• Hutan Simpan Bukit Cherakah (1909-Kini)

“Ayer Kuning Estate

The proprietors of this estate are the Highlands and Lowlands Rubber Estate Company, of which Mr. R.W. Harrison is the general manager and visiting agent, Mr. John Whitham the manager, and Messrs. C.R.F. Crowther and C.R. Harrison assistants. The company own a total of 10,086 acres (exclusive of native holdings which are being purchased). In June of 1906, 100 acres were planted with Para rubber; 522 acres in the latter half of the same year; 228 acres in the first half of 1907, and, approximately, 850 acres in the latter half of the same year. The reserve balance of the property is jungle. It is the intention of the company to open up and develop this as rapidly as possible, and at least a thousand acres will be planted every year. In various parts large rubber plant nurseries have been started.

Ayer Kuning commences two and a half miles from Klang, and extends beyond the Damansara river, above Batu Tiga. There are about 15 miles of cart-road frontage to the estate at present. Padang Jawa railway station is just one mile distant, and Sungei Rangam and Batu Tiga railway stations are both within a mile of the property, which is drained by the Sungei Rengam, the Sungei Rasa, and the Damansara rivers, all of which flow into the Klang river. The land is hilly, with swamps in between, but extensive drains and canals connecting with the various streams are in course of construction. Contour drains are being cut in hills about a chain apart to prevent denudation of the soil. This work is receiving special attention. THe soil of this estate is as good as any in the district. It is reddish, loamy, and very rich.

The estate employs at present about 600 Tamil coolies, some 400 Banjorese, Javanese, and Malays, besides labourers recruited from the surrounding villages, and a larger force of Tamil coolies which is being rapidly recruited in India. There are 26 sets of permanent coolie lines build in different parts of the estate, also a manager's bungalow, two assistants' bungalows, two bungalows for conductors, and one used as a dispensary. FUrther buildings are in course of erection. A few of the coolie lines have been made mosquito proof, the Government having given a grant for experimental purposes. In short, everything is being done to promote a good state of health amongst the employees. At first the estate was naturally somewhat unhealthy, but now it compares very favourably with most properties in the district.

Mr. John Whitham, the manager of Ayer Kuning estate, was born in county Cork, Ireland, in December, 1877, and was educated at Totteridge Park School, Herfordshire, and at the Bedford Modern School. He went to Ceylon in 1896, and was initiated into the work of planting on the Hindugalla estate, Peradeniya. In Ceylon, where he remained for some ten and a half years, he gained experience in tea, coffee, and rubber planting, and when in July, 1906, he came to the Federated Malay States, he took charge of the Ayer Kuning estate under Mr. R.W. Harrison. He is a son of Mr. W. Charles Whitham, proprietary planter in Ceylon, and is a member of all local clubs in the Federated Malay States.”

“Ayer Kuning Estate, Padang, Selangor. New clearings and young rubber trees.”

(Sumber: Arnold Wright, 1908: "Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources", m.s.445-449).

“Mr. Whitham first came to the Federated Malay States from Ceylon in 1906, and was entrusted with the development of Ayer Kuning Estate, a block of jungle land belonging to Highlands and Lowlands Para Rubber Co., Ltd., which now forms the Midlands division of Highlands and Lowlands and the Ayer Kuning (F.M.S.) Rubber Co., Ltd. The district was unhealthy when Mr. Whitham went there and he was confronted with the difficulties usually attendant upon clearing jungle in this country, but with such vigour and determination did he face his work that, at the end of three years, he had nearly 3,000 acres opened, a planting record we should imagine, seldom equalled, and one with which his name deserves to be always associated. The arduous nature of the work he had done had, however, undermined his health, and in 1909 he was invalided Home.” (Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, 26 November 1912, Page 6: |"DEATH OF MR. JOHN WHITHAM").

Mulai April 1910, Ayer Kuning Estate dikenali secara rasmi sebagai Midlands Division (atau Midlands Estate): “In April, 1910, the Company sold to the Ayer Kuning (F.M.S.) Rubber Company, Limited, some 6,800 acres of the large Ayer Kuning block on which a full report by Mr. R.W. Harrison was incorporated in the directors' report for 1909. The land sold comprised a planted area of 1,532 acres. … The area of approximately 3,500 acres, part of the Ayer Kuning block, which was retained by this company, is now known as the Midlands Division. The land retained by the company is now divided into three divisions, of which the cultivated areas are as follows:-”

“A further area of about 80 acres on the Highlands division was cleared at the end of the year, and has since been added to the planted area.”

(Sumber: The Straits Times, 6 May 1911, Page 9: |"Highlands & Lowlands").

Arkib Negara 1957/0170454W, 23/06/1913: |"LETTER FROM DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST RE ACCESS RESERVE FROM THE ROAD IN AYER KUNING ESTATE TO BUKIT CHERAKA FOREST RESERVE".

“The District Judge was occupied for several hours, yesterday, regarding the absconding of seven Tamil coolies from Midlands Estate, otherwise known as Ayer Kuning Estate, situate, three miles out of Klang, F.M.S. These coolies, five men and two women, were arrested here on Saturday last on an estate belonging to Messrs Guthrie and Company.” (The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942), 5 November 1914, Page 2: |"ABSCONDING COOLIES").

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