Miscellaneous. 



[November, 1908. 



pay rates which leave any margin of 

 profit to the importers. 



Mid Uplands, which previously were 

 quoted at 7id, per pound now stand at 

 6id. per pound. 



Rice.— Total imports forthe six months 

 ended 30th June, 1908, amount to 1,453,651 

 bags, against 1,971,549 bags for the 

 corresponding period in 1907, a decrease 

 of 517,898 bags. Prices have been on a 

 very high level throughout this period. 



Coal.— Imports. 



1908. 

 Jan,— June. 



From United Kingdom ...154,900 

 „ India ...215,692 

 „ Other Countries ... 25,681 



1907. 

 Jan.— June. 



165,329 tons. 

 169,311 „ 

 15,486 ,, 



396,273 350,126 tons. 



Imports of British Coal during the 

 period under review show a decrease 

 of 10,429 tons as compared with 1907, 

 while those from all other countries 

 show a total increase of 56,576 tons, 

 India alone has sent an increased supply 

 of 46,381 tons, 



Shipping. 



Year. Vessels. Tons. 



1907. Arrivals in Colombo ... 1,550 3,656,895 

 do other Ports 744 274,860 



Total. ..2,294 3,931,755 



Departures from Colombo 1,285 3,068,972 

 Do other Ports 738 207,867 



Total... 2,023 3,276,839 



1908. Arrivals in Colombo ... 1,586 3,917,589 

 Do other Ports 521 201,552 



Total. ..2,107 4,119,141 



Departures from Colombo 1,578 3,915,330 

 Do other Ports 525 193,777 



Total... 2, 103 4,109,107 



The above figures represent the number 

 of Vessels and their tonnage, exclusive 

 of Coasting Vessels that have called at 

 Ceylon Ports duriug the first-half of 

 1907 and 1908, and show an increase in 

 the tonnage of arrivals in Colombo 

 during the period under review ot 260,694 

 tons as compared with 1907, 



Exchange. 

 There has been a marked drop in 

 sterling rates during the period under 

 review. The average buying rate for 

 6 months' sight bills has been l/4§, 3 

 months' sight 1/4 7*32 against 1/4 9'16 

 and l/4§ during the previous six months, 



whilst the average selling rate for on 

 demand Bank drafts was 1/3 15 '16. 



The year started with cheaper money 

 in England which gradually came down 

 till 24 per cent, was touched, which 

 has been the Bank of England rate of 

 discount since 28th May. 



Money has been in good demand 

 locally at an average of 10h per cent, 

 per annum. 



Accounts.— The Accounts of the Cham- 

 ber, duly audited, follow the Report. 



Membership.— The number of Members 

 of the Chamber is 80, as against 79 in 

 the previous half-year. 



REVIVAL OP THE TISSAMAHA- 

 RAMA CULTIVATORS' 

 ASSOCIATION. 



Meeting op Landowners. 



Proceedings of a meeting of Land- 

 owners and Cultivators of Tissamaha- 

 rama held at the Great Dagoba premises 

 on 28th August, 1908. Proprietors and 

 cultivators were present representing 

 an extent of 2,509 acres. 



Mr. J. B. Patiratna read the follow- 

 ing notice convening the meeting: — "A 

 meeting of landowners will be held at 

 the Tissamaharama Great Dagoba pre- 

 mises at 8 a.m. on Friday, the 28th 

 August, 1908, to discuss what steps 

 should be taken to prevent in future 

 disaster to the crops such as that which 

 has befallen this season. All land- 

 owners are earnestly requested to 

 attend." 



Proposed by Mr. D. C. A. Wickrama- 

 sooriya and seconded by Mr. S. Canaga- 

 raja that Mr. C. P. S. Jayawickrama 

 should preside at the meeting. — Carried 

 unanimously. 



The Chairman requested that a 

 Secretary be elected. Proposed by Mr. 

 ./Elian Auwardt and seconded by Mr. 

 D. S. Jayasinha that Mr. J. D. Patiratna 

 do acb as Secretary pro tern.— Carried 

 unanimously. 



Proposed by Mr. D. C. A. WlCKRAMA- 

 sooriy/a and seconded by Mr, K. M. P. 

 Don Jacoris de Silva that it is desir- 

 able that the Tissamaharama Cultiva- 

 tors' Association, now lying dormant, 

 should be revived.- Carried unanimously* 



The Chairman then explained to the 

 meeting t the Rules of the Association. 

 The meeting proceeded to elect office- 

 bearers and working committee in 

 accordance with those Rules. 



