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PARA RUBBER ESTATES NEAR MALACCA. 



Free Press, June 22nd, 1904. 

 ( By a Correspondent.) 



The enterprise and forethought of local planters, both European 

 and Chinese, has probably never had a better and happier result 

 than in the determination some five, six and seven years ago to 

 commence rubber planting on a cultivated and scientific system. 



The pluck and judgment then displayed has, it is very pleasing 

 to note, proved what we all hope and anticipate will be a veritable 

 "Goldmine" to those who had the capital, both in money and 

 brains, to embark on what was at that time, a trial of patience in 

 every sense of the word. Note— when 1 speak of "Gold-mine'' I 

 am not referring to the local article. 



This last week-end I took a most interesting visit to an Estate 

 which it appears to me must be one of the largest self-contained 

 cultivated Rubber Plantations in the world. When I draw this 

 comparison, your readers must understand that 1 am particularly 

 referring to " cultivated estates, i.e., estates which have been 

 planted simply for rubber, and cultivated up to maturity. There 

 are doubtless both in the Congo and in South America vast tracts 

 under the sway of any one man or corporation, but they are totally 

 different to the estate under notice, they are merely vast extents of 

 forest or jungle which contain large number of rubber trees, and 

 moveover the trees are tapped as so much jungle produce, and are 

 not cultivated, and looked after as are estates in the Straits. 



The estate I visited partly on pleasure and partly on business, is 

 the Bukit Asahan Estate, owned by a kongsi of Chinese, with a 

 well known and respected Malacca Chinaman at the head, TAN 

 Chav Van, of the well known family of " Tans. " 



The history of the estate, I found from the correspondence, was 

 most interesting. About nine years ago Tan Chav YAN had a 

 private estate at Bukit Lintang, 6 miles out from Malacca, on which 

 he grew coffee. Coffee was not giving all that was anticipated from 

 it and Mr. Chay Yan bethought himself of rubber, greatly, I am 

 glad to say, owing to the initiative of the Government. Para and 

 Rumbong rubber was therefore planted, and at the end of three 

 years, it had shaped so well, that a larger scheme was embarked 

 upon. 



At this stage the interesting correspondence with Government 

 began, Tan ChAY Yan on behalf of his Kongsi applied for 4,000 

 acres at Bukit Asahan, 33 miles out from Malacca, which was virgin 

 jungle. Owing to his asking for permission to plant Tapioca as a 

 "catch-crop" and also owing to his determination to plant the 

 Rubber " 15 by 15 " (the Government demanding 10 by 10) Tan 

 Chay Van looked very much as though he had no chance of ob- 

 taining the concession of the land. He therefore k ' cried off" 



