July i, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
39 
of aotivity. A thick colnmn of smoke iasned from I 
the monntain, the sight of which brought about a panic I 
among the iohabitan's of the neighbouring villages ' 
and ihei took to fiinht vfith all they conld carry 
away. But, as the volcano remained smoking without 
anything w-nse happeninc, the panic ceased and the 
people rf turned to their bomeeteadi. — Straits Times, 
INDIAN TEA NOTES. 
Onr Lallamook correspondent v?tite8 on 20th May 
1893.— The weather has been frightfully hot. Ther- 
mometer baa been up to 92° for the last week, that 
waH in an Eastern Verendab, 95° and 97° was regis- 
tered in a Western Verandah. Two good showers of 
rain fell on the 17th and 18th— 48 and 30 inches. Fur- 
ther South on Thursday evening 1'50 of rain fell. Leaf 
coming on at last. The Barnoheria Police Guard is 
costing R60 a month for 6 men. 
The liberal amount of rain which has fallen daring 
the past week will afford vast benefit to the tea dis- 
tricts. The Dooars and Assam planters, and Cachar 
and ijylhet teelas under hybrid and indigenous alikr, 
eboald now flush freely, and all the stronger for their 
having in places, of late, done indifferently. It as much 
rain as we have had here has fallen in the Surma 
Valley, we may expect to hear of floods. It will be 
interesting to bear what effect the downpour has had 
upon the freshly thrown up parts of the Dooars RaiU 
way embankment. 
The new down-draft and T siroccos' with fans, and 
a'ow careful firing, have caused complaints of soft teas 
to be much lets frequently heard on laetories, where 
these means of acquiring keeping qaalitiea are used. — 
Indian llantm' Gazette, May 27. 
CEYLON TEA PLANTATION COMPANIES. 
{Communicated.) 
The number of Companies in Ceylon has increased 
considerably during the past year, and the results 
generally have been very satisfactory and profitable 
to shareholders. An assuring fact in connection with 
the floating of these Companies being that proprie- 
tors when parting with their properties, in many 
instances retain large interests in the new concerns 
receiving a proportion of their payment in stock. 
Doubtless but few investors at home have ever 
heard of local shares, and only a few Ceylon com- 
panies with sterling capital are quoted in London. 
Amongst which, Ceylon Tea Plantations, Scottish 
Ceylons, and Kelani Valley are probably the most 
prosperous ; and holders of these shares have every 
reason to be satisfied with their stocks which are 
yielding them remunerative dividends. Investors 
who have been interested in the progress of these 
companies and are unable to obtain an interest in 
them except at a high premium would do well by 
turning their attention to the local market where 
investments could be made with good security to yield 
from 6 per cent to 10 per cent. 
For the information of those interested in this 
subject we give a list, with notes, of some of the 
most important Ceylon Companies which have their 
capital in currency and are managed by local boards 
composed of Directors of experience in the island. 
Produce Companies (Tea.) 
"Mocha" is a well managed and prosperous Com- 
pany of not very long standing — shares have been 
well taken up when offered by local buyers at 11175 
prem. 
The dividend for this half will probably be 10 per 
cent, making with an interim of 5 per cent already 
paid 15 per cent for the year. 
The investment on these figures would yield 11 
per cent. 
" GlasgowB." —These shares are very firmly held 
locally at 50 per cent premium. Last half year's 
average for tea sold on the local market was cents 
per lb. Theeatate containa cofee tind ciuoboua, but 
it has been decided to replace these products with 
tea; as the crops for the former are uncertain, and 
for the latter the market is so low. 
Investors at present would receive exactly 8 per 
cent for their money. 
" Yataderias." — This stock is seldom in the market, 
and is always well inquired after by local buyers. 
At present quotation R240, the yield is a good 10 per 
cent. Last dividend 25 per cent. 
" Yatiyantotas,' like the above, are seldom offering. 
This Company has a record of high dividends. 
Shares Rl.OOO paid up at E3,300 would yield 9 per 
cent. Last dividend 30 per cent. 
" Wannarajahs " were floated last year, a keen 
demand shortly after allotment ran them up to R200 
premium. At the present moment they are available 
at a premium of R75. Investors would do well to 
consider them at this price ; but must be prepared 
to wait for a year or so before receiving any divi- 
dend. When the property is f ully developed it is 
expected to pay handsomely. 
"Dunkelds." — For their first year had unfavour- 
able weather resulting in a short crop, yet yielded 
a 10 per cent dividend for its shareholders. Tne pre- 
sent year so far has been more satisfactory. Last 
quotation 625. 
"We Oyas " paid their shareholders 20 per cent 
for last year and are quoted at R225. 
Among recent Companies which have not yet paid divi- 
dend " Agra Ouvahs," ' Great Westerns." "Eadellas " 
and " Maha Ouvahs " are worth the attention of 
buyers. 
Besides the above there are numerous other Ceylon 
tea stock which would prove good investments at a 
price, but the above list gives a fair criterion of well- 
known and carefully managed Tea Companies. 
" DelgoUas.''— This is a promising investment and 
worth buying at RoOO. The first dividend declared 
was 8 per cent — which was subsequently increased to 
9 per cent. 
Being an estate wholly devoted to the cultivation 
of cocoa, coconuts, and Liberian coffee, it is popular 
with investors not caring for tea. 
The coconut plantation has not yet reached maturity 
and contains many young plants which are yearly 
increasing in value. 
Shipping and Landing Companies are represented 
by " Wharfs " and " Syndicates. The former being 
the safest investment in the island (excepting Gov- 
ernment 8tock)for those requiring security and are satis- 
fied with small dividends. At 100 per cent premium 
the yield is 4 per cent. This Company has a reserve 
of 14157,500, against a capital ot E200,000. 
Hotels are represented for those desiroua of 
taking up this class of iuvestment. " G. O. H." 
take the first place and are considerated good security 
— E230 gives buyers 6 per cent. Younger Companies 
which have not been long run are "Bristol," and 
"Nuwara Eliya" — the latter being situated in the 
hills anU is much frequented during the hot season. 
A further addition is shortly expected in the way of 
a suburban hotel called the Brighton. This, however 
is being floated in London and only a few shares 
are reserved for Ceylon. 
The local market is email, and basinese in any 
particular stock is not always possible at short 
notice. As holders are mainly planters scattered over 
various parts of the island, much time is lost in 
correspondence. The nominal valne of shares in 
Ceylon vary as follows :— ESO, RlOO, R400, R500, Bnd 
Rl.OOO; but E500 has been more generally adopted 
by the Tea Companies recently floated. 
SILVER, GOLD AND TEA. 
Mr. W. S, Wetmore Bends a letter on t!ae " Gold 
Question" to the N. C, Herald, which winds up 
»B follows : — 
In Chins, as is well-known, gold is in no way 
connected with the ourrenoy,ancl ;s simply a commodity, 
in every sense, bs much as are te is or silk. Taking' 
it, therefore, as a commodity, as it aotu«lly i;, r 
reference to the commercial circulars where it is 
tegalftil; qaottid, will ehow that it haa advanced from 
