§ MR. EWARTinquired of the Under Secretary for the Colonies what measures had been adopted for the establishment of a settlement in the Island of Labuan, on the coast of Borneo, ceded to the British Crown in December last?
§ MR. HAWESbegged to say that Her Majesty's Government fully appreciated the importance of a settlement in the island of Labuan; but there was no desire on their part, or that of the Colonial Office, to multiply their colonial establishments, and therefore some time had been taken to communicate with parties most likely to give information to the Colonial Office. The subject was receiving the best attention of the Colonial department.