by many similar cessions to Rajahs of Sarawak and to the British North Borneo Company, and the State of Brunei has now been reduced to about 2,226 square miles, containing a population (1931 census) of 30,135, and consisting of the town and district of Brunei and the outlying districts of Muara, Tutong, Belait and Temburong. Estimated population on 31st December, 1937, was 35,963. A cutch factory established by a London syndicate, is at work at Brunei. The output of cutch in 1937 was 2,333 tons, valued at $212,239. There are two native industries of importance, the manufacture of brassware and silverware. These are more or less restricted to certain families or guilds. Weaving is done by Brunei women, and the natives are excellent fishermen. The revenue of the State is derived principally from oil royalties, customs duties, and land and mining rents. Finances. In 1888, an agreement was concluded with the Sultan under which the control of foreign relations was placed in the hands of His Majesty's Government, whilst internal affairs were left to the Sultan. A further agreement was made at the end of 1905, under the terms of which the Sultan agreed to accept a British Resident to advise him and assist in the There is no Public Debt. administration of the State. Until 1915 the Resident combined these duties with those of Resident of Labuan, while an Assistant Resident was stationed in Brunei. In 1915, a separate Resident was appointed for Brunei and the appointment of Assistant Resident was discontinued. At the beginning of 1931, however, the rapid develop ment of the Belait district owing to the discovery of oil in commercial quantities necessitated the appointment of an additional officer of the Malayan Civil Service and the title of Assistant Resident was revived. European officers from the Malayan Establishment are in charge of the Public Works, Medical, Police, Agricultural and Forest Departments. The chief town is Brunei, with a population of 10,453 (1931 census). Besides the old Malay town which is built over the water on the Brunei River there is a new township on the mainland, which has steadily developed since 1910. The only other centre of any considerable population is Kuala Belait on the oil fields with a population of about 4,000. The climate resembles that of the Federated Malay States, the average annual rainfall being a little over 100 inches. There are Malay Vernacular schools at Brunei and in the out-districts as well as aided Chinese and English Schools in Brunei and Kuala Belait. The Government maintains a small hospital at Brunei and two dispensaries in country districts, as well as travelling dispensaries which cover the whole State. There is also a hospital at Kuala Belait maintained by the British Malayan Petroleum Company which is made available for Government use. The birth rate was 40-09 per mille (1,472 births) and the crude death rate 21-47 per mille (772 deaths). The Police Force consists of 86 non-commissioned officers and men under the Chief Police Officer, a Chief Inspector on deputation from the Straits Settlements Police. There are six post offices in the State and 210,020 postal articles were dealt with in 1937. Trade is chiefly in the hands of Chinese, of whom there are about 4,000 in the State. Native industries include fishing, cloth weaving, brass founding, and the manufacture of silverware. The principal imports are rice, cloth, tobacco, sugar and petroleum, and the principal exports crude oil, cutch (mangrove extract), wild and plantation rubber, sago and dried prawns. All trade passes through Labuan. In 1924 the British Malayan Petroleum Company, Limited, commenced prospecting and drilling opera. tions for petroleum in the Belait district. In 1930 it became definitely established that an oil-field of considerable commercial value had been found at Seria, 10 miles North-East of Kuala Belait. Production amounted to 566,908 tons in 1937, valued at $3,992,782. Several companies are engaged in planting Para rubber. Exports in 1937 amounted to 1770 tons valued at $1,240,995. Year. 1937 Revenue. Expenditure. $1,049,293 $653,149 Communications. There is regular