Sir,
62
No. 47.
Seymour Clarke, Esq., to Colonial Office.
Walthamstow, November 6, 1873. The Directors of the proposed Salangore Tin Mining Company are very desirous to avail themselves of your kind promise, to endeavour to arrange that they should have an opportunity of explaining their views to Lord Kimberley.
I am requested to ask the favour of your asking his Lordship to do us the honour of receiving a small deputation so soon after his return to London as may be convenient; giving me one or two days notice thereof.
63
number of between 3,000 and 4,000 immediately surrendered to the English Government, and requested protection from the Orang Kaya Mantres.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. B. WOOLLCOMBE,
Captain and Senior Officer, Malacca Straits. His Excellency Lieutenant-Governor A. E. H. Anson, R.A.,
Penang.
No. 49.
I
am, &c.
(Signed)
SEYMOUR CLARKE.
No. 48.
Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received November 10.)
(No. 292.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, October 2, 1873.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 288 of the 27th September, forwarding copy of a report of proceedings at Laroot from Commander Grant, R.N., of Her Majesty's ship Midge," I have now the honour to forward to your Lordship copy of a further report on the same subject addressed to the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, by Captain Wooll- combe, R.N., of Her Majesty's ship "Thalia."
16
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed) H. ST. GEORGE ORD,
Inclosure 1 in No. 48.
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Penang, September 26, 1873. I HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, the annexed of a letter of this day's date from Captain Woollcombe of Her Majesty's
copy ship "Thalia," reporting the result of the expedition to Laroot.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
A. E. H. ANSON, Lieutenant-Governor.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,
Sir,
Straits Settlements.
Inclosure 2 in No. 48.
"Thalia," at Penang, September 26, 1873. COMMANDER GRANT will have informed you of the insult offered to the British flag on the 16th instant, when the pirates of Laroot fired on the boats of the "Midge.” As I considered that such conduct must receive prompt and sharp punishment, I brought the "Thalia" to Laroot, and on Saturday, the 20th September, Her Majesty's ship "Midge," with the boats of both ships advanced up the river, and were received by the pirates in a strong stockade and three large war junks, with a heavy fire; the opposing force was then carried by assault and completely destroyed by fire.
3. Our advance was so quick that although the pirates stood until we were close upon them, I have only two men wounded, one very dangerously.
3. On Tuesday Commander Grant captured a small steamer which required shotted guns to bring her to: on board this steamer we found the Rajah Muda, bound for Perak. As the Orang Kayah Mantree claimed that the steamer was his property, but had been taken from him, I have brought her to this port for your investigation. The Rajah Muda has received all the respect due to his rank.
4. Hearing that riots might occur at Penang, I sent the "Thalia" in charge of Lieutenant H. Lewin in advance, and I am prepared to land twenty-five marines and the same number of sailors, with a field piece, should you request their services.
5. I would add that the town of Laroot has been visited, and the inhabitants, to the
• No. 48.
Governor Sir H. St. George Ord to the Earl of Kimberley,—(Received November 10.) (No. 294.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, October 4, 1873. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, in accordance with the instructions con- tained in your Lordship's telegraphic despatch of the 12th September, 1873, a copy of a letter from the Registrar of the Vice-Admiralty Court, at Penang, together with a Minute from the Solicitor-General on the subject of certain documents connected with the seizure of a junk by Her Majesty's ship "Zebra," with which your Lordship wished to be furnished.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 49.
H. ST. GEORGE ORD.
Sir,
Penang, September 19, 1873. HIS Honour Sir William Hackett has minuted over to me a copy of a telegram from the Colonial Secretary, which you forwarded to him on the 15th instant.
1. I have the honour to inform you that no "evidence," "arguments," or judgment exists in the case of the junk captured by Her Majesty's ship "Zebra" in December last
2. On the 3rd February last Captain the Honourable A. D. S. Denison, commanding Her Majesty's ship "Zebra" made an affidavit, which was filed on the same day by the Crown Proctor (the Solicitor-General) in the Vice-Admiralty Court.
