29 AUGUST 1925, Page 3

Sir George Taubman Goldie, a Manxman by origin, died last

week after a life of work that was of immense importance to the British Empire. Nigeria was as much his creation as Rhodesia is due to Cecil Rhodes. ,Nearly fifty years ago he was travelling in the Niger country and realized that the state of British trade there and relations with the natives were bad. He somehow achieved enough influence to improve both enormously, by organizing the traders and; in regard to the natives, by restricting the sale of liquor and other measures. By 1886 he succeeded in persuading the British Govern- ment to take so much interest and responsibility as were involved in granting a charter that gave almost sovereign powers to the Niger Company. So armed he made treaties with the native races and successfully faced growing competition from Europe. He was recognized as the adviser of the Government in delicate dealings with Germany and others over West African questions. Only once—in 1897—he had to organize a small native war, and in 1900 he handed over to the Colonial Office a secure and prosperous colony.