British Museum gets gift of Kinabalu flies, gharials
Published on: Saturday, January 23, 2021
By: British North Borneo Herald
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OVER 1,400 specimens of two-winged flies (Diptera) from Mount Kinabalu, North Borneo, have been presented to the British Museum by the Federated Malay States Museum at Kuala Lumpur, which obtained them through the expedition of Mr. H.M. Pendlebury. Plants and animals which do not occur anywhere else in the world are found on this mountain, the highest peak in the Malay archipelago.
Zoo Acquisition from Borneo
By the gift of Mr St. Alban Smith, the London Zoo has received five young Eastern gharials from Borneo (pic), a species which has never been exhibited in London before. Gharials are distinguished from crocodiles long and narrow jaws, enlarged at the extremity. They are said to reach a larger size than any of the other crocodilians. They have the reputation of not being specially dangerous to man.
The Reptile House at present contains an unusually representative collection of crocodilians., including one of the Chinese alligator of the Yangtzse-Kiang. There is also an example of the Siamese crocodile.
The London Zoo has unpacked a parcel from Sarawak containing a coal black Temminch’s tigercat – normally yellow – and the first colour freak of its kind discovered, also some temple vipers.
[Note: Mr. J. C. Bryant shot a large black leopard, possibly of the same species, on Padas Valley Estate, near Beaufort, in 1924. – EDITOR.]
Lord Mayor’s Show 1930
In response to the appeal of the City Remembrancer, who pointed out that the sittings of the Imperial Conference coincided with the observance of the “customary ceremonies connected with the inauguration of the new Lord Mayor”, the court of Directors decided to arrange for a car equipped, on behalf of the State of North Borneo, for participation in the Precession of the 10th November.
The North Borneo display took the form of a representation of a typical scene in Borneo, viz. Coconut trees and a native habitation on the banks of a river, with a native boy collecting coconuts.
The work of fitting up the car with the trees, scenery, etc, was entrusted to the well-known contractors, Messrs. Beck and Pollitzer, Mr. T.W. Rose, devoted a good deal of time and trouble to supervising the scenic details and also to ensuring that the transformation of the junior of the London Office into a Borneo “native” was complete and thorough; to Mr Rose’# co-operation must be ascribed in a large measure the success of the display, which aroused much interest among the crowds of speculators.
The North Borneo car formed one of nine spectacles staged by various countries of the Empire.
The Court of Directors have received an appreciative letter from the Chairman of the Lord Mayor’s Committee thanking them for their “excellent exhibit...which contributed so materially to the undoubted success of the Pagent.”
Retirement of Lt. Col. Bond
Lt. Col. Nad Mrs Bond left on 14th January, on furlough prior to retirement, and their departure leaves a blank in our community which it will be hard to fill. Col. Bond, the Lt. Bond, after experience in the South African war, joined the Constabulary as a Cadet in April 1901.
As long ago as 1907 he acted, on the first of many occasions, as Commandant, and in 1926 when Lt. Col. Harrington retired he succeeded him in command.
He made a very successful commander, able to maintain discipline and a high state of efficiency and to earn not only the respect but also the affection of his officer and men.
During his tenure of command the constabulary was re-organised and its costs reduced without loss of efficiency.
Col. Bond carried the burden of the heavy work of re-organisation as successfully as he carried the burden of his years, and few men after his length of service in the tropics, or anywhere else for that matter, can look as young or be as fit.
The Constabulary will miss his leadership and every member of our European community will miss the tonic of his company. Our loss is doubled because with him we lose Mrs Bond.
It is twenty-three years since Mrs Bond first came to the country: even today a European lady finds that many of the amenities to which she is accustomed are lacking and still has to rely chiefly on herself to make a success of life out here: much more so twenty-three years ago.
Mrs Bond has given an outstanding example of what can be achieved: not only has she made a complete success of her own life here but her unfailing kindness has helped others to make a success of theirs.
Her energy has been untiring from first to last she has been the lady champion tennis player of North Borneo and not so many years ago Col. And Mrs Bond were unbeatable in mixed doubles; she has never spared herself and her activities have ranged from amateur theatricals, in which both she and her husband were excellent performers, to undertaking any work of charity.
Col. and Mrs Bond set the very best standards of social life and were a real force for good. We had hoped that they would not be retiring until April but Mrs Bond has not been well for the last few months and so we have, with very great regret, to say goodbye a few months earlier, but we are glad that they leave a daughter, Mrs Round-Turner, as an additional link between them and the country which have both served so well.
Twelve vessels of the war-built “L” class, withdrawn from the China Station several months ago, are being substituted by four of the new “O” type. Odin, Osward and Otus, which went out in the summer, accompanied by the new depot ship Medway, to be followed by four of the “P” type, the Perseus, Pandora, Poseidon, and Proteus.
The latter will go out unescorted, and will leave Portsmouth on Dec 12. They are to reach Hongkong on Feb. 21 next.
The submarine Parthian, of the 1927 programme, left Chatham on Nov 3 for trials. The Parthian was commissioned on Oct 6 by Lieut. Commander F.H.E. Skyrme, formerly in command of L27, Chine Station. She is the fifth vessel of her group. Only one other remains to be completed, the Pheonix, which should be finished during December. – The C.E.&T.
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