On the 4th June the Crown Proctor moved for the sale of the junk, showing its perishable condition, which was granted.
On the 16th June the junk was sold by the Deputy-Marshal, by public auction, for the sum of 300 dollara.
On the 14th July the sum of 71 dol. 22 c., the net proceeds of the sale, was paid by order of Court into my hands as Deputy-Registrar.
The Crown Proctor will be able to report, upon reference to him, the course he has adopted in this matter.
The Hon the Lieutenant-Governor,
Penang.
(Early.)
To Acting Solicitor-General.
I bave, &c.
(Signed) F. R. BRADFORD, Deputy Registar of the Vice-Admiralty Court, Penang.
(Signed)
September 22, 1873.
A. E. H. ANSON, Lieutenant-Governor.
In addition to what is stated by the Deputy-Registrar, I beg to mention that the Vice-Admiralty Rules and Regulations state the course to be pursued as follows >--" At the expiration of a year and a day from the return of the warrant, if there be no appearance or claim, the Judge, on the next regularly adjourned Court day, is to condemn the property by sentence, as droits and perquisites of Her Majesty, in Her Office of Admiralty, upon the affidavit originally brought in and without further evidence." No appearance has been entered for the owners of the junk, and it will, therefore, be condemned on the expira- tion of the time above mentioned.
(Signed) A. LOGAN, Acting Solicitor-General.
September 24, 1878.
L
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference:
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• 882
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Sir,
64
No. 50.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, November 11, 1873. REFERRING to your letters of the 1st and 6th instant, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, copy of a letter from Captain Woollcombe, dated the 25th September, relative to the proceedings of Her Majesty's ships "Thalia" and "Midge" against the Laroot pirates, and reporting the destruction of their junks and stockade in the Laroot river.
2. The report of proceedings of Commander Grant of the "Midge" is also inclosed for Lord Kimberley's perusal, and its return is requested when no longer required.
65
I have, however, obtained some valuable information which will materially assist me in my future searches.
I have sent the "Midge" to Singapore to fill up with coal and provisions, during which time I shall remain in Penang waters.
The officers who were wounded have been invalided, and will return to England við Suez Canal per Holt's steamer on the 6th.
I enclose a duplicate of the letter of proceedings received from Commander Grant relative to the attack made upon his boats in the Laroot river, in which Sub-Lieutenant W. Creswell and A. Lindesay were so dangerously wounded, as stated in my telegram of 18th ultimo; and in remarking thereon I would state that the conduct of these officers is deserving of the greatest praise. After they were wounded, rather than allow the boat's crew to notice the seriousness of their case, they gallantly assisted in defending their boat until they were compelled to drop.
I have, &c. (Signed) H. B. WOOLLCOMBE,
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
Inclosure in No. 50.
The Secretary of the Admiralty.
Captain and Senior Officer.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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C.O.
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Sir,
"Thalia,” at Penang, September 25, 1873. WITH reference to my telegram of the 18th instant, informing their Lordships that I was on the point of leaving Singapore for Laroot to punish the offenders in that river for firing on the "Midge's" boats, by which Sub-Lieutenants William Rooke Creswell and Abraham Lindesay were severely wounded, I have now to report that, on Saturday morning, 20th instant, the boats of this ship, in conjunction with the "Midge" and her boats, engaged, captured, and totally destroyed three large fighting junks and two stockades in the Laroot river, mounting in all about between 22 and 28 guns, and also armed with Snider rifles.
The town of Laroot, with nearly 4,000 men, surrendered to me unconditionally; everything was done for the relief of their wounded. I have only to report that two men were wounded, one, I fear, very dangerously.
Nothing could exceed the cool gallantry of both the officers and men; and through my Commander-in-chief I shall beg to bring the names of the following officers for the favourable notice of their Lordships, viz., Commander John F. G. Grant, Her Majesty's ship "Midge:" Lieutenant William H. Lewin, of "Thalia;" Sub-Lieutenant Somerset Hungerford, of "Thalia;" and Navigating Midshipman Arthur S. Woodley, who acted as my Aide-de-camp and carried a large junk singly in my galley. He is very anxious to become a midshipman, and I can strongly recommend him as a zealous officer and a good
seaman.