communication with Labuan by small vessels of the Straits Steamship Company and thence with Singapore by weekly mail steamer. A central Wireless Telegraph Station was opened in 1921 at Brunei with a subsidiary station at Labuan which enables telegraphic communication to be maintained by cable from Labuan with Singapore and other parts of the world. There are also Wireless Stations in the Belait and Temburong Districts. The currency is the Straits Settlements dollar. MALTA. Situation and Area. The Maltese Islands form a group in the Mediterranean Sea, about 58 miles from the nearest point of Sicily, 80 miles from Syracuse, and 142 from Reggio, and about 180 from the nearest point of the mainland of Africa. The length of Malta is about 17 miles, by 9 miles in breadth; its area is 94-870 square miles; that of Gozo, 25 899 square miles, and that of Comino about one square mile. Filfla and Cominotto are mere islets. The whole group is about half the area of the Isle of Man. History. the beginning of the Mousterian cultural period, about 40,000 B.C., by Neanderthal man, of whom The Maltese Islands were inhabited as early as remains were discovered in a cave to the southeast of Malta. Traces of paleolithic civilization are not wanting in the islands, and evidence of a neolithic civilization, in the shape of cave dwellings, stone circles, menhirs and dolmens, is found all over the islands. The Phoenicians probably took possession of Malta as soon as they made themselves masters of the Mediterranean Sea. Phoenician remains are few, but there are numerous rock-cut graves of Phoenician type. At the beginning of the Punic wars the islands were held by Carthage. In the course of the first Punic war they changed hands more than once, but at its conclusion they were still in the possession of the Carthaginians. In 218 B.C., they passed finally to Rome. Under the Romans Malta appears to have enjoyed great prosperity. Diodorus Siculus speaks of the excellence of its harbours, the wealth of its inhabitants, and its many skilful artificers, and refers to its fertility, and Cicero, in the Verrine orations, speaks of it as abounding in riches and famous for its textile manufactures. Inscriptions show that it enjoyed municipal rights in the time of Hadrian, and In 1090, Count Roger the Norman, with a handful of men, subjected the islands to Sicily. The Sicilian domination lasted for four hundred years, Norman, Angevin, Aragonese and Castilian ruling in turn. During this time, Malta had Sicilian governors and laws, but there is no record of any extensive Sicilian immigration, and the persistence of the old Semitic names in the parish registers, instituted at this period, stands as further evidence that no great ethnographic changes occurred. The connexion with Sicily was broken in 1530, when the Emperor Charles V gave Malta to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, who had been driven from Rhodes by the Turks, and who held Malta until 1798. The loyalty of the Maltese to their new sovereigns, who for the first time were resident in the island, was put to a severe test on several occasions, the most notable being the great siege of 1565, when the Order of St. John, under Grand Master Jean de la Valette, resisted the attacks of the land and sea forces of Solyman the Magnificent. It was after this great feat of arms that the city of Valletta was built, strong enough to defy the Turkish attacks threatened yearly by the Sultan. Napoleon Bonaparte invested the island on his way to Egypt, having prepared the ground by intrigue and revolutionary propaganda, and, on the 12th July, 1798, Ferdinand de Hompesch, the last Grand Master in Malta, capitulated without any resistance, and the Order was dispersed. The French installed themselves in the islands, but their interference with Maltese laws and customs brought about a sharp reaction, and the Maltese drove the French troops within the fortified towns and, with the help of the British fleet, held them closely blockaded for two years, after which the French, reduced to extremities, surrendered to the British. In 1800 the government was placed in the hands of Great Britain. The Treaty of Amiens provided that the islands should be restored to the Knights, but this was prevented by the re-commencement of the war, and they were finally annexed to the British Crown by the Treaty of Paris in 1814. Climate. The climate of Malta is equable and very healthy. In July the heat at sea level approaches that experienced in sub-tropical countries. The nights, however, are pleasant and cool, except during the prevalence of the scirocco wind. The mean maximum temperature during the three coldest months (December, January, February) is 65 5° Fahr., and the mean minimum 44'6°; but during the four hottest months (June, July, August, and September) the mean maximum is 89.6° Fahr., and the mean minimum 65.5°. The mean temperature is 645°, and the mean annual rainfall is 215 inches. There is no river or rivulet in the island, the water drainage becoming absorbed in the porous sandstone beds and finding its way through underground channels and aqueducts. Industry. The island is highly cultivated. Besides products for home consumption, early potatoes, onions, cumin seed and oranges are exported. A large number of the inhabitants are employed in connection with the trade of Valletta as a coaling station and an entrepôt and port of call. It is a port of registry, having, on 31st December, 1937, 45 vessels, 8,070 gross tonnage. Chief Towns. The chief town and capital is Valletta, having, with its suburbs of Floriana, Sliema, and St. Julian's, a population which, in April, 1931, when a census was last taken, was 51,898. The "Three Cities" (Senglea, Cospicua, and Vittoriosa) have a population of 27,149. Città Vecchia (or Notabile, in Maltese Mdina), the old capital, is in the interior of the island, and, with its suburbs, had a population of 10,032. The chief town of Gozo is Victoria (formerly called Rabat), with a population of about 5,351. The legal tender currency is, under Order in Council of September 24th, 1886, and Ordinance I of 1929, exclusively British. There are two local banks (Bank of Malta and Anglo-Maltese Bank), and branches of Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas), the Banco di Roma, and the Crédit Foncier d'Algérie et de Tunisie. There is also Sciclunas Bank which is a private bank. The amount of British Treasury currency notes and Bank of England notes in circulation on 31st March, 1938, was roughly estimated at 1,000,000l. The Government savings bank was established in 1833. On 31st March, 1938, the deposits amounted to 2,166,7991. with 16,492 depositors. Means of Communication. Motor bus services run between all the towns and villages. The telephone service is under Government control with exchanges at Valletta, Sliema, Rabat, St. Paul's Bay and Gozo. The Head Office is at No. 3 Strada Forni, Valletta. The number of exchange lines totals 2,194, with 2,903 stations. Malta is a station of the Cable and Wireless Ltd., with direct cables to Alexandria (3), Gibraltar (3), Bone (2), Messina (1), Tripoli (1), Sicily (1), and Zante (1). Malta is a port of call for nearly all the Mediterranean lines of steamers, and is an important coaling station, facilities being given for coaling at any hour, day and night. There is direct mail communication with several Mediterranean ports and with England. The rates of postage are as follows: Letters: Local First oz., d.; every additional oz., jd. To the United Kingdom, British Dominions, Protectorates and Colonies, Egypt, the U.S. America, Tangier and H.M.'s Forces First oz., 1d.; every additional oz., 1d. To other countries and places 1d. First oz., 2d. ; every additional oz., The drainage of the fortified towns, which was commenced in 1876 at the joint charge of the Colonial and Imperial Treasuries, was completed in 1885, and greatly improved their sanitary condition. New drainage works were commenced in 1899, and Cottonera, Sliema, St. Julian's, Msida, Pietà, Kalkara, Zabbar, Hamrun, Qormi, Mdina, Rabat, Tarxien, Pawla, Zejtun, Birkirkara, Balzan and Attard, parts of Lija and Luqa and other places have been drained. Small extensions are also being continually made in new streets as they are opened in the towns and villages. The intercepting sewer to Ghaxaq has been completed and those to Mosta and Zebbug are well in hand. The sewering of the streets of Ghaxaq has been started. The drainage of Gozo has also been commenced and Victoria, Fontana and Ghainselem have been drained. Considerable progress has been made in improving the roads and streets in accordance with the exigencies of modern traffic. The main roads are being asphalted. So far 4.7 miles have been surfaced with sheet asphalt and 106 miles with full grouting, semi-grouting and surface asphalt dressing. The water supply is now extended to all the villages in Malta and Gozo, and works of considerable importance are carried out cach year to augment and improve it. Electric current for lighting and power has been extended to all the towns in Malta, and to all the villages, with the exception of a few of the smaller ones situated at a distance from the supply area. In Gozo current is available to the public in the chief town, Victoria, which has its own generating station, and in the important villages of Xewkija, Ghajnsielem, Nadur, Mgarr. Constitution. A Council of Government, partly elected, was constituted by Letters Patent in 1849, and reconstituted in 1887, the Letters Patent being amended in 1898 and again in 1903. By Letters Patent dated April 14th, 1921, respon. sible government was established in Malta. This Constitution was suspended from 1930 to 1932 and again on the 2nd November, 1933, the Senate and Legislative Assembly being dissolved from the same date. It was finally revoked by the Letters Patent, dated the 12th August, 1936, which were proclaimed in Malta on the 2nd September, 1936. On the 29th July, 1938, the Secretary of State for the Colonies announced in the House of Commons that the Government proposed shortly to submit to the King, draft Letters Patent for a new Constitution for Malta, which would provide for the establishment of a Council of Government to be composed of 8 official members, 2 unofficia! members nominated by the Governor, and 10 elected members. According to the Letters Patent of 1936, the English language, as the official language of the British Empire, and the Maltese language, as the language of the people of Malta, are the official languages of Malta. The English language is the official language of administration, and the Maltese language is the official language in all the Courts of Law in Malta. Provision has been made by Ordinance for the use of the English language in any proceedings before any Court where any party or any accused person is a person who does not speak Maltese as the principal language to which he is accustomed. Where the proceedings are in a language not known to the party or parties or to the accused, they are translated. The Maltese language is the language of general intercourse in the Islands. Finance.-The revenue from all sources is paid into a Consolidated Fund, out of which the public service is supplied. Appointments to Public Offices in Malta are made by the Governor, subject to the provision of the Colonial Regulations. Education and Religion. Elementary education is carried on principally in Government schools, which are Roman Catholic and free. There are two secondary schools with 436scholars, a Montessori school with 81 pupils, 3 central schools and 94 elementary schools and 63 night schools with an average enrolment of 32,221 pupils, and an average attendance of 27,818. There is a public Lyceum with 758 day scholars, and 426 who attend evening classes, and a university (founded in 1769) with an average attendance of about 130 students. At these two latter institutions the fees are comparatively low, ranging from 80s. to 120s. per annum in the Lyceum and 61. per annum exclusive of laboratory and other fecs, for all lectures in the university. There are numerous private, elementary and secondary schools. The total number of these schools is about 37, with an approximate attendance of 3,050 pupils. Education is not compulsory, but attendance is obligatory for all pupils on the registers of a Government Elementary School. English and Maltese are the only languages of instruction in the Elementary Schools. The Roman Catholic Religion is by law the religion of the country, but full liberty of conscience and freedom of worship are guaranteed, and persons of any faith may hold any office. Customs Tariff. Until 1917, only specific duties were levied, the main headings being Grain, Wine, Beer, Spirits, Cattle, Petroleum, Sugar and Tobacco. In January, 1917, ad valorem duties, varying from 5 per cent. to 20 per cent. were introduced, embracing all commodities not already affected by specific duties, and not included in a list of exempted articles which : (a) Under Food and Drink shows Butter, Cheese, Coffee, Milk (fresh or preserved), Eggs in the shell, Tea and Cocoa, and certain other articles; (b) under Raw Materials and Articles mainly unmanufactured shows Coal, Coke, Patent Fuel and Fuel Oil, Sponges, Vegetables and Flower Seeds and certain other articles; (c) under Manufactured Articles, includes Agricultural Machines, Books, Cinema Films, wrapping and printing paper, Laundry Soapof British Empire origin. Yarns for lace-making, if of silk (excluding artificial) and linen. Twines, certain materials used for cap-making, shoemaking, and bag-making, and certain articles used for divine worship; (d) under Miscellaneous and Unclassified Articlesincludes articles imported by Government Departments-Bran not containing more than 5 per cent. Flour-Bullion and Specie, Pedigree animals, Fertilizers, and Engravings, Drawings and Paintings representing Maltese views and subjects of local interest. In 1934 Empire Preferential duties were adopted. These duties affect boots and shoes, spirits, leaf tobacco, arms and ammunition, articles of gold, silver and platinum and plated goods, confectionery and chocolate, furniture and cabinetware, motor vehicles, wireless sets, pianos and organs, and a number of articles falling under the designation of "Goods unenumerated." The preference in the case or motor-vehicles is 20 per cent., the remainder of the ad valorem goods enjoying a preference of 10 per cent. as against the rates for the General Tariff. The general tariff shows an addition over the Empire Preferential Tariff of 50 per cent. in the case of boots and shoes, 18. per litre for spirits, and 6d. per kilo for leaf tobacco. The amount of duty collected in 1937-8 from specific duties was 446,9081. and from ad valorem duties was 185,1721. Year. To To 1931 1932 30,468 9,971 1933 1934 1935 1929 The value of imports in 1937 from the United Kingdom was 1,031,2121., from other parts of the British Empire 429,3011., and from foreign countries 2,554,6581., the respective percentages of imports 1930 being:-United Kingdom 25-7 per cent., other parts of the British Empire 10.7 per cent. and Foreign Countries 63.6 per cent. The value of domestic exports in 1937 to the United Kingdom was 118,8451., to other parts of the British Empire 7,2071., to Foreign Countries 122,8491., 1937 and as Ships' Stores 1,6651. The respective per. centages were:-To United Kingdom 47-4 per cent., to other parts of the British Empire 2-6 per cent., to Foreign Countries 49 per cent., Ships' Stores 1 per cent. The value of re-exports in 1937 to the United Kingdom was 21,1881.. to other parts of the British Empire 1,950., to Foreign Countries 39,1167., as Ships' Stores 170,5571., and as Bunkers 211,2021. The respective percentages for re-exports were:United Kingdom 4.7 per cent., other parts of the British Empire 0-4 per cent., Foreign Countries 8.8 per cent., Ships' Stores 38-5 per cent. and as Bunkers 47.6 per cent. All the foregoing figures are exclusive of bullion and specie. The total percentages of trade compared with the whole import and export trade of the Island (Imports, Domestic Exports and Re-exports), for the respective destinations are as follows: 72,174 10,841 564,426 140,033 9,157 545,389 Public Debt. There is, strictly speaking, no public debt in Malta, but interest at 25% is paid by the Government on 79,081. outstanding balance on 31st 66 'Massa March, 1938, of the debt known as Frumentaria," incurred by the Municipality of Valletta under the Government of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in connection with the monopoly of the trade of wheat. The funds of the "Massa Frumentaria" were, in 1798, appropriated by the French Government, chen in occupation of the Island. Weights and Measures. Malta barrel is equal to 9 imperial gallons. salm quarter. cantar caffiso The most important sources of revenue are the Customs duties, licences, stamp duties, succession and donation duties, fees of office and reimbursements, post office, water and electricity receipts, land revenue, interest, and Public Lotto profit. SHIPPING ENTERED AND CLEARED. Expendi- British Total ture. Tonnage. Tonnage. Governors since 1884. 1884 Field-Marshal Sir John Lintorn Arabin Simmons, G. C.B., G. C.M.G. 1888 Lieut.-Gen. Sir H. D'O. Torrens, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. 1890 Lieut.-Gen. Sir Henry Augustus Smyth, K.C.M.G., R. A. 1893 Gen. Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, G.C.M.G., C.B. 1899 Lt. Gen. Sir Francis W. Grenfell, G.C.B., G.C.M.G. 1903 Gen. Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, Bart., G.C.B., G.C.V.O. 1907 Lieut. Gen. Sir Henry Fane Grant, G.C.V.O., C. B. FINANCES. Year. Revenue. £ £ 1928-29 875,146 821,252 3,273,203 6,787,967 1909 1929-30 932,097 930,113 3,757,030 7,646,364 1930-31 939,993 997,272 3,585,140 7,095,296, 1915 1931-32 971,313 967,189 3,525,232 7,279,712 1932-33 966,048 979,972 3,834,014 7,407,159 1933-34 1,061,622 1,068,128 3,925,142 7,686,988 | 1934-35 1,160,600 1,065,670 4,310,614 8,753,465 1924 1935-36 1,161,618 1,188,172 4,713,059 8,631,918 1936-37 1,209,412 1,251,343 4,961,625 9,247,550 1937-38 1,301,858 1,349,297 3,939,361 8,779,556 Total weight of goods transhipped. 1919 Gen. Sir H. M. L. Rundle, C G.B.. G. C.M.G., Field-Marshal Rt. Hon. Lord Methuen, 1927 General Sir John P. Du Cane, G.C.B.. A.D.C. 1936 General Sir Charles Bonham-Carter, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.D.C. Executive Council. Ex Officio Members. The Governor. The Lieutenant-Governor. The Legal Secretary. The Attorney-General. The Secretary to Government. Nominated Members. Vice-Admiral W. T. Ford, C.B. R. O. Ramage. P. Boffa, M.D. Office of Imposts and Lotto. Collector, O. Sammut, 5401. Officer i/c Lotto, V. Camilleri, 4101. Clerk, 1st Class, J. Mifsud, 320l. to 3601. Clerks, 2nd Class, O. Tayar, O. Serracino Inglott, F. Schranz, M. Busietta, 180l. to 2901. Senior Assistant Assessor of Taxes, C. Zrinzo, 180l. to 3001. Assistant Assessor of Taxes, A. Galea, 1801. to 2501. Office of the Commissioner for Gozo. Commissioner, J. M. Borg Cardona, 450l. Professor P. P. Debono, M.D., F.R.C.S. (Eng.), Clerk, 1st Class, J. Zammit, 320l. to 360l. D.P.H. Lieutenant-Governor's Office. Lieut.-Governor, John A. Hunter, 2,000l. (a). Assistant to the Lieut.-Governor, R. O. Ramage, 9001. (b). Secretary to Government, R. Castillo, 7001. Assistant Secretaries, Lt.-Col. B. Ede, O.B.E., 6001., J. A. C. Cruikshank, 600l., Major E. J. Briffa de Piro, M.B.E., 5001. Chief Clerk (Clerk, 1st Class), V. Bonavita, 3201. to 3601. Junior Assistant Secretary, V. R. Rizzo (1st Class Clerk, 1st Class, P. Calleja Gera, 3207. to 360l. Legal Secretary's Office. Judicial Establishment. Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal, Judges, R. F. Ganado, E. Ganado, L. A. Camilleri, A. J. Montanaro Gauci, W. Harding, S. Schembri, 8001. each. His Honour Sir A. Mercieca, 1,400. Registrar, Superior Courts, E. Staines, 5001. Assistant Registrar, G. Vella, 300l. to 3601. Deputy Registrars, J. C. Cacopardo (Clerk, 1st Class), 320l. to 360l.; J. N. Camilleri, O. Calleja Mangion, V. Grech, C. Vella, J. Dingli (Clerks, 2nd Class), 180l. to 2901. Clerk, 1st Class, V. Terribile, 320l. to 3601. Clerks, 2nd Class, W. Borg, A. Ghirlando, V. Pandolfino, 180l. to 2901. Legal Secretary, Sir Edward St. John Jackson, O.B.E., Magistrates of Judicial Police, S. Vella, E. Bartoli, K.C., 1,200. Audit Office. W. Soler, F. Wirth, A. V. Camilleri, H. Borg Cardona, 4701. each. Registrar, Courts of Judicial Police, A. Gera de Petri, 4251. Assistant Registrar (Clerk, 2nd Class), J. B. Mallia, 180l. to 2901. Clerk, 1st Class, Major P. Iliff, 320l. to 360l. to 1701. |