323 files of newspapers; and the additions during the past year numbered 1,299 volumes (of which 1,050 were acquired by donation and 249 by purchase), 2,202 pamphlets and parts, 34,481 newspapers, 44 maps, and 79 miscellaneous gifts, including photographs, &c.

Flags bearing the Union Jack and the arms or distinctive badges of the respective Colonies have been kindly presented by the following Governments, &c., for use on special occasions : Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras, British New Guinea (presented by Mr. S. Vaughan Morgan), Canada-Dominion of, Canada-Province of Ontario, Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon (presented by Sir E. Noel Walker, K.C.M.G.), Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Gibraltar, Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Jamaica (presented by Mr. C. Washington Eves, C.M.G.), Lagos, Leeward Islands, Malta, Mauritius, Natal, New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland (presented by General Sir Henry W. Norman, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., C.I.E.), St. Helena, Sierra Leone, Straits Settlements, Trinidad, Western Australia, Windward Islands.

Numerous inquiries on subjects relating to the Colonies and India

M

continue to be received; and the cordial appreciation expressed by Fellows and others of the practical value of the information imparted in response to such inquiries affords gratifying testimony to the efficiency of this branch of the Institute's work.

Delegates from the Colonies who attended the recent Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, held in London, when Imperial trade questions of great importance came under consideration, were admitted during their visit to Honorary Membership of the Institute.

Further communications have passed between the Geographical Association and the Council, with a view to the introduction of reforms in examinations in Geography. A draft memorial to boards of public examiners conducting examinations that specially affect secondary schools was drawn up by the Association, and submitted for the sanction and approval of the Royal Colonial Institute, which were gladly accorded. The Memorial-which, amongst other matters, recommends that a special study of the geography of the Colonies and India should be required-has been sent by the Association to the Delegates for Local Examinations at Oxford and Cambridge, the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board, the Senate of the University of London, the Local Examinations Board of the University of Edinburgh, the Joint Board of Examiners of the Scottish Universities, the Scotch Education Department Whitehall, the Council of the Victoria University Manchester, the Civil Service Commissioners, the College of Preceptors, &c., and the Council have received the gratifying intelligence that it has met with a most encouraging reception.

The Council addressed a Memorial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer inviting the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the many and serious objections which exist to the payment of income tax in the United Kingdom, on income earned and taxed as such in other parts of the British Empire, and advocating the amendment of the law so as to exempt income earned in any part of the Empire, elsewhere than in the United Kingdom, from the payment of income tax in the United Kingdom in all cases in which it can be shown that such income has already been charged with income tax in that part of the Empire, wherever it may be, where such income is earned. The Lords of the Treasury have stated in reply that they are unable to accept the proposal contained in such Memorial on various grounds, but amongst others because of the loss to the Imperial revenue that would ensue if such concession were made without some reciprocal advantage-from which

point of view alone would the Treasury be justified in accepting and carrying out the alteration of the law advocated by the Council; and they further point out that for this purpose it would be necessary to consider as a whole the fiscal relations and the burdens of the different parts of the Empire. The Council, believing that the claims put forward in the Memorial are founded on just grounds, will consider what steps may best be taken to procure further consideration of the question.

At the invitation of the Royal Society of Canada, and in the interests of Navigation and Commerce, a Memorial has been addressed to the Prime Minister, respectfully urging Her Majesty's Government to take steps for the Unification of Time at Sea. The Council have reason to believe that the proposed reform can be easily introduced with decided advantage, and that the general principle has now an almost universal consensus of opinion in its favour, especially in the case of the Shipmasters of the Mercantile Marine. The advancement of Astronomical Time by twelve hours, so as to assimilate it to Civil Time, in order that both may be in agreement and begin everywhere at midnight, would require the adaptation thereto of the Nautical Almanack; and, as that almanack is prepared some years in advance, the Authorities have been asked to arrive at an early decision, so as to enable the desired change to take effect at the date indicated by Astronomers, viz.: the first day of the new century.

The Council have viewed with much concern the losses and distress which have been caused in several parts of South Africa by prolonged drought, locust visitations, and rinderpest. A Committee having been formed in London last summer for the relief of distress in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, the use of the Council Room was given for the Meetings of the Committee.

It will be remembered that a circular despatch, dated December 2, 1895, which was issued by the Secretary of State to Colonial Governors with a view to ascertaining the extent to which, in each of the Colonies, foreign imports were displacing similar British goods, and the causes of such displacement, was published in the Journal of the Royal Colonial Institute, and referred to in the last Annual Report. Although the whole of the information thus elicited has not yet been made public, it is interesting to note the announcement that the Premiers of Australasia have arranged to meet at an early date and confer on the important questions of trade with the United Kingdom and Inter-Colonial reciprocity of natural products.

The effect of the European bounty system on our sugar-producing Colonies has been frequently discussed at Meetings of this Institute, and it is earnestly hoped that the recent appointment of a Royal Commission to report upon the present condition of our West Indian Colonies may result in some practical remedies being suggested for the depression which unhappily prevails as a direct consequence of such system not only there, but in Mauritius and other British Colonies.

The serious famine in India affords ground for grave anxiety, and it is feared that severe suffering will be inevitable in certain districts; but in view of the precautions that have been taken and the improvements that have been effected in the means of transit, the Council trust that this distressing visitation will be less acutely felt than on former occasions.

The reign of our Gracious Sovereign, from whom the Institute derived its Charter of Incorporation, now exceeds in duration that of any of Her predecessors-an auspicious circumstance that has evoked universal congratulations throughout the Realm, and expressions of a fervent desire that Her Majesty may long be spared to rule over a loyal and devoted people. One of the chief features of the Queen's glorious reign of sixty years has been the marvellous expansion of our Colonial and Indian Empire and the development of its resources to an extent that will make the Victorian era ever memorable as a period of unexampled progress in the history of our

race.

In conclusion, the Council observe with much satisfaction that the Royal Colonial Institute has grown year by year in public confidence as an organisation that is doing a great national work, by diffusing trustworthy information respecting the Colonies, and cultivating amongst British subjects from all parts of Her Majesty's Dominions a feeling of mutual interest and sympathy as fellowcitizens of one great Empire.

By Order of the Council,

January 26, 1897.

J. S. O'HALLORAN,
Secretary.

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