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 30 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 for 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.
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT OF LABUAN
Governor and Commander-in-chief-Sir. J.
Anderson, K.C.M.G.
Private Secretary-Oliver Marks (Resident
at Singapore)
Acting do.--Claud Severn
High Commissioner for Brundei and the Federated Malay States, and British Agent for B. N. Borneo & Sarawak-Sir John Anderson, R.C.M.G.
RESIDENT'S OFFICE Resident--M. S. H. McArthur Acting Resident-J. Fortescue Owen Chief Clerk-Christopher G. Boyd Second-Fong Chung Fong
TREASURY & DISTRICT OFFICE Treasurer District Officer & Collector of Land Revenue-Stanley E. Dennys Clerk-Wm. Kong
Do-M. Tamimih
Do.-Ricardo Escot
Land Bailiff-Wm. John
POST OFFICE
Post Master-Stanley E. Dennys Asst. do. G. A. Phillips Clerk-Awang Besar bin Ong Keat Stamp Vendor-Ahmat bin Üsop
HARBOUR Office
Pilot & Harbourmaster-Capt.J. K.Webster Clerk-A. Razack bin Laut
COURTS
District Judge-M. S. H. McArthur Acting-Do. J. Fortescue Owen Magistrate of Police-Stanley E. Dennys Clerk of Courts, and Chinese Interpreter
-Chan Wai Sik
COLONIAL MEDICAL DEPARTMENT Surgeon-Dr. R. E. Adamson, M.D. Dipenser-Ah Ng
PUBLIC WORKS & SURVEy Department Superintendent-Edmund Roberts, M.I.
MECH. E.
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