North Borneo News And Sabah Times (Jesselton, Friday, 7th December 1962) - KUDAT, Thurs. – The Chairman of the Kudat District Council, Mr C.H. Wood, D.O. reminded members at the last meeting that it had been decided to set aside some 18,000 acres of land between Tambuluran and Matunggong for Rungus living within the area.
He said that following the completion of the survey of outstanding Land Applications in the area, it was now possible to state that the pre-survey scheme would lie between Milestones 93 3/1 and 100. Tentative perimeter and lateral roads had been planned, he added, and traces of perimeter roads were now being cut.
In the first instance 80 10-acre lots would be surveyed, continued the Chairman, initially by two survey parties but they would be increased early in 1963 he thought.
The Chairman reported that at a meeting of Orang Tuas and kampong people from the area concerned, held last month near Tinagol, he has explained the pre-survey procedure and method of operations and had asked the Orang Tuas concerned to help with the recruitment of labour for the survey parties.
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It had also been made clear that “purus”, burial grounds, and other areas of special significance to the Rungus would be left undisturbed whenever possible, also that account would be taken of local wishes in determining the allocation of the surveyed plots.
The villagers appeared to be enthusiastic about the scheme, said Mr. Wood.
Agricultural Development Schemes:
The scale of expenditure on agricultural assistance in the District now, was quite unprecedented, the Chairman told the meeting. Direct aid by Government through the District Office and the Agricultural Department, and assistance provided by the District Council, would result in expenditure of some $110,000 this year, he said.
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Nearly 500 families were being assisted in the opening up of new wet padi land and nearly 70pc of these lived in the Bengkoka Peninsula.
Among the purchases made to assist the settlers were 60 buffaloes and nearly 4,000 gantangs of rice.
In areas where wet padi cultivations was not possible, 950 acres of coconuts were being planted with assistance from the administration; 400 acres of this total lay on Banggi land where coastal fishermen and Banggi Dusuns were being aided.
Particularly good progress was being made in opening up wet padi land at Kanibongan and with the construction of 1.5 miles of fencing from Tandik to Langkon to isolate the bakau swamp and stop the damage by wild pigs.