Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1897. British North Borneo.

Manawatu Herald, 17 July 1897, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1897. British North Borneo.

«■ . In every quarter of the world has Great Britnin some possessions, and thus by cable we get news of troubles here, there, and everywhere. The latest cable to hand tells us of rebels riding in British North Borneo. Thi3 U a hot corner of the World being the most northern part of the island of Borneo. Borneo lies in the Malayian Archipelago, just south of Spain's possession — the Phillipine islands, and is just north of Australia. The island of Borneo is supposed to bo the largest island in the world after Australia and New Guinea, and by its subdivisions illustrates the push .of the Briton in days gone bye. Borneo proper is ruled by a Sultan, and the northwest coa.-t was ceded in 1842 to the late Sir James Brooke, whose euc cessor rules over it as a Rsja, and their territory was increased by concessions in 1861,. 1882, 1885 and 1890 it reached its present boundaries. In the territory adjoining is the British North Borneo Company, the Sultan of Brunei, and over these as welt as those of the Raja a British Protectorate has been established.

Two thirds of the island which comprises some 280,000 square miles, the Dutch possess. "There 13, on the north-west coast the British colony of Labuan. The territories are managed by a High Com missioner and Consul-General for the British North Borneo Company, Brunei and Sarawak. The population is probably about 1,846,000 consistingchiefly of Dyaks, Malays, Kyans, Papua, Chinese and Bngis. The mineral kingdom includes gold; silver, diamonds, anti mony, quicksilver, iron, tin, and coal in abundance. What the disturbance is all about we have yet to learn.