(Eastern, No. 32.)
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
། ། ། །
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLONEL ANSON, C.M.G., to THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR M. E. HICKS BEACH, BART. (Received 7th April 1879.)
(No. 96.)
SIR,
Government House, Singapore,
6th March 1879.
I HAVE the honour to report that at the close of last year Mr. Swettenham, Assistant Colonial Secretary, Native States, was directed by the Governor to proceed on
a tour through the Native States in order that he might audit the accounts.
2. This duty was very carefully performed by Mr. Swettenham, who was able to gather much valuable information, and I enclose extracts from his reports on the three states, which will, I think, satisfy you that the Peninsula is in a quiet and peaceful condition.
3. The result of the audit, while indicating the necessity for many changes in matters of detail, was on the whole satisfactory.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.,
&c.
&c.
Colonial Office.
&C.,
I have, &c., (Signed)
A. E. H. ANSON.
EXTRACT from Mr. SWETTENHAM's covering letter forwarding bis Report on the Audit of the Native States Account.
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I should not forget, however, that the Raja Muda and Raja Dris visited me the day after my arrival: I returned their visits immediately.
But it was especially gratifying to see the Datu Sri Lela, the Chief of Kota Lama, who has so long remained the sole intractable in Perak, pay a visit, quite uninvited, to
the Resident, with only three or four followers, but with a smiling, contented face.
I never had seen the Tob Sri Lela before, but he brought Mr. Low and myself each
a small bag of this year's rice as a peace-offering.
If this man is not feigning his present goodwill, and I believe at last, after four years' resistance, he is in earnest, the result is a very favourable one.
I know how many times Mr. Low has thought nothing but force would bring this man to reason, and that to obtain quiet and safety in the country it inust be used, but he still waited for some overt act of violence on the part of the Toh Sri Lela, and now it seems unlikely that the Datu will give occasion for any exercise of compulsion.
It is only to be hoped that this supposition will prove to be correct.
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STATE OF PERAK.
Revenue.
1. Perak, like Salangor, is divided into districts for all purposes of administration; but in Perak, inasmuch as the districts are larger and more populous, while the difficulties of intercommunication are greater, the officers in charge of districts are necessarily more independent, the district establishments are larger, the Collectors' accounts are more elaborate, and their relations with the principal treasury consist mainly in furnishing the treasurer with copies of their accounts, whether of revenue or expenditure; in the latter case, however, forwarding vouchers for all payments made.
2. Perak is divided into four districts, viz., Larut, Durian Sabatang, Kwala Kangsa, and Krian. Larut is under the immediate supervision of the Assistant Resident, Mr. W. E. Maxwell: it is here that two thirds of the whole revenue of the State is raised: probably five sixths of the whole Chinese population will be found in this district: the principal port of Perak is in the Larut River: the State Treasury, the gaol, hospital, and other public buildings, the head-quarters of the Police and Public Works, are all in Larut in a word, this is by far the most important district in the country.
The treasurer collects the export duties on tin and a number of items of internal revenue, such as house tax, cart and carriage tax, &c.
A Collector is stationed at the port, Teluk Kertang, on the Larut River, and there collects all other export revenues, the customs dues on imports, harbour dues, &c., &c.
A 2
L 726. G 83.