Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1389

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JOHORE-KELANTAN

STEPHENS, ROBERT, Chief Overseer, Public Works Department-Bandar Mahavaui, Muar, Johore State

TOPHAM, JONES & RAILTON, LTD, Con- tractors for Public Works Johore Bahru

M. W. Henty, local director W. T. Halcrow, agent

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F. L. Williams, chief engineer F. Miles, accountant

TOWN BOARD OFF CE

President-Major W. B. Y. Draper, M.C. Deputy President-Ungku Ali bin

Abdullah

Secretary and Treasurer-Othman bin

Abdullah

KELANTAN

This State is situated in the extreme north-eastern end of the Peninsula, between latitudes 4.38° and 6'15° North and between longitudes 101′26° and 102′40° East, with a coast-line of 60 miles on the China Sea. It embraces an area estimated at 5,870 square miles. It is a mountainous country, with rich alluvial plains, and is drained by the Kelantan River and its tributaries.

Kota Bharu, six miles up the Kelantan River, is the capital, and thechief port is Tumpat at the mouth. The Sultan and the British Adviser reside at Kot Bharu.

Chiefly agricultural, Kelantan is believed to be rich in minerals, and much prospect- ing may be expected to be done in the next few years. The chief exports are padi and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is healthier than other parts of the Peninsula, there being a distinct cold season about January. The temperature- seldom exceeds 90° and sometimes falls to 62°, while the average rainfall is about 120 inches a year.

Mr. J. Scott Mason, the British Adviser, took over the supervision of affairs from Mr. W. A. Graham, the Siamese Commissioner, on July 15, 1909; and the most important happening since then was the determination in 1912 of the agreement between the Sul- tan and the Duff Development Company, and the resumption by the Government of the powers conceded to the company over nearly two-thirds of the State.

A new working agreement was entered into under which the Government of Kelantan undertook to pay to the company a sum of £300,000 sterling and to grant to them certain rights.

Over thirty miles of the railway which is to connect the F.M.S. and Siamese systems is completed in Kelantan, southwards from Tumpat, and work on the extension southwards to the Siam border is in progress, opening up the State for planting and mining.

According to the census of 1911 the population is 286,751.

In 1909, the revenue amounted to $370,959 and the expenditure to $377,062. In 1918, the revenue had risen to $955,402 and the expenditure to $899,161. The public debt at the transference of the suzerainty was $150,000, upon which Siam charged 6 per cent. This debt was taken over by the F.M.S., interest being reduced to 4 per cent. The debit balance of the State at the end of 1918 was $3,230,728. The value of the imports in 1918 was $2,581,408 against $2,196,384 in 1917, and of exports $3,615,079 against $4,550,531 in 1917. The principal imports were:-cotton piece goods, sarongs, cycles and accessories, coal, woodenware, matches, kerosene, opium, tobacco, salt and woollen goods. The tonnage of steainers using Kelantan ports amounted to 73,577 in 1918 against 63,023- in 1917. There is regular steamship communication with Bangkok and Singapore. The first all-weather road was completed in 1916, it runs 26 miles from the capital to Pasir Puteh. The Trunk Road from Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai lacks a few bridges to make it usable in dry weather. There is now weekly connection by rail and steamer between Tumpat and Kuala Lebir, 60 miles up river. Kota Bharu is in direct telegraphic communication with Bangkok aud Penang and possesses a telephone service. is also connected by telephone with Tumpat, the port of Kelantan. A telegraph line connecting Kota Bharu with Kuala Krai has been completed.

It

About 315,660 acres were under cultivation in 1918. This comprised 130,280 acres devoted to padi̟, 59,765 to coconuts, and 80,370 to rubber. The export of rubber in 1918-