THE SECOND BIG FIRE

After a period of 42 years of prosperity from 1867, Bau Bazaar suffered her second tragedy. The Big Fire occurred early on the night of 3rd December, 1909 during which the whole Bau Bazaar (Shak Lung Mung) was completely destroyed in a matter of a few minutes. The shop-houses were situated on both sides of the present Jalan Ong Guan Cheng,the existing Bau District Council and Kg. Melayu Bau. The shop-houses were mostly built of inflammable materials such as wood frames, Atap and Kajang roofs. During that time, many of them stored the kerosene oil in tins. No fire-fighting facilities were available. Under such circumstances, when the fire broke out, nothing could possibly be saved from the bazaar. Fortunately, there was no human casualty. The Borneo Company Gold Mine buildings which were adjacent to the bazaar (the present Jalan Blacksmith, Bau) were in danger and, in fact, some of the workers' barracks actually caught fire but the outbreak was promptly extinguished by the miners. Fah Khiaw Chinese School (the present Chung Hua School, Bau) which was a stone's throw from the bazaar suffered no damage. The fire lit up the area for a considerable distance around and the glare was visible even from Kuching. The loss was estimated at $50,000/.

Due to the economical importance of Bau as a mining district, the Rajah Government resettled the shopkeepers promptly. The whole bazaar was rebuilt for the third time within a period of one year. The new bazaar was established at the existing main bazaar. By August 1910, more and more wooden shop-houses were completed and on 14.10.1910, the Government together with the shopkeepers and miners started to celebrate the opening of a new township. According to the Chinese at Bau, the celebration lasted until the end of the year.

In 1921 when the Borneo Company ceased gold mining, the Company's employees organised among themselves to rework on the tailings. It was reported that large profits were made in several mines and by 1934, the annual export of gold increased to 28,842 fine ounces valued at $29 millions. However, gold production decreased after 1934 when the easy ores had been exhausted.

In order to provide a better administrative service to the people in Upper Sarawak, Bau was officially upgraded from a station to a district on 17.7.1931. Mr. W.S.B. Buck was posted to Bau and became Acting Assistant District Officer. Mr. Wright was the last Rajah's District Officer there before the Japanese occupied Kuching on 24.12.1941