Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-05-31 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE ANNEXATION OF BORNEO.  The protest of the Sultan of Brunei against the annexation of Limbang by the Rajah of Sarawak has reached this country, and we may, says the Daily Novs, expect to bear more of it. The territory is the most important part of the Sultan's dominions. It has been annexed on representations of misgovernment,but the Sultan maintains that his treaty rights should secure him against the arbitrary annexation of any of his territory. The Sultan saysof the Rajah : "We think by the way he acted in entering our river and the bad treatment shown to us and our subjects at Limbang, he has assumed more power over us than her Majesty the Queen has. He listens with an open ear to the bad reports of the people at Limbang, and by encouragement made them wicked. . . . . Lie hauled down our flag and hoisted that of Sarawak. We think that it is the Rajah's business to prevent other nations should they conic to take our country, but instead of this he comes hero himself and forcibly takes possession of the place, and he, being all Englishman, ought to know the law better." Then the Sultan cites the text of the treaty, and makes a very fair argument, although it is to be noticed that the Rajah's annexation is declared in his _proclamation to be subject to the sanction of the Biome Government.  The Sarateak Gazette publishes a statement relative to the recent annexation of the above territory, which may be taken as Rajah Brooke's defence of this unexpected step. The writer states that the annexation was decided on only after mature consideration, and at the earnest and repeated requests of the native rulers of the Limbang. For years they groaned under the harsh treatment And oppression of the Sultan of Brunei, "and finally, with the assistance, we believe, of Mr. Trencher, the Actirg Governor of Labuan and Acting Consul-General for Borneo in 1884, by his obtaining the release of the Datu Klassi, threw off the Brunei yoke, and they have since maintained their independence. The annexation of Linibang to Sarawak may be viewed from many different aspects, but, judging from the state of things which has obtained for some years, all these &flew that the annexation is to the profit of Brunei. The Limbang chiefs have given much trouble to the ruling authorities of the Sultanate, and for five years have yielded no revenue. Recent news was to the effect that the Sultan of Brunei was accumulating arms and ammunition to make a final attempt to subdue the place, and this would have involved serious loss both of blood and treasure." In cidentally it may be mentioned that the financial report in Sarawak for the past year shews a steadily increasing revenue. For the first time in its history it has reached 400,000d01., and increase of nearly 40,000d01. over the previous year.  Numerous deaths, surrenders, and captures et dacoits in various parts of Burmalt are announced. The dacoit bands are now split up into petty gangs. The trial of the three men charged with attempting to murder the Dewan of Cambay has been concluded. Two of them were sentenced to seven years' imprisonment; the third was acquitted. At Dantsic, in the neighbourhood of the Elbing, the manufactories were steam power is employed have been at a standstill. It is stated that the pipes used to convey the water into the factories have become so choked with fish that the necessary flow is impeded. The inhabitants fear their health will suffer by the effluvium arising from the dead fish, and the immediate localities are undergoing a preow of disinfectinn. The Longford correspondent of the Irish reports abog on fire near Castleforbes, the seat of the Earl of Granard, in that county. The plantations, village, and castle were in great danger, and a force of military and police hastened to the etstle, taking fire engines with them. Before they arrived, however, the steward, With the assistance of the people around, had diverted the course of the fire. About 100 acres of bog were burned,  Times