Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 1709

British North Borneo

JESSELTON-KUDAT-LABUAN

CHEAH LOON GHEE & Co., LTD.-Jesselton,

Proprietors of-

D93

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Rev. S. M. Collier

Bukit Padang

Jesselton

Rubber

Estate,

Harrisons & Crosfield (Borneo), Ltd.,

agents and secretaries

HARRISONS & CROSFIELD (BORNEO), LTD.,

Merchants-Cable Ad: Crosfield

G. B. Fleming, manager

KUDAT

District Officer-R. F. Evans

Harbour Master and Supervisor of Customs-R. F. Evans Deputy Assistant District Officer-Chung Fook Choi CHURCH OF ENGLAND-Rev. Soong Khi Feng

LABUAN

This, formerly 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 28.6 square miles, and is about six miles from the Borneo coast and 725 miles, or three days' steaming, from Singapore. 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 Bay finds a market in Labuan; about 2,780 acres of rubber are planted, part in bearing, and principally owned by Chinese. Coconuts are being planted on the same land. There is regular steamship communication with Singapore and Sandakan, 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, and Labuan was incorporated with the Straits Settlements in January, 1907, becoming a separate settlement in 1912.

The coal mines worked by the Labuan Coalfields Co., Ltd., exported in 1910, 9,200 tons. This company secured operations in March, 1911, and another company, styled the Labuan Exploration Co. was formed in London with the object of working these mines and prospecting for other minerals but its efforts were unsuccessful and their export of coal ceased many years ago.

In recent years there has been an increase of vegetable and fruit cultivation among the smallholders, a tendency which will probably develop further with the depression in the rubber industry.

The population as revealed by the 1931 census was approximately 7,000.

Imports Exports

1931

$ 536,160 780,849

$1,317,009

1932

$ 519,010 593,933

$1,112,943