Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1517

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

1394

BRITISH NORTH BORNEO

Receipts in North Borneo amounted to £303,063 in 1918 as compared with £210,197 in 1913, the pre-war year. Expenditure was £155,313 in 1918, as compared with £115,545 in 1913.

Tobacco planting has become a great and profitable industry, and the tobacco already raised obtains a ready sale at good prices. Cutch, which is extracted from mangrove bark, is being exported in rapidly increasing quantities. Rubber is the latest and most popular industry; and coconut cultivation is becoming one of the features of the country in which there are large areas still to be exploited. There are now thirty companies operating in British North Borneo, the majority being engaged in rubber growing, while others are engaged in coconut and tobacco cultivation. There are upwards of 40,000 acres under rubber cultivation. The rubber exported in 1918 was valued at £670,767 as against £635,288 in 1917. The export of copra was valued at £26,722 in 1918 as compared with £26,178 in 1917. The export of timber was valued at £41,702 as compared with £43,795 in 1917. The population

The population of the town of Sandakan, the capital of the territory, was 8,256 in 1911, of whom 66 were Europeans and 5,942 Chinese. There are several sections of railway, totalling 125 miles, now open. The longest line runs from Jesselton to Melalap, 100 miles. The railway is playing an important part in the development of the country. The number of passengers carried in 1918 was 299,201 against 280,269 in 1917; and 15,499 tons of freight were carried in 1918 against 15,978 tons in 1917. The gross earnings amounted to £23,748 in 1918. A sum of £77,000 was spent in 1913 in improving and strengthening the line, and further sums of £59,000 in 1914 and £34,576 in 1915. Sandakan is distant about 1,000 miles from Singapore, 1,200 miles from Hongkong and 660 miles from Manila. It became connected telegraphically with Labuan on the 7th May, 1897, and was thus placed in communication with Europe, etc. There are now four wireless installations in the country, at Jesselton, Sandakan, Kudat and Tawao. A lighthouse has been opened at Batu Tinagat. near Tawao,

The territory of British North Borneo was acquired from the Sultans of Brunei and Sulu by cession for a small annual payment in 1877, and the British North Borneo Company was incorporated by Royal Charter on the 1st November, 1881. The area of the territory is 31,106 square miles, and the population as ascertained by the census of 1911 is 208,183 as compared with 104,527 in 1901. The total included 355 Europeans, 167,586 natives of Borneo, 26,002 Chinese, 5,510 natives of the Netherlands East Indies, 5,503 natives of the Sulu Archipelago, and 246 Japanese. The Company's authorised capital is £2,000,000, but the amount issued so far is £1,845,313. A dividend of 3 per cent. was declared in 1916; 4 per cent. in 1917; and 4 per cent. in 1918. The credit balance of the Revenue Account for the year ended December 31, 1918, was £161,758 against £133,713 in 1917. In May, 1888, a British Protectorate was established. The following officers have administered the Government of the Territory since its acquisition by the Company:-1881-1887, W. H. Treacher; 1887-1888, W. M. Crocker (acting); 1888-1891, C. V. Creagh, C.M.G.; 1891-1892, L. P. Beaufort (acting); 1892, C. V. Creagh, C.M.G; 1895, L. P. Beaufort; 1900, Hugh Clifford, c.M.G.; 1901, É. W. Birch, C.M.G.; 1905, E. P. Gueritz; 1911, F. R. Ellis, C.M.G.; 1912, J. Scott. Mason; 1912-3, A. C. Pearson (acting); 1913, C. W. C. Parr; 1915, A. C. Pearson; 1915, F. W. Fraser (acting), and 1916.9 A. C. Pearson.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1517

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