678199-1882-Despatches-re-Petition-from-Police-Inspectors-for-increase-of-pay-Charter-of-British-North-Borneo-Company-Issue-of-Notes-of-the-Hongkong---Shanghai-Bank-in-Straits-Settlements- — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH MARCH, 1882.

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Bay and Sapangar Bay with all the land and islands belonging thereto and likewise the island of Banguey for certain considerations between them agreed, and that one of the grantees therein in that behalf named was the chief and only authorized representative of his Company in Borneo, it was declared that the Sultan had nominated and appointed and thereby did nominate and appoint the same grantee supreme ruler of the above-named territories with the title of Maharajah of Sabah (North Borneo) and Rajah of Gaya and Sandakan with power of life and death over the inhabitants with all the absolute rights of property vested in the Sultan over the soil of the country and the right to dispose of the same as well as the rights over the productions of the country whether mineral vegetable or animal with the rights of making laws coining money creating an army and navy levying customs rates on home and foreign trade and shipping and other dues and taxes on the inhabitants as to him might seem good or expedient together with all other powers and rights usually exercised by and belonging to sovereign rulers and which the Sultan thereby delegated to him of his own free will; and the Sultan called upon all foreign nations with whom he had formed friendly treaties and alliances to acknowledge the said Maharajah as the Sultan himself in the said territories and to respect his authority therein; and in case of the death or retirement from office of the said Maharajah then his duly appointed successor in the office of supreme ruler and governor-in-chief of the Company's territories in Borneo should likewise succeed to the office and title of Maharajah of Sabah and Rajah of Gaya and Sandakan and all the powers above enumerated be vested in him.

And whereas the said Petition further states that on the same day the Pangeran Tumongong (Chief Minister) of Brunei made to the same two persons their heirs associates successors or assigns a grant of the provinces of Kimanis and Benoni on the north-west coast of Borneo with all the islands belonging thereto within three marine leagues of the coast of the said territories belonging to him as his private property to hold for their own exclusive and absolute uses and purposes; and in consideration of that grant the grantees promised to pay as compensation to the Pangeran Tumongong his heirs or successors the sum of three thousand dollars per annum; and the said territories were thereby declared vested in the grantees their heirs associates successors or assigns for so long as they should choose or desire to hold them; and they further promised to protect the Pangeran Tumongong with kindness.

And whereas the said Petition further states that on the 22nd day of January, 1878, the Sultan of Sooloo and the dependencies thereof (in the said Petition and in this Our Charter referred to as the Sultan of Sooloo) made and issued to the same two persons, or one of them, a grant of his rights and powers over territories lands states and islands therein mentioned, and a commission.

And whereas the said Petition further states that by the last-mentioned grant the Sultan of Sooloo on behalf of himself his heirs and successors and with the consent and advice of the Datoos in Council assembled granted and ceded of his own free and sovereign will to the grantees as representatives of a British Company co-jointly their heirs associates successors and assigns for ever and in perpetuity all the rights and powers belonging to the Sultan over all the territories and lands being tributary to him on the mainland of the Island of Borneo commencing from the Pandassan River on the north-west coast and extending along the whole east coast as far as the Sibuco River in the south and comprising amongst others the States of Paitan, Sugut, Bangaya, Labuk, Sandakan, Kina Batangan, Mumiang, and all the other territories and states to the southward thereof bordering on Darvel Bay and as far as the Sibuco River with all the islands within three marine leagues of the coast; and in consideration of that grant the grantees promised to pay as compensation to the Sultan his heirs or successors the sum of five thousand dollars per annum; and the said territories were thereby declared vested in the grantees co-jointly their heirs associates successors or assigns for as long as they should choose or desire to hold them; provided however that the rights and privileges conferred by that grant should never be transferred to any other nations or company of foreign nationality without the sanction of Our Government first being obtained; and in case any dispute should arise between the Sultan his heirs or successors and the grantee therein in that behalf specified or his Company the matter should be submitted to Our Consul General for Borneo; and that grantee on behalf of himself and his Company further promised to assist the Sultan his heirs or successors with his best counsel and advice whenever the Sultan might stand in need of the same.

And whereas the said Petition further states that by the last-mentioned commission, after reciting to the effect that the Sultan of Sooloo had seen fit to grant unto his trusty and well-beloved friends the grantees certain portions of the dominions owned by the Sultan comprising all the lands on the north and east coast of the Island of Borneo from the Pandassan River on the north-west to the Sibuco River on the east coast including amongst others the states of Paitan, Sugut, Bangaya, Labuk, Sandakan, Kina Batangan, and Mumiang, and all the lands and territories in Darvel Bay as far as the Sibuco River together with all the islands belonging thereto for certain considerations between them agreed, and that one of the grantees therein in that behalf named was the chief and only authorized representative of his Company in Borneo, it was declared that the Sultan of Sooloo had nominated and appointed and thereby did nominate and appoint the same grantee supreme and independent ruler of the above-named territories with the title of Datu Bandahara and Rajah of Sandakan with absolute power of life and death over the inhabitants of the country with all the absolute rights of property over the soil of the country vested in the Sultan and the right to dispose of the same as well as the rights