STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.
This Colony-consisting of the island of Singapore, the province of Malacca, the island of Penang, with Province Wellesley on the mainland, and the Dindings-was transferred from the control of the Indian Government to that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies by an Order in Council dated the 1st April, 1867. The estimated revenue of the colony for 1884 is $3,410,000, and the expenditure $3,274,000. The revenue and expenditure are thus distributed between the three settlements:- Singapore-Revenue, $2,006,600; expenditure $1,978,726. $1,098,700; expenditure, $964,636. Malacca--Revenue, $304,700; expenditu
Penang-Reven, $328,477.
SINGAPORE.
The town of Singapore, situated on the southern shore of an island of the samc namo in lat. 1 deg, 16 min, N. and long. 103 deg. 35 min. E., is the seat of government of the Straits Settlements.
The Island of Singapore is about 27 miles long by 14 wide, and is separated by a narrow strait about one or two miles wide from the territory of Johore, which occupies the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula. Originally taken possession of in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles, it was, until 1823, subordinate to our then Bettlement in Sumatra. In that year it became an appanage of the Indian Government, in which condition it remained until 1867, when it was placed under the Colonial Office in conjunction with the other Settlements above mentioned.
The town proper extends for about four miles along the south-eastern shore of the Island, spreading inland for a distance varying from half to three-quarters of a mile, though the majority of the residences of the upper class European lie, as a rule, much further back, within a circle with a radius of three-and-a half miles from the Cathedral. This portion of the settlement is almost entirely level, the highest hill in the island, indeed, about six miles from the south coast, only rising to a height of 500 feet. The count roads are well kept, and, thanks to the luxuriance of tropical vegetation, abound in shade. The town streets, on the other hand, though wide and well metalled, are, as regards architectural matters, draire gutters, no great credit to the Municipality which has them in charge. Filt. and obstructions of all sorts distinguish the native portion of the town, while as comparel with nearly every other Eastern city in European hands, the buildings of the business quarters are singularly shabby and mediocre. The Government Offices and City Hall, however, are fine buildings, while the settlement possesses a new and hazdacze (“phy which compares. favourably with any in the East.
The population of Singapore Island by the census taken in April, 1881 is 129,208, of whom 86,766 were Chinese and 22,114 Malays. The Klings, with a very w Parsees, Arabs, &c.-forming perhaps a sixtieth part of the whol population—are as rule peaceful and unambitious, and give but little trouble. The European munity consists in the main of English and Germans, anumbers, with 783 military, a total of 2,768. A large half-caste or Eurasian population, numbering 3,094, occupies the place elsewhere taken by the Asio-Portuguese. The population of the Town of Singapore is 95,320.
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SINGAPORE.
The principal business quarter of Singapore is the Raffles Square with its adja- cent quays and streets. The foreign stores are few in number, but are fairly well supplied with necessaries, few of the luxuries, however, which are so prominent in Hongkong or Shangai establishments finding place. A general want of enterprise, owing probably to the climate, is indeed a distinctive feature of Singapore life.
Singapore possesses a handsome though small Protestant Cathedral (its name having been recently added to the title of the see of Labuan) a neat Presbyterian Chapel, and several Catholic churches of roomy proportions. The principal schools are those of the Raffles Institute and the Christian Brothers, a Convent also provid- ing for the education of girls of the Roman Catholic persuasion. There is a country Club with a well built bungalow situated some three miles out of town, at which latter dauces and amateur theatricals are frequently given. The German community have a similar institution, and the best feeling exists between the two nationalities. The Raffles Library and Museum (temporarily located in the premises of the Raffles School) are creditable and well kept institutious, the Museum having made very fair progress since its inception. The Library contains some 12,000 volumes, chiefly of standard modern literature, and includes the valuable philological collection of the late Mr. Logan.
Singapore boasts three good hotels, the Hotel de l'Europe, Emmerson's, and the Hotel de la Paix, the latter being chiefly patronised by Dutch and other foreign visitors. The Press is represented by the Straits Times (daily), the Straits Intelligence, published twice a week, a weekly issue of the Straits Times, and the Government Gazette, published weekly.
Singapore is well off for Docks. The Tanjong Pagar Company's premises lie about a mile to the westward of the town, a fine wharf affording berthage for twenty vessels at one time with sufficient water alongside for vessels of the heaviest draught, and protected by a breakwater from the swell from the roads and from the strength of the tides. The business of the wharf is under the charge of an experienced super- intendent and assistants, and there is an abundance of labour, ensuring the speedy discharge and loading of vessels alongside, facilitated by the use of steam winches, cranes, &c. There are commodious godowns erected on the wharf for the storage of goods. Coal sheds capable of storing 50,000 tons of the mineral adjoin the godowns, while a small steam railway essentially aids the labour of unloading vessels. The usual accompaniments are also to be found-two docks, one a graving dock 450 feet in length, a machine shop, boiler and masting shear, &c. The New Harbour Dock Company's premises, situated about three miles further West, include two docks of 415 and 450 feet in length respectively, with sheds, workshops, &c., as at Tanjong Pagar. Both companies forward telegrams to and from the town free of charge. The "Ocean,"
"Glen," and other local steamer lines usually go alongside the Tanjong Pagar Wharf. The French mail steamers and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co.'s vessels use the Borneo Company's Wharf at New Harbour, while the P. & O. steamers have a wharf of their own still further West at Teluk Blangah, three miles from town.
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Communication with other Eastern ports and with Europe is kept up by the P. & O., Messageries, Austro-Hungarian Lloyds', Ocean, Rubattino, Castle, and Glen lines of steamers (with some other occasional visitors); by the Eastern and Australian line with Australia; by the Netherlands India line with Java, Timor, aud the islands of the Archipelago; and by a Spanish line with the Philippines; all but the last named running to Hongkong.
The climate of Singapore is remarkable for its salubrity, and the island has been described by medical writers as the "paradise of children," infantile diseases seldom being at all malignant. Despite its proximity to the Equator, under normal circumstances daily rainfall tempers the heat so thoroughly that many sleep beneath blankets. Droughts, however, have been experienced of from one to five months. The island is not exempt from the animal pests which usually infest intra-tropical locations. Tigers are occasionally seen, and two or three deaths are reported annually from this cause; wild pigs and monkeys (both very destructive to gardens) inhabit much of the jungle surrounding the country residences; while the much dreaded cobra has been