Page:Sarawak Gazette 4 January 1907 Issue No 492.pdf/1

Rh

Price


 * —Export of Straits Dollars prohibited—Jiuricksha.


 * —Straits Dollars may be changed at the Treasury—Bankrupt Estates, Sadong—Bankrupt Estates, Bau—Unclaimed Court Deposits—Bankruptcy Court, Kuching—Probate Notices, Bau—Unclaimed Deposits, Mukah—Outstation Money Orders—Export Duties—Consul for Sarawak—Postcards—Bankruptcy Court, Kuching—Sarawak Library.




 * —Mukah—Lundu—Paku—Sadong—Bau—Simanggang—Matang Estate—Limbang—Bintulu

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His Highness the Rajah, accompanied by Mr. H. F. Deshon as, arrived on the 14th April and spent some 4 months in the Country, part of which time His Highness occupied in visiting the Outstations. H. H. the Rajah Muda sailed for Europe on the 11th April, and is expected shortly to return.

On the departure of the Rajah in August the Hon'ble the Resident, Sir Perey Cunynghame, Bart. was appointed Administrator of the Government.

One of the principal events of the year was the suppression of a very widely organized Chinese Secret Society, the evidence being very conclusive and taking considerable time and trouble to collect.

At the beginning of the year exchange was fixed at 2s. 4d.—This had the effect of causing a great fall in the Dollar prices of produce, the low price of Pepper being greatly felt by planters, who, carried away probably by the high price pepper reached before, obtained excessive advances in cash and provisions, which they are now practically unable to repay unless their creditors give them a substantial rebate. Notwithstanding this, however, and the constant reports from Upper Sarawak and elsewhere of absconding gardeners, the quantity of pepper exported during the year has been far in excess of that sent out of the country in 1905. At the same time, referring once more to the Upper Sarawak reports and taking into consideration the fact that pepper is one of the principal industries of Sarawak and a great source of revenue in more ways than one, it would appear that serious steps must be taken to prevent the planters from swindling those from whom they had advances and provision, it being apparently a common dodge for them to sell their pepper for cash to someone with whom they have no debt and to abscond with the proceeds.

Consequent on low prices the export duties on jungle produce had to be reduced, but, taking the Customs receipts as a whole, as far as the returns are at present made up, we understand that they compare very favourably with the previous year, and though they will show an actual decrease in dollars this is more than discounted by the enhanced sterling value of the dollar.

The fixity of exchange has enabled the Post Office to give facilities to Outstations in the sending of Money Orders to India and Europe, and arrangements were also made during the year for the exchange of Money Orders with the Native States.

A useful addition to Shipping was the arrival in February of the s. s. Sarawak, a small steamer built to the order of the S. & S. Steamship Co. She has a capacity of about 145 tons and during the year has made numerous trips up and down the coast.

Some of the principal works upon which the Public Works Department has been engaged are the River Wall, New Fish Market, new Police Station at Batu Kawa, new Government Offices, laying down a ferro-concrete floor in Museum, a bridge in Kampong Grisik, and the Khoo Hun Yeang Street reclamation work. The coal shed was also remodelled for use as a Carpenters shed, the old Carpenters’ shed being thrown into the Machine Shop in order to give increased accommodation.

The ferro-concrete work for the Museum floor and River Wall mark a distinct advance in the character of the structures previously erected around Kuching. That portion of the River Wall already constructed shows what a marked improvement this work will be when finished, and though we understand that Mr. Ellis, the present Commissioner, will not see the completion of the work which he has planned and so far successfully carried out in the face of numerous difficulties, he will deserve full credit for it.