LABUAN
This, the smallest British Colony in Asia, was ceded to Great Britain by the Sultan of Brunei in 1846, 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 304 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 depôt för 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 small. 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.
GOVERNMENT OF LABUAN
DIRECTORY
Governor and Commander-in-chief-Sir. J.
Anderson, K.C.M.G.
Private Secretary-Oliver Marks (Resident
at Singapore)
RESIDENT'S OFFICE Resident--M. S. H. McArthur Acting Resident-H. Chevallier Chief Clerk-Henry A. Gunn
Second-Wm. de Silva
TREASURY DISTRICTS OFFICE
Treasurer and District Officer-Stanley
E. Dennys
Clerk, Treasury-Wm. Kong
Do., Dist Officer-M. Tamimih
POST OFFICE
|
COURTS
Judge, General Court-M. S. H. McArthur Acting Judge--H. Chevallier Magistrate-Stanley E. Dennys
Clerk of Courts, Regr. and Chinese Inter-
preter-Chan Wai Sek
COLONIAL Medical Department Surgeon Dr. R. E. Adamson, M.D. Dipenser-Ah Ng
POLICE AND GAOLS
Sergeant Major-Ihara Singh
Clerk-Mohamed Tamimih
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Edmund Roberts,
Superintendent
M.I. MECH, E.
Land Office
Collector of Land Revenue--S. E. Dennys
Post Master-Stanley E. Dennys
Asst. do. -C. G. Boyd
Asst.
Post Clerk-R. Eseoto
Stamp Vendor-Mohd. Edner
Clerk
HARBOUR OFFICE
Pilot & Harbourmaster-Capt.J.K.Webster Clerk-A. Razack bin Laut
Land Bailiff
do.
-C. G. Boyd
-Ricardo Escoto
-William John
CHURCH OF ENGLAND-Church of Our
Holy Saviour
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