North Borneo Chartered Company
Overbeck withdrew in 1879 after failing to attract German interest, leaving Alfred Dent to manage the territory.
Due to such resistance, establishing law and order as well as recruiting Sikh policemen from northern India became one of the company's earlies priorities, along with expanding trade; instituting a government, courts, and penal system; building a railway line from Jesselton to Tenom; and encouraging the harvesting and barter trade of local crops, as well as establishment of plantations.
The agreement with the British government included a £860,000 immediate cash settlement that allowed the company to settle outstanding financial claims.
For the negotiation of further financial compensation, the British government appointed Lord Uthwatt as an independent arbitrator.
[18][19] In March 1949, Uthwatt announced the result of his investigations: £1,400,000 should be awarded to the company as compensation; any claims related to war damage would not be included.
The provinces were initially named after the members of the board: Alcock, Cunlife, Dewhurst, Keppel, Dent, Martin, Elphinstone, Myburgh and Mayne.
Alfred Dent, who fiercely opposed Cowie's costly and money-wasting ideas, resigned and withdrew from the company.
[24] Several governors reduced the number of district officers by eliminating the posts in Ranau, Pensiangan, Tenom, Sipitang, Penampang, Tuaran, Langkon, Lamag, Beluran and Semporna.
Disrespect for these traditional leaders contributed to the spirit of local resistance led by tribal group such as Mat Salleh and Ontoros Antanum.
[16][27][28] The company had two responsibilities, namely:[29] The first governor of North Borneo, William Hood Treacher, devoted himself to the elimination of slavery.
The second governor, Charles Vandeleur Creagh, in 1888, issued several proclamations that largely secured foreigners' access to land.
The company established a state power, issued laws (proclamations), recruited Sikh policemen from northern India.
A conflict with the British was therefore inevitable when in 1878 the Sultan of Sulu placed the southern boundary of his land for cession to Overbeck on the Sibuku River.
[note 2][30] On 5 January 1905, the company territory of Lawas – a controversial border area of the province of Clark was relinquished to the neighbouring Sarawak and in exchange for “certain coal fields at the Brunei Bay”.
