632 
THE TROPICAL AGEICULTURIST. [March 2, 1903, 
be carried forward to the current year's accounts. 
The estimates for the present season are 287,000 lb. 
Tea, including 25,000 lb. tea to be manufactured 
for others, and 10.000 lb. cardamoms, on an ex- 
penditure of R72,906-53, in addition to which a 
sum of E6,600, has been estimated for new Tar- 
bine Piping. In ascordance with the articles of 
Association Mr S Bois now retires from the 
oflce of Director but is eligible for re-election. 
The appointment of an Auditor for the current year 
rests with the meeting.— By order of the Directors, 
Whittall & Co., Agents and Secretaries. 
Colombo, 4thFeb., 1003. 
PASSARA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
THE TENTH ANNUAL EEPOPvT. 
Chairman. — Mr JB Cotton ; Hon. Secretary.— Mr 
A V Eyall ; Member to D R O and P R C— W 
Stewart Taylor. r. 
Committees:— Pflssam,— Messrs. Jas. Danoan, beo. 
Kent Deaker, Capt. H Gordon, J J Robinson, W 
Stewart Taylor, Madidsima— Messrs J M Mason and 
E Webster, Lunugala—MeaBvs J D P Maclean, 
Channing Esdaile, F Hall and A L Buyers, Uonara- 
qala—J H Bptts and E Liesching. 
Thirty Committee :— Capt H Gordon. Kandy 
Committee :— Chairman, Secretary, G K Deaker and 
J M Mason. Hospital Visitors, Badulla,— Messrs 
G K Deaker and J Duncan, Lunuaala—i D P Mac- 
lean and F Hall. Auditor.— Jas. Duncan. 
Register,- The number of estates on the Register 
is 30 (5 lesf than in 1901, due to amalgamation of 
estates). . 
FiNAKCE.— The books of the Association are laid 
on the table for inspection. The amount standing 
to the credit of the Association (in the Bank of Uva) 
is B273-43. Last years' accounts were audited by 
Mr Duncan, , ^ 
Meetings.— There have been four Committee and 
four general meetings, which have all been well at- 
tended, showing the interest members take in the 
Association. . 
Tea leop.— The estimated tea crop for estates on 
the Reaister ot this Association for 1903 i3-4,032,,500 lb. 
off 8,844 acres in bearing; an average of 455 1b. per 
acre. This speaks well for the suitability of this part 
of I]'va for tea production. There are still 1,357 at^rea 
not in bearing ; the last three months of 1902 were 
very unfavourable for the production and manufacture 
of tea, owing to the continuous wet and cloudy weather. 
Your Committee are glad to report a marked improve- 
ment in the market, and that the immediate future 
is bright, as the stock at the end of 1902 was below 
1901 and green tea will (if the bonus is continued) 
relieve the black tea market of 12 to 4,000,(!00 1b. 
Tour Committee would recommend you to continue 
to support the cess and they would also urge you to 
refrain from returning to coarse plucking, which would 
only land you in the disastrous position (as regards 
nrices) in which you were a short time ago. 
Cocoa.— This product has given a fair crop during 
the year. Your Committee will watch with the deepest 
interest, the results of the experiments still being 
made with a hope of checking the pod and other 
diseases which caused so much loss yearly. 
RuBBEK. — Some extension of this product has been 
made during 1902 ; both Para and castilloa are being 
nlanted and on one estate ; the oldest Para Rubber 
tree will be tapped during 1903— the result of which 
will be watched with the greatest interest by your 
Committee. . 
Post and TELEORAPH.—Your Committee are elad to 
announce ihat your efforts to get a Telegraph Stition 
opened at Madulsima are to be crowned with success. 
Coach.— The arrival and departure of the coach at 
Passara has been most erratic and the coach arrange- 
ments still have room for improvement. 
Water Supply at Mupane. — The well at Mupane 
Las been built after years of agitation, but whether it 
will be a succeaa or not remains to be seen. 
Police Magisteats. — As Government could not see 
their way (as requested by your Association) to 
appoint a permanent Police Magistrate for Badulla 
itself, they consented to have the date published on 
which the present itinerating Magistrate would be 
absent from Badulla. 
Nursing Association. — Tour Committee are sorry 
to report the proposal to get Agents and Firms in 
Colombo to allow estates to subscribe towards this 
worthy institution met with very little success. 
Resthousbs. — It affords your Committee much satis- 
faction to report and note the marked improvement 
in the comfort and cleanliness in the Resthousea 
generally for which we are indebted to our worthy 
Government Agent. 
Labour.— The supply of this has not been quite 
sufficient for the requirements of the District, and 
iu consequence the advances have increased to a 
very alarming extent and the labour is generally 
restless and unsettled and your Committee view 
this with not a little uneasiness. Your Committee 
therefore think that any scheme for recruiting labour 
in nev/ districts should be strongly supported, for 
the prospects of a good harvest in our present re- 
cruiting districts, and the fact th^t other countries 
are also competing against Ceylon in those parts 
convince your Committee that the Ceylon Planters 
should no longer rely on the old districts for their 
labour requirements. 
Tramway or Light Railway.— Both the light 
railways to Kandapola and the Kelani Valley are 
nearing completion and your Committee hope that 
His Exceileacy Sir VVest Ridgeway will have a 
survey made (as promised) of a line between 
Bandarawela, Passara and Badulla before his 
departure from the Island. 
Roads and Bridges, — The bridge over the 
(Nukkal) river has been completed after' hang- 
ing fire for two years and it is a great boon during 
N. E. heavy rains to the Monaragalla Estates. 
K6,0li0 has been granted towards widening and pro- 
tecting the Madulsima R»ad and Your Committee 
hope the officer in charge will not take on the labour 
required for this work locally. Some of the roads 
are in fair order, but your Committee think the 
layicg and macadamising of metal is much delayed 
This should be begun with the first rains in Sept. 
His Excellency the Goveenoe. — Tour Committee 
are only echoing the voice of this Association when 
they say how grateful they were at tho news of 
our present Governor Sir West Ridgeway's term of 
office being extended, but they sincerely regret that 
that term will expire in October. He has always 
been a friend to ttie planters (and to Uva especially.) 
Passara Rifle Corps. — This was formed in April, but 
your Committee regret that some members of your 
districts have not yet joined. They hope, now the 
range is completed, they will do so. Of the section 
there were [?J ex-efficient, six efficient, one non-efficient 
in class-firing which, they think, was very creditable 
considering they had no range or practice. The adop- 
tion of the report was duly moved, seconded and 
carried. 
HIGHER WAGES FOR INDIAN COOLIES 
IN THE STRAITS. 
The Malay Peninsula Sugar Industry Associa- 
tion have nominated Mr Turner, and Mr Bi>yd of 
Gula Estate, to represent tliein at a conference 
to be held in Singapore to consider a proposed rate 
of increase in wages for Indian Iiniiiigrants, 
The feeling of the meeting was tliat, owing to the 
greatly increased demand for labour throughout 
the Colony, and the Federated Malay States, a 
very inateriivl increase on the present rate of 
wages must be faced.— Sin^'apoJ'c Free Press, 
Feb. 10. 
