TAIPING - PORT WELD (Kuala Sepatang) RAILWAY 

The Taiping-Port Weld (Kuala Sepatang) railway has been acclaimed as the first operational railway in Malaysia (Malaya- FMS) in 1885. Many stories, articles and pictures had been written/published.

 However, a lesser known wooden railway that runs from Johore Bahru towards the direction of Gunong Pulai was partially operational in 1875. 

After 135 years the Taiping-Port Weld railway is now non existent. New developments have taken place along many stretches of the track while there are still old buildings and structures as evidence of its glorious days in the transport of goods especially tin. 

The pictures tell a new story of the activities on the now non existent railway. 

              Taiping                       to              Port Weld

        Old Station                              Original Godown                                                ( New station is in the background)   

 Aulong stretch-houses on           Hindu Temple at Simpang 

 the ex railway line. Telegraph    Halt 

 post is evidence.                                                    

                                                     

The road leading to the Simpang Halt       The stretch near Port Weld                                   along the ex railway line.

                                         First Day Cover Stamps

 

                     An extract from "Malayan Tit-Bits" by                                                                            by S. Durai Raja Singam

        

( Extracted from the tourism brochure sponsored by ADUN Kuala Sepetang Chua)

Port Weld is now better known as Kuala Sepatang. The godowns, railway tracks 

and railway reserve land have developed into other economic activities and housing although done haphazardly.

 Tourism and sea food restaurants are the main attractions These activities are operated by the locals who are mainly descendants of the early settlers.

WORLD SNAKE DAY


July 16 2019 was world snake day. It attracted my attention because of an incident recently. There was this oil palm plantation worker who was walking from palm to palm loading oil palm fruit bunches into the tractor trailer. Suddenly, he jumped and ran off from the planting row screaming.

When questioned what happened, he claimed that a snake was behind him. Luckily he was not bitten. Having known that he had a tattoo he was told to take off his shirt and expose his back. And what a coincidence - he had a TATTOO OF A SNAKE (cobra) on his back.

No wonder the snake was behind him - I will follow him!!!

 Coincidentally the cartoon above was published in the newspaper. I showed this to this boy and he was indeed very amused!

TAIPING REST HOUSES AT REST

1. THE STATE REST HOUSE
During the 1950s there were 2 rest houses in town namely, State Rest House and Town Rest House.The STATE REST HOUSE was a wooden building that once occupied the land opposite the present McDonalds in the Lake Gardens. It was demolished during the 1960s.

 However, a new complex with a double storey building and VIP wing was built on the land that was once British Residency. The last occupant was a British army general. The building was demolished but the round brick pillars were preserved and are still standing until today.

 During the heyday of the REST HOUSE these pillars were popular with wedding couples for photo shoot.The Rest House was very popular for meetings and events. The VIP wing was well furnished with the balcony over looking the lake gardens. One unit was specially reserved for royalty while the other was for other VIPs.

To-day the rest house complex is abandoned and the beautiful surroundings are over grown with weeds and secondary jungle.

2. THE TOWN REST HOUSE

The TOWN REST HOUSE along Jalan Stesen was built in 1894. It is a well known building as it is part of the heritage trail. The rest house was to complement  the first railway station which was just opposite to meet the needs of travellers. It was popular then  as there were not many hotels in town. During general elections the place was the meeting/focal point  for supporters of  political parties to get together before marching with the candidate/s to the nomination centre.

To-day the heritage building is an eye-sore and the top wooden structures of the  buildings on each side are near collapse.

Questions
 The 2 rest houses are under the state government.
What are plans of the State Government for these 2 rest houses?

RUBBER LATEX CUPS IN MALAYSIA


The size of rubber latex cups shows the growth of the rubber industry since the first rubber trees were planted in 1877 in Malaya.

Credit goes to the research and development in the private sector plantations and RRI (Rubber Research Institute)  for developing new clones with increased yields. With the increase in latex yields the size of the cups increased.

The 2 photos show the improved yields of rubber latex over the years. Before 1950 most latex cups were about 50 fluid ounces.

 After 1950  most latex cups were 200 fluid ounces with the improved yields.

Early latex cups were glazed and could have been imported from England. See Photo 1. Harrison and Crossfield. They had the Agency's or estate's name embossed on them.

 In the 1960s glass latex cups with the name SOCFIN embossed were used. Today most latex cups are plastic. See Photo 2 fourth from left.
Another interesting cup is the third from left . It is a glass cup with a pointed base and the name of the estate (Hidden Stream Estate Trong) embossed on it.

Occasionally, milo tins (3rd photo) were used to collect latex from some slaughter tapping trees due for replanting because the yields were high.

                                                   Photo 1

                                                  Photo 2

                                                   Photo 3

RECYCLE & ATTRACTIVE

LAMP SHADES


The lamp stand is recycled from a 1960s knapsack pressure pump for weedicides, insecticides or fungicides, The cylinder is made of copper brass. The lamp shade is made of batik.

 The lamp stand is recycled from a 5 gallon (20 litre) formic acid bottle. Formic acid an  important raw material in the rubber industry was once imported. The shade is made of fabric.

The lamp stand is recycled from a demijohn bottle which is 15 inches tall. The bottle is in a wicker basket and painted red white and blue.  The lamp shade is also made of fabric.

PLACE OF WORSHIP

PLACE OF WORSHIP

        A place of worship can be spelt in any way.

 There are many spellings in the Malay language for a mosque in Malaysia.

 For example: MASJEED, MASJID, MESJID . But another very interesting spelling is found in a particular 100 year old mosque situated along the main road near Bagan Serai, Malaysia. The   unfamiliar spelling  is MASIGIT!!

The Masigit Lawas (Banjari spelling) was built by one of the original settlers, Hj. Din who was a Banjari from Indonesia.

Preventing Wild Boar Damage in Oil Palm Plantings

Wild Boar Damage to Oil Palm Plantings

Wild boars can be pests in  new and replantings of oil palms. They  dig up the whole clod of earth with roots. They pull out the young shoots  and eat them. The incidence of damage depends on the weather and the wild boar population. The wild boar is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 but can be hunted with a permit. Various methods have been adopted to prevent or minimise wild boar damage.






1. In under plantings the base of oil palm fronds are stacked around the seedlings. The wild boar could not attack the seedlings because of the spikes/thorns of the fronds. These spikes/thorns  poke the snout of the wild boars.

2. Wrapping the planted seedlings with old/used  zinc sheets. The zinc sheets are about 1.5 foot high. This method prevents the wild boar from attacking/pulling out the young shoots. It is highly effective.

3. Wrapping the planted seedlings with plastic sheets This method is not effective.