ABSTRACT
Between 1847 and 1911, when mining ceased owing to a string of accidents, several companies attempted to mine the coal reserves located at Tanjong Kubong on the northern tip of Labuan. A er the British North Borneo Company had abandoned its works in 1882, the Central Borneo Co. was given the concession. Its lease, part of which is reproduced here, is typical of all such legal agreements. e company constructed a railway line to transport coal to the port of Victoria, but halted operations in 1898. e concession was then worked by the Labuan & Borneo Co. Ltd until 1900, and, from 1902 to 1911, by the Labuan Coal elds Ltd, which in 1903 produced 50,000 tons of coal. In February 1890, the Central Borneo Co. also leased 50,000 acres for the cultivation of tobacco and another 50,000 acres for the growth of other crops from the British North Borneo Company in return for £20,000 in cash and 10,000 fully paid up shares of £1 each.1
