346 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. i, 1893. 
M.P. Evans, 1 & 2, Fenchuroh St. E. 0., mercht 1 
W. Dunn, 1 & 2, Fenohurch St. E.G., mercht 1 
W. Harwood, 31, Lombard St, E.C., eolor 1 
J.P. Evans, 1 & 2, Fench'uoh St. E.G., mercht 1 
&.J. Wilson, 41, Mincing Lano, E.G., colonial 
broker ... ... 1 
W. Schmidt, 10, Cornhill, E.G., underwriter 1 
T. Mercer, 21, Mincing Lane, E.G., mercht ... 1 
G. E. Strachau, 33a, South St. Ma;fair, tea- 
plantet ... ... 1 
The fir«t directom are : — G.E. Stracban, M. P. Evans, 
G. Hannen; qualn, £1,000 ; remun, £100 per ann each. 
Begistered office, 1 & 2, Fencbarcb St, E.G. 
On reading this paragraph inquiry was made by 
me at the registered office for a copy of the 
prospeotuB, but I was told that it could not be 
permitted to be given to me as also that no 
information of any kind respecting the company 
would be made public, the association having a 
strictly private obarauter. We have become too 
much accustomed to such refusals to think them 
either discourteous or siogular. There are doubtless 
good and sufficient reasong for them, but is it not 
somewhat strange that as regards Tea Companies 
enterprise in Oeylon there is often shown so much 
disinclination to take the public into full confidence ? 
This disinclination is not confined to the initiatory 
start of Companies connected with Ceylon tea 
cultivation. It is constantly exhibited with regard 
to their published reports. Some time back, 
desiring to systematize my method of obtaining 
such reports for forwarding to you, I took 
much trouble in preparing a list of Oeylon 
Tea Companies in Loudon and in writing to 
each individually requesting the favour of in- 
formation as to the date o( publication of their 
reports. It was singular how few of the replies 
obtained exhibited a desire that these documents 
should receive publicity. The excuses were 
many and various, and although in some instances 
every information, and copies of reports when 
published, was promised, it has unfortunately proved 
to be the case that with but tew ezocptione ibe 
promises made have not been kept. Newspaper cor- 
respondents are therefore subjected to use enormous 
amount of trouble to obtain these annual docu- 
ments, and we cannot conceive why the Companies 
connected with Ceylon should shew the publicity 
that others of a more general character directly 
oovirt. Certainly as the rule, the reports made are 
usually very deficient in information as to details. 
Very recently, as you will recollect, complaint was 
made as to this deficiency at the meeting of one 
of the most important of the Ceylon tea companies 
that representing the Oriental iiank Estates. The 
only reply given by the chairman was that it nag 
inexpedient to give the information sought tor 
unless in privacy and confidence. What does this 
mean ? There may be secrets in the growth and 
preparation of tea, but these can haraly exist in 
respect to some of the information desired. There 
is an air of mystery about Tea Companies working 
in Ceylon which does not attend the proceedings 
of any other Companies that are known to us 
here in London. 
A NEW DEPABTCEE. 
Passing through Westbourne Grove of Whiteley 
farm, the other day, I saw it announced in the 
window of a newly completed shop that it was 
to be opened by the Kanagalla (?) Tea Company 
of Ceylon as a first class floral depot, and that 
niild refreBhments would also be served therein. 
This is a new departure in the history of home 
enterprise in Oeylon tea ; but it seems to me to 
be one that will not improbably be a successful 
one. The swarms of ladies who are attracted by 
Whiteley's emporium, as are fliee ronnd a Eugar 
cask, will very possibly avail themBtlves in Urge 
numbers of the oppcrtunity for drinking their 
afternoon cup of Ceylon tea in the midbt of eweel- 
Bcenttd flowers. 
PEPPEK. 
There is said to be probibly eo country io tb« Far 
East where better pepper is grcwu than in Cochib- 
Chins. Experts have given tbe palm to Cocbin-OLiii» 
as a pepper-producing country, ai^d yet nearly 
all of that coodioieDt coosamed io Fia.uce is 
obtained from the Londoo market, despite tLe fact 
that pepper from Cochin-Clina is aeked to pay 
only half the fixed duty. TLe ou' pnt cf fopiet 
for this >earin8iam is looked upon i-s veiy encou- 
raging, DO less than 20,000 piouls having b«tn re- 
ported to have been exported fcom Cbantab'JOD — 
Straits Times, Oct. 24. 
IKDIAN TE.V EXPORTS. 
The following paragraphs from the proceedings 
of tbe Committee of the Indian Tea Aseociation, 
dated 29th Sept. last, only now publiehed, are 
of interest to Ceylon planters 
Bead letter from MeB^rs. Fiiilay, Mnir 6l Co, 
suggesting an alteration in the system on which tbe 
Association's Monthly Returns of shipments of tea 
from Calcutta are made up. The suggestion was 
to the effect that the figureu should be taken 
daily from the- Custom House list of Exports and 
au allowance made for all relands, instead of 
making up the returns from the aciosj clearances, 
as nuder the present system, in the case ot a 
vessel clearing on the Ist or 2ud of the month, the 
cargo, although virtually shipped iu the previous 
month, would not be included in tbe Kelurue for 
that month. 
After a full discussion of the matter the com- 
mittee were of opinion that the Association's system 
of making up the Keturns, which was also followed 
by Messrs. W. Moran & Co., Messrs. J. Thomas 
it Co , and Messrs. Carritt A- Co., was the most 
reliable, and it y/oM resolved to address a letter to 
Messrs. Watson, Sibthorp & Co., asking them if 
they could not adopt the same system so as to 
bring all the circulars into line. 
Read letter of 12tb iLstant, fremMr. J. C. Stalkarit, 
sta'ing that be ntderstood a World's Fair was about 
to be held at Ssn Francisco, and eaggeeting that, if 
this was the case. Mr. iSlecbynden's operations shuuld 
be continued another year on Americi, and that he 
stould push Indian tea in that quarter. Mr. 
Blechynden was to be written asking it he had heard 
anything about an Exhibition at Sau Francisco, as no 
information of the kind hsd reachtd tLe Committee. 
Considered also letters of the 9th and 19ih Septem- 
ber, from Mr. H. E. Grant, Allahabad, slating that 
he was going to H ibart town, Tasmania, for the 
Exhibition which was to open early next year, and 
offering his services as an Agent for the Association 
to push Indian tea. Tbe Committee, however, were 
not disposed to ente: tain tbe application, and Mr. Qiaot 
was to be informed in accordance. 
"LIPTON" TO MAKE COLOMBO THE 
HEADQUARTERS OF HIS EASTERN 
TEA TRADE. 
Mr; Lipton's Agent here has just taken a new 
departure in establishing a separate office and 
stores in view of the growth of business and not 
because of any withdrawal from Messrs. Buchanan, 
Frazer & Co., of whose management of IHr. Lipton's 
interests, Mr. Doplook speaks in the highest 
terms. The offices taken are those formerly held 
by Messrs. Baker & Hall in Upper Chatham 
Street and a portion of the Fairfield Store 
