52 COFFEE I ITS CULTIVATION AND PROFIT. 



years' tax. Land purchased here privately, from 

 wealthy natives, or the priests' of even wealthier 

 temples, is free of this tax until it has been brought 

 under cultivation, when the Rs. 2 per annum 

 commences. 



Through a recent copy of The Madras Mail, 

 we see a new land question is engaging the 

 attention of planters and other landowners in the 

 much troubled Wynaad. The Government is orga- 

 nizing a resettlement of revenue, and at a meeting 

 held at Vythery, Mr. Castlestuart Stuart, Special 

 Assistant Collector, Nilgiris and Malabar, attended 

 to explain the intentions of the authorities. He 

 pointed out that the settlement would be for thirty 

 years, and all lands capable of cultivation, though 

 yielding no revenue to the occupants, will have 

 to pay tax. The rates of assessment are not yet 

 fixed, but probably will be settled within the next 

 six weeks. Partial abandonment of estates after 

 the resettlement will not be permitted ; the whole 

 of the land will be subjected to assessment, whether 

 any portion be abandoned or not. The meeting 

 thanked Mr. Stuart for his information, and passed 

 resolutions thereon representing to the Govern- 

 ment that " the existing rates of taxation are as 

 heavy as can possibly be borne in the present 

 state of extreme depression," and deprecating any 

 action that would tend to increase their burdens 

 until the views of the planters and landholders 

 can be laid before Government. 



