;
PENANG
1269
Palms, bamboos, banana and other fruit-trees, and nutmegs clothe the hillsides, while ferns are also plentiful. The high land permits of the cultivation of many flowers and other plants which will not thrive in the flat level lands of Singapore or Malacca.
As evinced by its name, the chief product of Penang is the betel-nut, which, with copra and all kinds of fruit and nutmegs, is the only indigenous article of trade. Nut- megs were at one time a most important branch of industry, but the blight, which simultaneously affected the whole Peninsula, destroyed it. Their cultivation has, how- ever, now been resumed, and Penang nutmegs stand high in the market. There is no agriculture properly so-called. Pepper was at one period of its early history produced to the extent of three and a half million pounds annually; but the competition of other places, notably of Netherlands-India, proved fatal, and it is now only cultivated in small patches, and is not classed as an article of export trade. Tapioca, coconuts, gutta, rubber and citronella are also among the products cultivated.
The Singapore-Penang railway has its terminus at Prai, which is connected with the island by a ferry service.
The town possesses few attractions, and the public buildings are mediocre, with the exception of the Government Offices, a fine block erected in 1889 near the jetty. St. George's Church is an unpretending edifice of 80 years' standing, centrally situated. There are also a Roman Catholic Church and several mission chapels. The Botanical Gardens and Waterfall are well worthy of a visit, and another place of interest at some distance from the town is the Chinese Temple at Ayer Itam. The census of 1921 gave the total population of Penang and Province Wellesley (including Dindings) as 304,335, compared with 278,003 in 1911.
During 1922 the number of merchant vessels entered and cleared at the port was 4,282, as against 3,641 in 1921, the tonnage being 7,684,973 and 6,367,132, respectively. Of these, 3,137 vessels with a tonnage of 5,465,982 were British. The number of all vessels entered and cleared was 17,434.
The value of foreign imports and exports at Penang (merchandise only) for the years 1921 and 1922 was as follows:-
1922
Imports Exports
Total
1921
.$105,648,522
$129,518,399
82,333,924
120,406,172
$187,982,446
$249,924,561
GOVERNMENT OFFICES
DIRECTORY
AGENT OF THE GOVT. OF INDIA
Rao Sahib D. Arulanandam Pillai,
B.A., B.L.
T. G. Nataraja Pillai, chief clerk
AUDIT OFFICE
Acting Auditor-E. C. D'Orville Acting Chief Clerk-Che Teh bin
Che Din
BANKRUPTCY OFFICE
Acting Assistant Official Assignee-
L. B. Gibson
Chief Clerk—J. B. Lolı
2nd Clerk-P. A. Gregory
CORONER'S DEPARTMENT
Coroner-Second Magistrate
DEPUTY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
Deputy Public Prosecutor-J. V. G.
Mills (acting)
DISTRICT COurt
District Judge-G. A. Smith (actg.) Assist. do. -H. A. Forrer do. Clerk of Court-L. M. Thexeira
DISTRICT OFFICE, BALIK PULAU
Acting Dist. Officer-G. Hawkins Chief Clerk-S. M. Shunker Pillay
DISTRICT OFFICE, BUKIT MERTAJAM
Dist. Officer-J. R. Neave (acting) Chief Clerk-Mohd. Tambi
DISTRICT OFFICE, BUTTERWORTH, SENIOR
Sr. Dist. Officer-B. Nunn (acting) Assist. to S.D.O.-S. N. King Chief Clerk-K. Kandiah
Sanitary Inspector-L. S. Emaung
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