1 69 



His "Excellency: — We should judge them on at their merits. 

 This application is granted now. If any application is made by any 

 particular branch I have a similar grant from the Society, if it can 

 be shown that the Society's funds will admit it, so much the better. 

 We want to improve the breed of the cattle. 



Mr. OBEYESEKERE wanted to know if &50 would be sufficient. 

 His Excellency : — The &50 is only towards part of the cost. The 

 local Society is to pay the other portion. It is a case of self-help. 



Mr. Fernando's Munificence. 



His Excelleny said, with regard to the proposal of Mr. Fernando 

 " it will be necessary before this case come before us for our adop- 

 tion to have some report upon it and I suggest that the Government 

 Agent of the Western Province, Mr. Obeyesekerk and Mr DRIE- 

 BURG be appointed a Committee to see Mr. FERNANDO and report 

 upon this at the next meeting. The motion can then be put that the 

 Society thankfully accepts the offer and the thanks of the Society to 

 Mr. FERNANDO can be formally placed on record I therefore pro- 

 pose the Committee as mentioned." 



The appointment of the Committee was adopted. 



Cotton Experiments. 



His Excellency again referred to cotton experiments which he 

 thought had been carried out most successfully. From the Experi- 

 mental Station 116 pounds of seed had been distributed. Altogether 

 sufficient amount of seed had been acquired to sow up 800 acres. 

 This was very satisfactory as it showed that the cultivation of cot- 

 ton was being seriously considered. " If this goes on," continued 

 His Excellency, "I hope and believe we shall find that cotton is a 

 very important factor among our industries." 



The Board then adjourned. 



CEYLON'S PLACE IN THE RUBBER 

 INDUSTRY. 



Interview with Mr. Hoffman. 



Messrs. Lewis and Peat's Letter Criticised. 



Mr. RICHARD HOFFMAN, the well-known London financier, who 

 has been "doing" Ceylon with Rubber in view, besides being 

 directly interested in the industry in partnership with well-known 

 Ceylon planters, leaves by the O.-R. s. s. Orontes to-night. During 

 his two months' stay in the island, Mr. HOFFMAN has been nearly 

 everywhere and seen nearly everything there is to see in connection 

 with rubber, having added considerably to his knowledge gained 

 on previous visits to Ceylon and through his connection with the 

 London market; and his opinions may, therefore, be considered as 

 those of an expert. 



