Directory_and_Chronicle_1924 — Page 1578

SARAWAK-STATE OF NORTH BORNEO

SARAWAK STEAMSHIP Co., LTD. (Incor- porated in Sarawak)-32 and 33, Khoo Hun Yeang Street, Kuching; Tel. Ad: Steamship, Kuching; Codes: A.B.C. 5th edn., Scott's 10th edn., Bentley's

E. Parnell, managing director Agents

Ong Ewe Hai & Co., Singapore

SARAWAK UNION (Instituted 1899)

President--Bishop of the Diocese Vice President-Vicar of Kuching Hon. Secretary-Rev. F. S. Hollis Hon. Treasurer-Wee Leong An Auditor-Wee Kheng Whatt

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Committee-Kueh Choo Seng, Yap

Ghee Hock and Tan Sum Guan

ST. MARY'S MISSION SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Miss E. S. Andrews

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CLUB Kuching Rev. Father Haidegger, president A. G. Law, vice-president Lim Soon

Treasurer-Fook Chang

ST. THOMAS'S SCHOOL-Kuching

Warden-Rt. Rev. The Bishop Headmaster- A. N. Ellis Chaplains-Ven. A. B. Champion and

Rev. E. G. Proctor

STATE OF NORTH BORNEO

This territory, formerly known as Sabah, situated at the northern end of the island of Borneo, has a coast line of about 500 miles. The population is made up of Malays, Bajaus, Dusuns, Sulus and Murats, and is estimated to number 258,000, which includes about 37,612 Chinese. The chief geographical feature in the territory is the mountain of Kina Balu, about 13,700 feet high. The principal river on the West coast is the Padas. On the East there are the Kinabatangan, Labuk, Sugut, Segama, and many other valuable rivers. The best harbours are those of Jesselton on the West coast, Kudat on the North, Sandakan and Cowie Harbour on the East, the two- last-named being very spacious and possessing great potentialities,

The climate is particularly pleasant for the tropics; the days are rarely very hot, while a blanket is often required at night; and very little inconvenience is experienced from insect pests, such as mosquitoes and the like. Hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disturbances are unknown. The seas are teening with fisli, and the re is a large export trade in dried and salted fish. Trade with Singapore, Hongkong and the Philippines is well established. A weekly steamship service is maintained between North Borneo ports and Singapore by the Straits Steamship Company, and steamers run regularly to Hongkong and the Philippines. A local fortnightly service is maintained by the Sabah Steamship Company, and a monthly service by the Osaka Shosen Kaisha from Formosa, the ports of call being Hongkong, Sandakan, Batavia, Semarang, Sourabaya, and Macassar. There are in all six lines of steamships maintaining communication with North Borneo. A great impetus is being given to Sandakan and the whole territory by the now frequent calling of the three Aus- tralia-China lines- the Australian Oriental Line, the Eastern and Australian S.S. Co., Ltd., and the China and Australia S.S. Co., Ltd. The vessels originally came to Sandakan for bunker supplies only, but they are finding an increasing freight and passenger traffic and this should steadily expand. Most of the trade supplies are obtained from and through Singapore; and with Hongkong there is a brisk and increasing trade in timber. Flour and other food-stuffs are now being introduced from Australia, and the business is a fast growing one. Amongst the zoological productions of North Borneo are to be noted elephants, rhinoceros, deer of three kinds, wild cattle, proboscis monkey, orang-utang, pigs, bears and pythons. Of game birds there are a few-argus, fireback, and bulwer pheasants, wild duck, many varieties of wild pigeon and doves, snipe, and quail.

Sandakan, the capital, has a magnificent harbour and is the chief place of trade. Jesselton, on the West coast, is developing, and several of the Government

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