CO882-(1-2) — Page 409

8

18. The total annual charges on this account are about* four lakhs of rupees.

14. Revenue. The gross revenue of the three Settlements for the last two years, of which returns are readily available, is noted in the margin. It has been aptly described as "derived more from the vices than from the industry of the people." The main source is the monopoly of opium and spiritu- ous liquors, which is yearly farmed out, and desig- Excise Farms." The revenue from this nated source will be seen by the annexed marginal state- ment to vary from about two-thirds (in Malacca) to four-fifths (in Singapore) of the total revenue realized.

10

15. The land revenue§ is in each of the Settle- ments small, and of nearly equal amount. In Malacca, more than 5-6ths of the amount thus entered is, however, not properly land revenue, but represents the duty levied on tin raised from the mines in the interior of the country.

16. Finance.-The total revenue drawn from the three Settlements in 1855-56 aggregated Rs. 10,31,873; the total charges were Rs.13,13,758; thus leaving a balance against them of Rs.2,81,885. From this sum, however, Rs. 1,76,481, the cost of

Chinese and Indian convicts, should, in fairness, be deducted. The annual deficit is then represented by Rs. 1,05,404.

17. Judicial.—The whole territory subject to

* For 1865-6 they were Rs. 4,91,185.

+ Penang

Malacca

Singapore

+ Realized from Excise Farms in 1866-6-

Company's Rupees.

9

the Governor of the Straits is under the jurisdic- tion of Her Majesty's Courts. There are two Recorders, one for Singapore and Malacca, another for Penang. Criminal justice is also administered in Quarter Sessions, the Resident Councillor having hitherto been called on to preside. But the present Recorders have consented to act as Chairmen of Quarter Sessions.

18. Population.-The population of the three Settlements is:-

Petang (with Province Wallmalay) Malacon Bagapore

Square Miles.

Population.

169 (Penang alons)

$7,037

DDO

376

54,001

67,421

238,489

19. Convicts. The Convicts, who form a con- siderable proportion of the population, are thus distributed :—

Penang

Malacca

Singapore

1,558

648

1,639

8,545

per

20. The average annual expense of their main- tenance per head is Ra, 48·12, or £4 11a. 6d: apnum. Many, however (about 550), are on ticket- of-leave, and cost the State nothing: the cost of maintenance of those in custody must be assumed

at a proportionally higher rate.

21. Trade. The statements of Trade include imports and exports. They are not altogether reliable, as the Settlements are free porta, and no means exist of properly testing the returns, They are subjoined as approximations merely. The chief exports of Penang are spices and sugar. The only important product of Malacca is tin,” while the exports of Singapore are mainly confined to pepper.

1854-5.

1856-6.

2,45,1585 2,69,770

1,61,151

1,71,787

4,75,975

5,96,365

1863-4.

1965-6.

1856-7.

Pa

Penang

The

1,96,17,474 2,05,08,774

No Returns.

Penang

Malacca

Bingapore

4 Land Bevenue 1865-8

Penang

Malacos

Singapore

Re.

1,82,520

1,09,900

4,45,080

Ba.

61,350

61,158

63,189

i prodňov slova Na.

08,006,

No Belir

0,07,11,200

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TITLC.O. 882

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO