For the descendents of Richard Dearie and his son John Russell
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NEWS 1908
Selangor Government Gazette Feb. 28 1908 Vol. No 7 XIX Tenders accepted by the Government: Extension of Central Market, Kuala Lumpur: The Federated Engineering Company.
The Straits Times, 28 February 1908, Page 8 Serendah Mine. FIRST GENERAL MEETING OF THE SHAREHOLDERS. Vote of Want of Confidence in the Directors Proposed. The first ordinary general meeting of the Serendah Hydraulic Tin Mining Company, Limited, was held at the offices of the company in Barrack Road, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday. Mr. Loke Chow Thye took the chair, and among those present were Messrs. Loke Yew, Kong Lam and J H Robertson (directors), H C E Zacharias, A G Glassford, J. A. Russell, W. Walsh, R. F. Grey, D. G. Robertson, R. H. M. Robson, A. S. Baxendale, Loke Chow Kit, L. R. Yzelman, J. E. Bach, Kam Chuan, Tong Tak Hin, R. Proust, Yok Choi and A. Butchart (Secretary). After the Secretary had to read the notice, convening meeting, the chairman said that it gave him great pleasure to meet the shareholders. Mr. Chow Thye then dealt with the directors’ report and the accounts, and said that during the 13 months, they had sluiced 716,000 cubic yards, covering an area of about 12 acres, out of which they had obtained 8,559 piculs. Prospecting operations during the year had been carried out over 70 acres, out of a total of 429 acres. 140 pits had been sunk at an average depth of 40 feet, and the average came out thirteen tahils 2 chee’s per cubic yard. You will note, said the chairman, that on the figures shown in the output and the number of cubic yards sluiced, the average value per cubic yard was one 1.2 catties. Rich Area. The area we prospected is naturally not equally rich. We took a general value of the hall ground. In the course of general work, we struck three great dykes carrying stanniferous materials, which were much richer than the immediately adjoining country. This accounts for the difference in the pitting as compared with actual all working results. After reading extracts from Mr. Rene Proust’s reports for December and January, Mr. Chow Thye said that the time to work out the area prospected was estimated at 8 years, and in conclusion congratulated the shareholders on possessing a very valuable property. Mr. Zacharias said that, as the accounts were for a period of 13 months, they were not so rosy as their worthy chairman had tried to make out. Every cloud had a silver lining, and in this case the silver lining was the directors fees ($20,822.46)……….. (Summary: the article continues describing Mr. Zacharias’ disapproval of the above, and of paying out dividends on anticipated profits, excessive directors fees, and proposed a vote of no confidence in the directors. Mr. Chow Thye replies, blames the shareholders for not reading the small print, and says this is not the place to raise objections. Mr. Robson says shares had dropped in value and that directors had been selling them. Mr. Zacharius resolution is dropped. Further discussion on directors’ fees, and on how many meetings they had attended. The accounts and report are passed. One new director: Mr. Chow Kit is elected.) (1197 words)
Application from J. A. Russell, Kuala Lumpur, 6th April 1908 to District Officer, Ulu Langat, for a prospecting Licence. Sir, I have the honour to apply on behalf of the estate of Khoo Khye Cheah for a prospecting licence over the land comprised in Grant 3230, Portion 275, Mukim of Ulu Langat, with the right of, if proved to be stanniferous, converting the same to mining land. 2. The land is at present mainly covered with lalang (*) and blukar,(*) being too high to plant padi upon. 3. Being below any padi land, mining upon this block will in no way interfere with any native holdings. 4. The land, if only partly stanniferous (*) , is large enough to work on a large scale and for a period of many years, and will prove of great benefit to the town of Ulu Langat, which, unless fresh mining land is discovered must disappear as soon as the Bukit Arang lands are exhausted; a possibility. I understand from the Chinese of Ulu Langat, likely to occur at no distant date. 5. The Estate of Khoo Khye Cheah was at one time one of the most prosperous and largest of mining operators in the State, but for the last five years since the lunacy of the owner has been grossly mismanaged, and I have been appointed by the Court and parties interested to retrieve and put it into sound basis again, and it is imperative in order to effect the same that all land and other property of the Estate to be turned to the best account possible. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Sd. J. A. Russell Committee of the Estate of Khoo Khye Cheah.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 2728/08
Letter from District Office, Kajang, 21st May 1908 to the Secretary to Resident Selangor. Application from Mr. J. A. Russell for a prospecting license. Sir, I have the honour to report that application has been made by Mr. J. A Russell, Committee of Estate of Khoo Kai Seah, for a prospecting License over the 89 acres of land comprised in grant 3230, the property of the Estate. 2. I attach a tracing of the land, which has the frontage along the 14th mile of the Ulu Langat road. 3. The reasons prompting the application are set out in Mr. Russell’s letter of 6th April which I attach. 4. I am unable to support the application. I have shewn by blue hatching on the tracing the position of a number of padi fields now in course of preparation for planting, and there is a large Durian Duson(*) about the spot marked with the red cross. Further it is within my recollection that most of this land was under cultivation some years back, and its partial abandonment would seem to have dated from the time it was acquired (in 1899) by the present owner and Low Loon Tit. 5. The locality is an agricultural one, and the grant of mining rights would almost inevitably lead to trouble over water supply. 6. The present title was issued in 1904 in exchange for Extracts, which had been issued to replace old Agreements-for–Leases. 7. I recommend that the application be refused. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, ? District officer, Ulu Langat.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 2728/08
30 June 1908 Sanction from the Resident to grant 2 mining licences to J. A. Russell. 5 acres of land at Ulu Sungei Purun in Semenyih and another 5 acres in same locality.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 3210 08
22 July 1908 Approval of alienation of 112 acres of mining land at Batu Makim to Mr. J. A. Russell. Mr. Russell already owns 230 acres of mining land, with 155 coolies working it.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 3662 08
10 September 1908. Letter from State Engineers Office to the Resident, referring to his letter of 9 September reporting the completion of the Klang Bridge contract, recommending that F.E. Co. be paid a bonus for completion within 203 days of contract time. Recommending the payment of $25 for every day saved. Time for completion was April 3rd 1909 and bridge was completed September 12th 1908.. costs ..modification of type of girders used.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 4642 08
17 September 1908. Letter from British Resident to Resident General about bonus of $5,000 suggested by State Engineer, about Klang Bridge… no precedent for proposal…reasons for it not strong..contractors made special efforts..does not recommend payment but has no objection.. “ The fact that a saving on the provision has been effected is not material to the question under consideration, and should not be put forward as an argument in support of the proposal”
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia
6 October 1908 Letter from Federal Secretariat to Resident, the High Commissioner approves the grant of $5,000 to the contractors for the erection of the Belfield Bridge at Klang.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 4776 1908
November 25, 1908. Letter from G. D. Russell, Manager, Federated Engineering Company to Executive Engineer, Water Works, Kuala Lumpur. New service reservoir at Welds Hill. Asking to be allowed to supply own cement instead of buying it from the State Store. It would be cheaper and they could ensure the quality, if the contract is to buy from the state store he ask that they be relieved of responsibility of its ultimate quality… and asking for official confirmation of upkeep of roads to the site by the District office.
Document in the National Archives of Malaysia 5987 1908
(*) Notes:(*) lalang: coarse weedy Malaysian grass (*) blukar: scrubby vegetation (*) Stanniferous: containing tin; tin-bearing
Durian: . A tree (Durio zibethinus) of southeast Asia, bearing edible fruit. 2. The fruit of this plant, having a hard, prickly rind and soft pulp with an offensive odor but a pleasant taste. [Malay durian, from duri, thorn.]