R. N. Bland (1859-1948) - Resident Councillor of Malacca 1900-1903

Haji Mohd Sharif bin Ismail Alyamani lived at 262-T Banda Hilir, Malacca during British Colonial times.

================================

ROBERT NORMAN BLAND 1859 - 1948

=================================

https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Robert%20Norman%20Bland

The Acting Resident Councillor in Malacca at the time was Robert Norman Bland (R. N. Bland). He was from Ireland.

Robert Norman Bland (MALACCA) , B.A. Resident Councillor;
Born 8 October 1859 in Malta. Died 30 March 1948 (aged 88) in Sussex, England.
Educated at St. Paul’s school; Cheltenham College; Trinity College, Dublin.
Source: http://www.lilianbland.ie/lilian/bland-family-history/

Bland was a young cadet before coming to Malacca. He had mastered Chinese and Malay. He served in various capacities and in multiple overlapping functions at the 3 locations in the Straits Settlements - Singapore, Penang and Malacca.

Was a Cadet, Straits Settlements, October, 1882; passed in Malay, May, 1884 (age 26);
Collector Magistrate, Sri Menanti , June 1886;
District Officer, Southern District, Province Wellesley , 1888;
Collector of Land Revenue, Penang, 1889;
Collector of Land Revenue, Singapore, 1890;
Officer in charge, Sungei Ujong , December 1894;
Officer in charge, Negri Sembilan , January to April, 1895;
Acting Official Assignee of Deeds, Singapore, June, 1896;
Inspector of Prisons, Straits Settlements , March, 1897;
Senior District Officer, Province Wellesley, April, 1897;
Acting Resident Councillor, Malacca, April to September, 1900-1903;
Capt. in Singapore Volunteer corps, 1902
Source: http://www.lilianbland.ie/lilian/bland-family-history/

He arrived in Malacca on 2 June 1886, while serving at Kuala Pilah
Malacca News.
Straits Times Weekly Issue, 3 June 1886, Page 13
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/stweekly18860603-1.2.31

He was the Acting Resident Councillor in Malacca from April to September, 1900-1903.

Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Sir J. Anderson, K.C.M.G.
Executive Council:
The Governor;
Officer commanding H.M. Troops, Major-Gen. Inigo Jones, C.B.
— Colonial Secretary, Capt. A. H. Young, C.M.G.
— Resident Councillor of Penang, J. K.
— Resident Councillor of Malacca, R. N. Bland
— Attorney-General
— Treasurer, W. Evans
— Auditor-General, E. C. Hill
— Colonial Engineer, A. Murray
Resident-General for Protected States, Sir W. T. Taylor, K.C.M.G. 

Bland was also a prolific writer and was interested in archaeology. He had written an illustrated book, documenting the layout and inscriptions of the Portuguese tombstones found inside the ruins of St Paul's Church on Malacca Hill.
https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Tombstones-Malacca-Mostly-Portuguese/dp/5518651724

His family history can be found online at Lilian Bland
http://www.lilianbland.ie/lilian/bland-family-history/


Bland was also a lawyer. There were 2 other men with him at the Town Court in Malacca.


British Malacca
http://reader.library.cornell.edu/docviewer/digital?id=sea:233