668 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[April i, 1890. 
Tbe estimated Crop for 1890 is 192.000 1b.. wHch, 
it. is expected.' may be put on boardsbip in Colombo 
for abont 2« otn. per pound. 
Mr D. Pairweatber retirps from tbe Board bv rota- 
tion, in terms of the Articles of Association, but be- 
ing eligible offers himself for re-election. 
Tbe Shareholders will be naked to elpct an Auditor 
for tbe current year.— By order of tbe Directors. 
B G. L- Bbemneb, Secretary. 
Colombo, 22nd Febanary. 1890. 
The Managing Director in proposing the adop- 
tion of the report said that tbe statements it 
contained having be*n made as full as possible 
for the information of shareholders unable to attend 
the meeting, there was not much to add ; the 
actual profit' on the year's working was about 
R12.500 including the amount written off fo depred- 
ation of machinery &c, leaving the net profit at 
B8 489 to be transferred to capital account in 
conformity with the policy determined on last year. 
The capital value thus conserved goes to increase 
the value of the shareholdprs' stock. It was in his 
opinion most desirable to adhere to the policy adopted 
at last meeting and keep down the capital cost per 
acre. The capital had all been paid up and would 
be more than absorbed by necessary expenditure 
including that on factory and machinery. It was 
found advisable not, to open more than 43 acres 
in 1889 instead of the 70 original proposed ; 40 
acres of crown land had been purchased, and a 
like amount would have been purchased to con 
nect existing fields, but native claims had been put 
in to the land which delayed the matter. It was 
intended to bring up the planted aereage this year 
to 550 aores. The new factory had given trouble 
in its erection, but he was in hopes it would be 
in working order by the end of this month; the 
amount expended on factory as included m the 
accounts was B12.500 ; under favorable conditions 
be hoped there might be an interim dividend 
in September next. Already 32,000 lb. of tea 
had been made against the estimate of 
192 000 lb. More than half the crop 1889 had 
to be entered at an estimated value for the pur- 
poses of the accounts, and the actual results 
since ascertained were more favourable than the es- 
timate No business had been done in shares below 
par ; some had been effected as high as 20 premium. 
Mr W. Forsyth seconded the motion, but asked 
for further information as to the amount required 
to complete the factory, and as to the cost of 
production for current year which he hoped would 
be kept within 28 cents. 
The Managing Director said that probably 
B5 000 would cover the completion of the factory and 
the Board fully recognised the necessity of working 
Mr. 'Jameson proposed that the appointment of 
Mr. B. G. L. Bremner as Spcretary by the Board 
be confirmed: the appointment having been necessary 
under the articles. Mr. Forsyth seconded, and it 
was carried. 
Mr. Jameson submitted for the consideration of 
the Direotors that a larger proportion of the crop 
shouM be sold locally. Mr. Forsyth agreed when 
the Colombo market was favorable but did not 
1hi>k a hard and fast rule should be laid down. 
Tbe report was then adoptpd. 
Mr For"yth proposed and Mr. C. M. Gwatkin 
peronoVd the re-election of Mr. D. Fairweather as 
n "Director. — Carried. 
Mr Jamuson proposed and Mr. Forsyth seconded, 
;n d iS wflfl agrfe#, that Mr. John Guthrie be 
re-nnpoinfed auditor. 
The usual vote of thanks to the chair conoluded 
ho proceedings. 
The New Purchases op OurBigge6t Tea Oompany. 
— We understand that the price which the Ceylon Tea 
Plantation Company Limited has contracted topavfor 
the estates recently purchased by it — viz. East Holy- 
rood, Waverley, Tangakelly, Cameron's Land, Lochiel, 
Rosita and Cymru, amounting in all to 2,215 acres — is 
£46,500. A considerable portion of this sum is taken by 
the vendors in fully paid shares of the Company; and 
we consider the Company has made a splendid purchase 
in being able to secure these undoubtedly fine proper- 
ties at an all round price of £21 per acre. We also 
learn that an issue of £10 7 per cent Preference 
shares in this Company is to be made Bhortly to tbe 
public. We hope the Directors will reserve a sufficient 
quantity of these for local investors, as we do not think 
Ceylon people could readily find a better and safer in- 
vestment for their money. — Local " Times," Feb. 26th. 
The Influenza Epidemic. — The influenza epi- 
demic reached Beading last week. Several of tbe 
employes of the Biscuit Factory were attacked and 
were obliged to be absent from business, A number 
of employes of the Post Office and of the Borough 
Police Force and in several banks were also attacked. 
All the greatest authorities on influenza advised the 
taking of quinine twice a day as a precautionary 
measure, and Messrs. Sutton & Sons at once adopted 
the suggestion and ordered between five and six 
hundred doses of quinine to be delivered daily for 
gratuitous circulation amongst their employes, who 
greatly appreciated this action. It has had a bene- 
ficial effect, there being very few cases in Messrs. 
Sutton's establishment at this busy season of the 
year. The epidemic is, no doubt, of a mild form 
in Beading and is rapidly decreasing. The Town 
Clerk (Mr. Day) and the Borough Surveyor (Mr. 
Parry) have been attacked. One or two medical 
gentlemen and several tradesmen have suffered 
from the epidemic. There is no case of influenza 
at the Workhouse. — Berkshire Chronicle, Jan. 18th. 
[The influenza epidemic may prove a blessing 
in disguise in teaching the English people the 
value of quinine ! — Ed. T. A.] 
Planting in British Noeth Borneo. — We have to 
acknowledge the receipt from Mr. W. D. 
Gibbon, Kandy, of the Beport of the 14th half- 
yearly meeting of the British North Borneo 
Company with Sir Rutherford Alcock in the 
Chair : the meeting was a very satisfactory one 
indicating the strong position of the Company 
in the estimation of the shareholders. The laying 
of a telegraph cable to Singapore and the establish- 
ment of a Bank of Borneo are among projects 
contemplated and likely to be carried out. We 
have also received copy of " Memorandum on 
Tobacco Planting in North Borneo." This is a 
compilation made at the London office in December 
last for the information of English Capitalists. 
It gives a list of the existing estates in each district 
followed by results of sales and a good deal of 
information, the conclusion being as follows -. — 
The Directors, taking all this satisfactory progress 
into consideration, and in view also of the large tract 
of land ceded but not yet surveyed or even selected 
decided to raise the price of Tobacco land from $3 to 
$6 per acre, and a notification to that effect was pub- 
lished on the 23rd October, 1889. Whilst Tobacco 
land has been raised in price, the Directors, acting on 
Governor Creaph's advice, have offered to make free 
grants of from 1,000 to 5,000 acres in pach Province to 
any individual, or company, who will guarantee tbe 
introduction and continuous cultivation of ary new 
product, such as Pepper, Gambier, Liberian CofTpp, 
Cocoa or Supar, All thpse products have been planted 
experimentally, and it has been proved that the soil 
and climate are admirably adapted to their culture. 
A Liberian Coffee Estate in Marudu Bay is doing re 
markably well, and planting on a large scale by a 
Company is under consideration. 
