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"This played a major role in the country's health. That's why Singapore is one of the best South Asian countries to achieve development in health sector," Suvo said. Colonial rulers saw the commercial significance of the river and made arrangements to use it for trading purposes since 1819. At first it was a place for barge lighters to transport goods to warehouses. The boat floats on the river with no plunge in the least. The motor sound does not hiss. This was not what I expected. I was bracing myself for some hectic bumps and jolts, but was pleasantly disappointed. Perhaps it was due to the heaviness of the boat. The boat's radio synchronises what we see outside. We passed across the colonial Governor's mansion and other historically important colonial government offices. It gives you a good picture of colonial Singapore. With the well-lit tall buildings the moon seems to be yet another man-made light. The night scenery is glistening though you can have a close look at the outline of the buildings in daytime. Although it's little in the size, the Singapore River has a historical weight. This is one of the 90 rivers in Singapore. The boatman who speaks to us through an interpreter, for some reason doesn't need his picture or name to go in the paper. But he volunteers for any information. "We have been cruising along for a long time. As this river was used even during the colonial times, it has become so polluted," he said. The Singapore Government has replaced cargo services with a new modern facility in Pasir Panjang. The transport has left for their new home and Clarke Quay fell silent. This took place because the Clarke Quay has a colonial value, and the environment was made much better from 1977 to 1987 and made arrangements for entertainment purposes. The plans were afoot in a serious mode, as it was made compulsory not to change the historical facades of the neighbouring buildings. Some of the buildings are being restored as well. The quay of the river is popularly known as Clarke Quay named after Singapore's second Governor Sir Andrew Clarke. He is famous for his role in development of Singapore. The Forbidden City is a luxury you cannot simply afford to pass over. It gives you a good dining environment open till 6 in the following morning. It's the Chinese version of Madame Tassauds' Chamber of Horrors, with vernacular music with bali dancers. Although the restaurants do not have many vegetarian dishes, the available ones are quite mouthwatering. Once a colonial area is now refurbished for restaurants and nightclubs. *************** A bit of colonial rule
On January 29, 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed on the main island. Spotting its potential as a strategic geographical trading post in Southeast Asia, Raffles signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on behalf of the British East India Company on February 6, 1819 to develop the southern part of Singapore as a British trading post and settlement. Until August 1824, Singapore was still a territory controlled by a Malay Sultan. Singapore only officially became a British colony in August 1824 when the British extended control over the whole island. John Crawfurd, the second resident of Singapore, was the one who officially made Singapore a British possession. He signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah on August 2, 1824 in which the Sultan and the Temmenggong handed over the whole island to the British East India Company thus marking the start of the island's modern era. Raffles's deputy, William Farquhar, oversaw a period of growth and ethnic migration, which was largely spurred by a no-restriction immigration policy. The British India office governed the island from 1858, but Singapore was made a British crown colony in 1867, answerable directly to the Crown. By 1869, 100,000 lived on the island.
*************** Who is Sir Andrew Clarke?Sir Andrew Clarke served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements from November 4, 1873 until May 7, 1875. He was famous for signing the Treaty of Pangkor in 1874, which established indirect British rule over the Malay States. In that same year, he successfully enforced a check on the abuse of coolies with support of the prominent Chinese leaders and European merchants. Clarke achieved fame through his negotiations in regard to Sungei Ujong in Malaya, sorting out the differences between different leaders in the state. Clarke was blamed for the death of the first British resident in Perak, James Wheeler Woodford Birch, due to his ignorance of a complaint, when Sultan Abdullah of Perak wrote a letter to inform him about Birch's rudeness against the Malay rulers, because at that time he was about to retire and did not want that problem to destroy his reputation as one of the most successful colonial administrators. Today Singapore's Clarke Quay is named after him.
The Governor of the Straits Settlements was appointed by the British East India Company until 1867, when the Straits Settlements became a crown colony. Thereafter the Governor was appointed by the Colonial Office. The position existed from 1826 to 1946. Between 1942 and 1945 the office was not filled, as the Straits Settlements was then under Japanese occupation. From the late 19th century onwards, the Governor of the Straits Settlements was usually also British High Commissioner in Malaya. The Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements was a legislature formed on April 1, 1867, when the Straits Settlements was made a crown colony. This allowed laws to be made swiftly and efficiently, as it was directly responsible to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in London, instead of being placed under a legislative hierarchy and answering to the Calcutta government based in India. Letters patent granted a colonial constitution on February 4, which allocated much power to the Governor. He was assisted by an Executive Council and Legislative Council, the latter of which was entrusted with lawmaking in the colony, although the governor had a casting vote and the power of assent and veto on all legislation. Graduating in 1844, Clarke was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and after a year of further study at Chatham was sent to Fermoy in Ireland. In 1846 he was nominated to the Oregon Boundary Commission; his father, who was then governor of Western Australia, urged him instead to come to Australia with the hope of later gaining a professional post with him. As a Lieutenant in command of a detachment of Royal Engineers, Clarke sailed with the new lieutenant-governor, Sir William Denison, aboard the Windermere and arrived at Hobart on 26 January 1847. His father's death the following next month left Clarke with little reason to remain in Australia but he continued to superintend convict labour and to survey the area around Hobart and design wharf accommodation, and became friends with Willian Denison. Clarke entered the Victorian Legislative Council in August 1853 as an official representative, where he was active in the drafting of the new constitution. He was also responsible for the drafting and successful inauguration of the Municipal Institutions Act in December 1854, which provided for local government based on the English model in Melbourne's growing suburbs, on the goldfields, and in the country. From 1859-1864 he served on the Gold Coast and in England, where he was Director of Works at the Admiralty from 1864-1873. An ode to river!Oh River! |
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