Public Works - The roads, where there are mowers, are in excellent order, except at the bridges, nearly all of which require strengthening or rebuilding before it would be wise to ride over them.
The road from the bungalow to Stunggang, where there is a large Malay Kampong, which is about 1 1/2 miles, is also in want of repairs. For the first mile it is not so bad and I would try with prisoners to put that much in good order. The last 1/2 mile which passes through the Kampong and on to the S.P.G. Mission is in a far worse state and I would ask Your Highness to allow me to call out the Malays and Dyaks who live close by to put this last piece in order. If they all turn out together the whole thing would soon be accomplished. This is a most useful thoroughfare and I would strongly recommend its being kept up.
On my arrival here I had all boats put in good repair. The small Govt. Beda, which is quite unsafe when used for any length of time, will be sold for what it can fetch. I have already ordered a hull for a new one. The hull will be of penyau. The boat-shed has practically been rebuilt and all is now in good and serviceable order.
A Chinese carpenter who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment has been a great boon. He has done many repairs inside the bungalow and has saved my getting outside labour.
The white-washing was finished at the end of May. This year I had the buildings all scraped. I understand this had not been done for a great many years. The Chinese I ordered to white=wash and tar their shops. This has not been done since Mr. Kickpatrick left; everywhere is now looking nice and clean.
An oil store which is to be made entirely of bilian will be erected at a convenient and suitable site near the bazaar, within the next six weeks. I received 12 tenders for this job and accepted that of Aw: Mild.
Education - The Government school which I am constantly inspecting has now 31 boys on the register. I am hoping to get this number raised to the school's full complement of forty. Considering the very short time that this school has been open the progress made by the boys is exceedingly good, many of whom show marked intelligence and are most keen to learn. Soo Chuan, the school master, takes great pains with his pupils, I have had to impress very firmly on a few of the parents the necessity of their children being more regular in their attendance. The Government, I point out, is giving them a good education free and they should make the most of the opportunities afforded them. If they will not comply with the school rules, I have informed them that their children will be dismissed, they themselves will be fined and that they will be charged with the full cost of their children's education since the date of their entry into the school.
Plantations - There are now a great many cocoanut plantations along the coast, all of which are doing well. They range from one to seven years old and are mostly owned by Malays. The newest of these gardens have been and are being opened from S. Simatan towards S. Poi. Since my arrival I have issued 30 permits to open cocoanut plantations on the coast. Those persons whose gardens have not long been opened are having a good deal of bother with the wild pigs, and complaints have also reached me that the Simatan cattle do a great deal of damage. I have told the people they should enclose their gardens with stout fences.
The reason for the cattle giving trouble is, I fancy, at low water they wander so far along the shore that their return journey is cut off by the rising tide, and they are forced to make their way home inland and thus smash through the very shoddy fences erected by the Malays. If Govt. would fence in the cattle for good and all the trouble would at an end, but the cattle would suffer considerably, as the cattle grounds could never supply sufficient grass to feed that large herd.
Trade - This being a pepper planting district, trade is being seriously effected by the large low prices now offered for that product. There is in consequence a marked decrease int he Exports and Imports for the first half of this year as compared with those of last. The Chinese and Malays all hope that before long Gutra Estates will be opened and that things will then go ahead a bit. Many hundred of Malays and Dyaks in this district find employment by working bark for the Cutch Company at Santubong. A good worker can easily collect sufficient bark to bring in between $25 and $30 a month.
The Stunggang boat building is still a flourishing trade.
General and Miscellaneous - The health of the district is good and crime is scarce. The recent raids on Chinese in these parts has resulted in a great many vagabonds running over to Dutch Territory. All of them belong more or less to the coolie class.
It is my intention to pay frequent visits to Rombongan and Simatan, especially the latter place, where up-river there is a large Chinese population.
In the event of Your Highness visiting this station I would remind your Highness that there is now nothing fit to ride. The pony 'John' died about 9 months ago, leaving 'Fanny' who is old and in a very broken down condition. It would be very useful if Your Highness could see your way to send another younger and stronger pony here.
The prison gang having slightly increased I am now able to get the ornamental grounds into a better condition.
This is all I have for the present to report to your Highness and trust Your Highness will be satisfied with the state of this district.
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident.
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