368 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. iDec. 1, 1899. 
perience, tha,t West Indian sugar planters 
should sit still and whine to Mr. Cliainher- 
lain ; while inexperienced newcomers like 
Mr. Archibald should walk in and win — and 
most deservedly, in view of the enterprise 
displayed, 
KNAVESMIRE ESTATES CO., LIMITED 
BEPOBT ON THE KNAVESMIRE PLUMBAGO 
PROSPECTS. 
Messrs. George Steuart & Co., Colombo. 
Gentlemen, — Acting on your instructions I pro- 
ceeded to Kegalla and thence to Knavesmire on 
"the 25th April last to inspect the last named for 
plumbago. Mr. Daniel met me and shewed me 
every attention and kindness, and with him I 
went over the estate next day. The first point 
examined was a shaft sunk on a vein of 
plumbago some 60 feet vertically, above the stream 
'marking the Northern or North-West boundary 
of the estate. Before proceeding further I may 
.say that the shaft in question is altogether too 
large for the requirements of prospecting or even 
for fairly extensive working above water level, 
and this is an important matter when working 
mines in cultivated land. 
Th^s shaft is some 15 feet deep and I noticed 
with satisfaction that the vein had improved con- 
alderaby even in this short distance. In the pre- 
sent bottom of the shaft the vein is some 6' to 8' 
wide, not all mineral, but thelarger portion is plum- 
bago and of very good quality, and as depth is at 
tained, there is little doubt the vein will improve, 
will become more compact and less impregnated with 
foreign matter, but even in its present condition 
it is a vein of plumbago not to be dispised, as it 
would pay for extracting even now, if properly 
worked either by shaft or tunnel. For the better 
development of this vein and others that will be 
mentioned later on, I should recommend a tunnel 
being put in at right angles to the strike of the 
veins, from someconvenient pointbelowthe before- 
mentioned shaft ; and while on the ground I 
* pointed out to Mr. Daniel a site that I think would 
answer the purpose admirably. A tunnel at the 
point indicated would intercept the vein some 
feet below the top of the shaft, and the distance 
to drive to the first vein would not exceed 75 feet, 
and this through most favorable ground for work- 
ing. Beyond the vein sunk upon in the shaft 
traced three otherdistinct plumbago veins running 
parallel with the first named, and all showingmore 
or less good indications and one in particular 
•hews excellent prospects. 
All these veins can be tapped by the tunnel I 
recommend and the distance would not exceed 150 
feet further driving. 
As each vein is intersected, drivages on 
• their course would be put in hand to 
prove the vein in lengths, and to open up 
the ground for stoping, and to do this 
the main tunnel need not be stopped more 
than a day or two for the starting of each drivin- 
age on the veins. Ventilating shafts will neces- 
sarily have to be sunk at various points as the 
main tunnel proceeds, but these need not be 
large nor would they be of an expansive charac- 
ter, and as they would all be sunk on the veins 
they would probably pay for the labour spent 
upon them, and possibly leave a profit. Such 
shafts as I have mentioned are also required for 
laying the veins open for convenience of removing 
the mineral ; so there are two objects in sink- 
ing them. The veins here strike S.-E. and 
N.-W, and the dip S.-W. varying from 
20 to 40 degrees about. To the North-West 
the strike of the veins soon take them out 
of the limits of tlie estate, but to the S.E. there is 
a clear 400yarrl,s. I sliould judge that these veins 
can be worked upon within the Knavesmire 
boundary and before the limits of the estate are 
reached in that direction there will be quite 120 
feet vertical of mineral veins above the tunnel, 
which with four veins to work upon, means a 
large area of mineral ground. 
In conclusion I may say that I have a high opi- 
nion of the prospects of opening up a payable 
plumbago industry at Knavesmire, and I can with 
confidence recommend tlie further exploration of 
the property. — I am. Gentlemen, your obedient 
servant 
(Signed) Leonard Tregat. 
Morankande, 
3rd May, 1899. 
CHINA TEA. 
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO UNITED 
KINGDOM AND CONTINENT. 
1899-1900. 1898-99. 
lb. lb. 
Hankow and Shanghai 9,544,030 10,608,322 
Amoy ... 221,484 390,250 
Foochow .. 11,193,226 10,577,774 
Canton ... 4,042,645 3,770,406 
21,001,411 25,302,652 
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO UNITED STATES 
AND CANADA. 
1899-1900. 1898 99. 
lb. lb. 
Shanghai ... 1,222,849 1,132,577 
Amoy ... 8,.S.39,928 7,253,022 
Foociiow ... 4,414,770 4,969,051 
13,977,546 13,354,650 
EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO ODESSA. 
1899-1900. 1898-99. 
lb. lb. 
Shanghai and Hankow 25,.363,948 22,676,902 
EXPORT OF TEA FROM JAPAN TO UNITED STATES 
AND CANADA. 
1899-1900. 1898-99. 
lb. lb. 
Yokohama ... 20,558 065 19,156,167 
Kobe ... 11,782,517 11,235,261 
32,337,582 30,391,428 
—Hongkong Weekly Press, Oct. 21. 
NORTH MYSORE PLANTERS" ASSO- 
CIATION. 
A REDUCTION OF WAGES. 
At an extraordinary general meeting of the .A-ssoci- 
ation held at the Baleiionur Chibon Monday, the 
23rd inst., the following members were pre.sent : — 
Messrs. O Scott Skirving, president, F Cliffonl, 
H EJington, C Danvers, E Lund, D MacMiilan, 
H Morthey, C Wood, L Kingchnrch, HG Bonner, 
N Secon, L) AUardice and T J Parton, Hon. Secret- 
ary, proxies from Messrs. C Harvey, C H Brdwne, 
C P Reed and H Bidie. The proposal " That 
coolies pay be reduced to three annas and six pies 
to men, and two annas for women " was cariied. 
An amendment to the following effect, proposed 
by Mr. H Edin^ton and seconded by Mr. F Clifford, 
"That advances be abolished, that men be paid 
three annas and six pies, and women two annas 
and six pies, and that the conimission to niaistries 
should not exceed 10 per cent " was rejected. It 
