Colony of North Borneo annual report.

  • British North Borneo
Date:
[1959]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Colony of North Borneo annual report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    173/274 page 139
    Shipping Repair Facilities During the year, the Government operated 120 tons slipway ceased operation from 25th January, 1959 to 19th July, 1959 to undergo extensive repairs and the renewal of sixty feet of the underwater section of the slipway, which was badly attacked by Teredo. A centre bearer and rails extending to 164 feet were also incorporated to increase the capacity of the slipway to length ninety feet, draught seven feet and displacement of 180 tons. Forty-seven slippings were carried out, twenty-seven slippings in respect of Government launches and twenty commercial, total¬ ling 2,017 gross tons. In addition, 366 miscellaneous jobs were carried out on commercial vessels and 242 for Government Depart¬ ments. Six large seaward light beacons were constructed in the Marine Workshops during the year and two more were under construction. A 500-ton slipway and repair yard owned and operated by the British Borneo Timber Company at Sandakan was mainly operated for the servicing of the Company’s own vessels. Other major companies on the East Coast operate small workshops and effect repairs to the hull or underwater gear whilst beached on blocks. There is a private grid at Wallace Bay owned and operated by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation for their own use but repair work carried out is entirely dependent upon local tidal conditions. rail w a y s The Government owned and operated metre gauge railway, with its headquarters at Jesselton, has a route mileage of 116 miles and serves much of the West Coast and part of the Interior. From Jesselton the railway runs in a southerly direction traversing the comparatively flat coastal strip and passing through the districts of Putatan, Kinarut, Papar, Kimanis and Membakut before reaching Beaufort, fifty-six miles away. This area is well populated and contains many rubber estates. Papar which is situated twenty- four miles from Jesselton, is rapidly developing into a major agricultural centre and assuming a suburban role to the capital. Many of Jesselton’s workers reside in Papar and a daily com¬ muter train service is operated to convey the Papar residents to and from their places of employment. From Beaufort the railway runs through hilly country and climbs approximately seven hundred feet through the picturesque Padas River gorge to Tenom which is thirty miles from Beaufort and is the focal point of an important agricultural district containing soma of the finest land in the Colony. From Tenom the railway runs a further ten miles to its terminus at Melalap. Tenom and Melalap are con¬ nected by good gravel roads to Keningau and Tambunan which provide much traffic for the railway.
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