LABUAN
This, the smallest British Colony in Asia, was ceded to Great Britain by the Sultan of Brunei in 1816, and taken possession of in 1848. It is situated on the north-west coast of Borneo in latitude 5 deg. 16 min. N., and longitude 115 deg. 15 min. E. It has an area of 30 square miles, and is about six miles from the Borneo coast. Although Labuan possesses a fine port, has extensive coal deposits, and by situation seemed likely to become a depot for the trade of the north coast of Borneo, it has only partially fulfilled the expectations formed of it. The produce of Brunei finds a market in Labuan, but the volume of the trade is smali. There are sago mills on the island, where the raw material is converted into flour, for export chiefly to Singapore. These mills were erected by influential Chinese introduced by the Governor from Singapore; they have also put up tapioca mills and have arranged to plant 500 acres a year until 5,000 acres have been planted. Cocoanuts are being planted on the same land. There is regular steamship communication with Singapore, Sandakan and Manila as well as with the local ports. The Government was administered by the British
North Borneo Company from 1890 until January 1st, 1906, when the Colonial Office again resumed direct control. The population in 1901 was 8,411, of whom 51 were Europeans and 17 Eurasians, the remainder being chiefly Chinese and Malays. The Chinese, who number over a thousand, are the chief traders, and most of the industries of the island are in their hands. There are about forty Europeans now, including Government officials, the staff of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, the Coal Point mines, and traders. The Labuan Coalfields Company, Limited, are lessees of the Coal Mines in the island, and are developing a considerable trade in the coal, which is largely supplied to H.M's ships. The present output is about 14,000 tons a year. The revenue is chiefly derived from the farming out of licences to sell tobacco, spirits, opium, and fish.
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT OF LABUAN Governor and Commander-in-chief—Sir J.
Anderson, K.C.M.G.
Private Secretary- Oliver Marks (Resident)
at Singapore)
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Colonial Secretary & Governor's Deputy-
M. S. H. MeArthur (also H. M. B. Resi- dent)
Chief Clerk-Henry A. Guun
Second-Ho Eng Kong
TREASURY District Office
Treasurer and District Officer-Stanley
E. Dennys
Chief Clerk Chan Wai Sik
Second Clerk M. Taminich
--
POST OFFICE
Post Master-Stanley E. Dennys
Asst. do. C. G. Boyd
—C.
Post Clerk--R. Escoto
Do. Clerk-Mohd. Ednen
HARBOUR OFFICE
Pilot & Harbourinaster-Capt.J.K.Webster
Boarding Officer-A. Razack bin Lant
COURTS
Judge, General Court-M. S. H. McArthur Magistrate-Stanley E. Dennys
! Clerk of Courts & Regr.--Wm. de Silva
Chinese interpreter --Vong Ah Fook
COLONIAL MEDICAL DEPARTMENT Surgeon-Dr. R. E. Adamson Dispenser-Ah Ng
POLICE AND GAOLS
|
Sergeant Major Thara Singh Clerk-Mohamed Taminich
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Superintendent-Edmund Robert
LAND OFFICE
Collector of Land Revenue-S. E. Dennys.
Asst.
Clerk
Land Bailif
do
CHURCH OF ENGLAND
CONSULATE
-C. G. Boyd
-W. Kong --W. John
H.B.M.'s CONSULATE, Labuan
Consul for Territories of B. N. Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak-M. S. H. Me Arthur
Consular Agt.,Sandakan-W.G.Darby
EASTERN EXTENSION, AUSTRALASIA AND
CHINA TELEGRAPH CO., LD., Labuan J. A. Thomson, superintendent Digitized by