11th May. Te progress, of British' North Borneo has been" of special interest to us in Shanghai ever since the country came into the hands of Baron Overbeck and Mr. Alfred Dent, and Mr. Pryer_ was sent there. as their first, representative. We always turn, therefore, with interest to the monthly journal in which that Yeut; and if the' colonies were supplied from' safer it at an at 'cest See a ce oe tee Reet they rice With a nomial chats expenses, now-guard with such invidious ordinances: Leaving this topic-we find the notes mostly taken up with a notice-of the Regatta, and the Show of flowers, fruit and vegetables, poultry, manufactures and ponies: held at Sandakan on the 10th of February. The slow been rather a tale, ex ept_as of the progranithe "appears" to progress is recorded, the British North regards scanty and poor, and so rapidly judged the ponies, the entries bei Borneo Herald and Oficial Gazette, the March number of which now lies and removed that those who went to see before us. Both Shanghai and Hong-the Regatta found the show over when Kong have been unfortunate in expecting they came back. The Regatta consist-the colony to progress much faster than ing of one rowing race and one sail-it has done, or could be reasonably ex-ing race for foreigners, after which pected to do, and companies for planting, there were several races in which native started with insufficient capital and crews com} in their prahus and disgusted at not receiving immediate cobangs. "These were well worth see-returns, have collapsed and discredited ing, as the boats themselves and the the colony undeservedly. The cultiva-manner of propelling them ai tion of fobeoro, boreres, is steadily novel to some of us, and undoubtedly Titel in the present number that the ing, and we learn from the first entertaining and even exciting to the rest. The average number of crew in crop for 1889, which has now been all each was from fifteen to twenty, and sold, amounted to 3,842 bales, and sold the craft were sped along exceedingl at home at an average price of 85 Dutch swiftly by the rows of paddles, whic cents, realising a total of about$190,000. keeping admirable time produced a his comparatively low price was due grace ful effect." "I'he Pony Show into bad assorting.and bad fermenting, eluded fencing and the report of it the results of inexperience. The quality says:—"In the jumping competition of the tobacco is much appreciated, and which was apparently a novelty to the we note that 582 bales from the Darvel ponies, their riders had ample oppor-Laha Datu; Estate sold at an average tunity of showing their agility in that price of 156 cents, while 62.bales from difficult feat of coming off' grace-the Melapi Estate brought 151 cents. fully, and their judgment in deciding What'is' possible at these two estates whether, in the event of refusal it were should be possible generally, we are told, not, better at all events for the rider to and there is no. doubt that a better land on the right side of the hurdle." knowledge, of. the climate of North A good omen for British North Borneo Borneo, atid note attention to, and is that free coolies are inning to experience with the preparation of Teal after itis picked, will result. in a arrive spontaneously from ina, News often travels slowly in China, but it great. general improvement, and make appears to have been learnt from coolies tobacco a most remunerative crop. The in farudu Bay that with good work a North 'Bornes' tobacco lias "fine and coolie can'realise good income on the light, golonrs and good, burn," and for tobacco plantations, and one steamer leaf with these qualities there will always from Hongkong had brought. 42, and be @ good demand. another.82, of these voluntary im-'The "igual " Notes—General" follow, migrants. Kudat is evidently going ahead, and there is good sport in the country round about, while it is the the. purity- of its. coin. first port in the colony to boast a light-perfectly "contented to use fractional house. palea prettanty French nryenoy {Gi Japan, Hongkong, Singa-'There are numerous government no-Fnde-China, and should, no doubt, as very striking proof tifications in the Oficia Gazette, and a! of the growth of the-|, readily welcome North Borneo coin if it colony in the General Post-office report. came 6" ws. Bat in Singapore the The total amount of correspondence importation. of North Borneo coin is which through the office from Forfeiture of the coin. If there were punishable with a fine of $500 and July 1884 to July 1885 was 1,042. The total amount last year was 68,093. Roto shek we hear" a good any practical demand forthe Imperial Shipping, however, owing to the de-! ion in the timber trade, fell off.
should; have an Imperial last year, the tonnage entered being:—fractional currency for all our Eastern Outward. possessions, instead of each colony makifig fts own coin, and "viewing vith sich, jealotisy. any attempt of a sister colony. to circulate. its coin outside its 3. 7,031 tons. own' borders... A ten-cent piece with The medical report'is for January the Queen's head on it should' be good last, and though Sandakan was rather! for ten cents wherever dollars are cur-hot and very wet during that mouth, {the health of thie town was aitich "above {UNG average "Phe cit Linantin shade' temiperabuire! was '83% Into maximum 88°, the. iigati' miiiium 73°.2, and the absolute-winhaem; '72°> Phe:-rainfall' was 89.57 brithes, or 7.10 inches more than viously recorded for a single nik sandakan. Rain fell on 26 days;-with a heaviest fall of: 5.61 initiates out 20th Janiuary, and a dry interval of twd'days on the 10th and Tithe" 7
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.