The Laroot river is now clear, and the whole coast has been visited. A gun-vessel shall be left on the coast to watch proceedings. The Headmen have entirely surrendered, and confess themselves perfectly beaten. am unable to estimate the pirates' loss, but they have been punished sharply.
I have to remark that the stockade and junks fired upon me first. Soon after they had opened fire upon the boats the Orang Kayah Mantri's yacht showed signs of inaction, notwithstanding Lieutenant Hon. F. C. Lascelles was using his best endeavours to urge them forward. Commander Grant left the "Midge" in charge of Lieutenant Cochran, and proceeded to direct the Mantri's head men to cause those under them to advance. Mr. Alexander Ellis, gunner, second-class, of "Thalia," rendered great assistance to the yacht by laying out a stern anchor for her in the first barge under a heavy fire from the stockade, during which time the steamer was frequently hit.
A small steamer, having the Rajah Muda of Perah on board, was captured by the "Midge" on the 23rd instant: she is claimed by the Orang Kayah Mantri. I have there- fore sent her to Penang for the Lieutenant-Governor's investigation.
The fishing villages of Ser Ling Ling and Korrow have been examined, but I regret to say that I have been unable to gain any information respecting the row-boats owned by the piratical party.
The "Thalia" will remain in the neighbourhood of Penang during the absence of the "Midge," about to return to Singapore for coal and provisions.
I am unable to forward any information respecting affairs in Sumatra beyond those already furnished.
2nd October, 1873.-Since writing the above I have to report that I returned to Penang yesterday from a cruize off the Laroot river, having left on the 29th September for the capture of some piratical row-boats. I regret having to report that none were taken.
• Nos. 44 and 46.
Sir,
No. 51.
Seymour Clarke, Esq., to Colonial Office.
Walthamstow, November 17, 1873. IN accordance with the desire expressed in your note of the 15th instant, I now have the pleasure to forward a copy of the Concession, granted by the Viceroy of Salangore to certain merchants at Singapore, which I had the honour of submitting to Lord Kimberley last week.
During the interview that his Lordship was good enough to grant to the promoters of the Salangore Tin Mining Company, a question was raised as to the power of the said Viceroy (Tunku deya Oodin) to grant the Concession in question. I ask the favour of your submitting to Lord Kimberley the translation of a notification of the powers given to the Viceroy by the Sultan, as it appears on page 24 of a paper on "Recent proceedings at Salangore," presented by command of Her Majesty to Parliament in 1872. Sultan therein says the Viceroy is "to govern and open up the country." "To do whatsoever may be effectual towards fostering the country," and that "No person must oppose the Viceroy's proceedings." It seems to me that the power to grant the Con- cession we hold is well within the power granted by the Sultan to bis Viceroy by this instrument.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure in No. 51.
Concession.
The
SEYMOUR CLARKE.
THIS Indenture, made the eight day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, between His Highness Tunku Dea Oodin, Viceroy of Salangore, and its dependencies of the first part, and Count Charles Frederick Theodore Marie Maur de Seloes, of Ngadirodgo, in the Island of Java, and James Guthrie Davidson, of Singapore, of the second part: Whereas the territory of Salangore abounds in tin mines, which have only been worked to a very small extent, and his said Highness is desirous of opening up the resources of the said territory, and the parties hereto of the second part, have agreed to organize a company, with a capital of at least one hundred thousand pounds sterling, to open up and work the tin mines throughout the said territory. Now this Indenture witnesseth, that his said Highness hereby gives and grants unto the said parties of the second part, their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns full and irrevocable and exclusive license and authority, for the period of ten years now next ensuing, to search for, win, and work all tin mines, or veins, lodes, or deposits of stream or alluvial tin, not now granted to or occupied or worked by others in the districts of Salangore proper, Klang, and Bernam within the territory of Salangore, and to carry away and dispose of the produce thereof, to and for their own use and benefit, and for the
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