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BRITISH NORTH BORNEO
A branch line runs from Beaufort to the small port of Weston, a distance of about 20 miles. The railway is playing an important part in the development of the West Coast. Already there are 14 large rubber estates and numerous small holdings served by it, whilst the acreage under. padi, sago and coconuts is steadily increasing. San- dakan 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 nine wireless installations in the country-at Jesselton, Sandakan, Kudat, Tawau and Lahad Datu. The State Bank of North Borneo was established in 1921 with its head office at Sandakan and an agency at Jesselton. A lighthouse has been established at Batu Tinagat, near Tawau, and at Tanjong Trang, near Tambisan Island, on the East coast. Unattended lights have been placed on Taganac Island. near Sandakan, Kalampunian Island, North Point, Kudat, and Armstrong Reef, near Lahad Datu.
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The territory of North Borneo was acquired from the Sultans of Brunei and Sulu by cession for small annual payments in 1877, and the British North Borneo Company was incorporated by Royal Charter on the 1st November, 1881. The area of the territory is about 29,347 square miles, and the population, as ascertained by the census of 1931, was 270,223, as co mpared with 257,804 in 1921. This total included 340 Europeans, 205,218 natives of Borneo, 47,799 Chinese, and 11,494 natives of the Malay Archipelago. The Company's authorised capital is £2,000,000. A dividend of 3 per cent. was declared in 1916, 4 per cent. in 1917, 4 per cent. in 1918, 5 per cent. in 1919, 3 per cent. in 1920, 3 per cent. in 1921, 33 per cent. in 1922, 23 per cent. in 1923, nil in 1924, and 14% in 1929. In May, 1888, a British Protectorate was established.
The following officers have administered the Government of the Territory since its acquisition by the Company:-
GOVERNORS OF NORTH BORNEO
1881 W. H. Treacher, C.M.G. 1888 C. V. Creagh, C.M.G. 1895 L. P. Beaufort
1900 Hugh Clifford, c.M.G. 1901 E. W. Birch, C.M.G.
1904 E. P. Gueritz
1911 F, R. Ellis. C.M.G.
1912 J. Scott Mason
1913. The Rt. Hon. Sir West Ridgeway, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I. (tem- porary)
1913. C. W. C. Parr
1915 A. C. Pearson C.M.G.
1922 Maj.-Gen. Sir William Rycroft,
K.C.B., K.C.M.G.
1925 A. C. Pearson, C.M.G.
J
1926 J. L. Humphreys, c.M.G., C.B.E. 1930 A. F. Richards, C.M.G.
1934 D. J. Jardine, C.M.G., O.B.E.
OFFICERS ADMINISTERING THE GOVERN- MENT, FOR VARIOUS PERIODS DURING THE YEARS STATED
1887 W. M. Crocker
1907
1910
Alex. Cook
A. C. Pearson, C.M.G. 1912-26 F. W. Fraser, C.B.E.
1922 H. W. L. Bunbury 1927-34 D. R. Maxwell, C.B.E 1930
C. F. C. Macaskie
1934 E. W. Morrell
DIRECTORY
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO CHARTERED COMPANY (Incorporated by Royal Charter, 1st November, 1881) Court of Directors- London
(Offices: Staple Hall, Stone House Court, Bishopsgate, London, E.C. 3) President Major-General Sir Neill Malcolm, K.C.B., D.S.o.
Vice President-D. O: Malcolm
Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone
G. E. R. Bromley Martin
C. Mallët
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Capt. A. G. Cowie
Sir Andrew McFadyean SecretaryW, O. Pidgeon
Legal Assistant W. J. Worth-
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