464 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. i, 1900. 
company thought it better to borrow money from 
their agents than to force shares on an unwilling 
market. The agents are content to advance 
money in this way, provided that the cdnrpqip,y 
can give them the necessary security, and with 
that idea in view it vi'ill probably Ijc necessary to 
Create a second charge on the company's estates, 
wliich is to cover the capital outlay pending the 
issue of the reserved shares, and whicli will be 
cancelled as soon as that issue is made. As regards 
the cultivation of the estates, Mr. Stanley Koss 
will tell you what a high state of cultivation they 
are kept in, especially Lawrence and Venture, 
which are two of the leading estates in Ceylon. 
As regards the acreage of the estates, you will 
see by the report that 500 acres of tea and 140 
acres of cocoa are just coming into bearing, which 
will enable us to present a very much better 
teport to you ne.^ct year. The Wavipa estate is 
also planted with 21,000 rubber trees, and 
coconuts to a considerable extent, though it 
will be some time before we .si,iatl derive 
much profit from that source. Turning to tea 
generally, every one present is no doubt very 
familiar with the Ceylon tea statistics, bub 
1 think it as well to call attention to the satis- 
factory figures for the last ten months ending 
^October 31. The i.nports were 44.924,0001b., 
-against 42,094,000 lb. for 1898. 42.330,000 lb. for 
1897, and 39,088,000 lb. for 1816, and the deliveries 
43,638,000 lb,, against 40,865,000 lb. for 1898, 
42,635,000 lb. for 1897, and 39,562, 00 lb. for 1896. 
The average price of last week's sales was rather 
under 8d gross, against 8Jd for the previous week, 
and 8Jd for the corresponding week in 1898. I 
hare nothing more to say, but, with the assistance 
of Mr. Stanley Ross, I shall be very pleased to 
answer any questions any shareholder may wish to 
put, before putting the adoption of the report and 
accounts to the meeting. I now beg to move. 
" That the report of the directors and statement 
of accounts for the year ended June .30, 1899, now 
presented, be and are hereby approved and 
adopted.'' 
The motion was seconded by Mr. Gow. 
In reply to questions from one of the share- 
holders, Mr. Stanley Koss stated that there 
was no cinchona grown on the estates at all, 
it having been cut out before the company 
was formed. As regar((ed the coffee, that also 
had been abandoned on the only estate where it 
had ever been planted, viz , Venture. This resolu- 
tion was then put to the meeting and carried 
unanimously. 
The Chairman then proposed, " That a final 
dividend of 3 per cent (making 6 per cent for 
the year ended June 30tl), 1899) on the paid- 
up Preference share capital of the company be 
and is hereby declared payable on and after 
this date." 
This was seconded by Mr. W. Gow, and carried 
unanimously. 
Tiie next resolution was, "That a dividend of 
2 per cent on the paid-up ordinary share capital 
of the company for the year ended June 30th 
• be and is hereby declared payable on and after 
this date.'' 
This was propo.sed by the Chairm > , seconded 
by Mr, Gow, and carried un.Tnimously. 
On the proposal of Mr. W Gow, seconded by Mr. 
Stanlky Ro.SS, the retiring director, Sir Alfred 
Dent, K.C.M.G., was •^nianimon ly re-elected, 
Mr. LowK proposed, and Mr. Han^-SEN .seconded 
the le-eleetion of the auditors. MessiK. Singleton, 
Fabin & Co. 
The motion was carried uanimously. 
^ Mr Lowe propo.^ed a vote of thanks to the 
Chairman, who in responding, said that he felt 
sure that thty all j'.in with him in giving a 
hearty vote of thanks to the manager, Mr. 
Stanley iio.ss and the sttff in Ceylon. 
Mr. Stanley Ross briefly returned thanks, and 
said that with 500 acres of tea and over 140 
acres of cocoa coming into bearing, he had n« 
doubt that they would be able to pay a much 
larger dividend next year. 
I'his terminated the proceeding.?.—//, and C. 
Mail, Dec. 1. 
A TRIP ON THE HAWKESBURY. 
Sydney, Nov. 25. 
One of the most enjoyable day excunsions one 
can make from Sydney is a trip on the Hawkesbury 
River, a stream noted for its beauty, which An- 
thony Trollo])e declared 
EXCELS that of THE RHIN AND MISSISSIPPI, 
and one day last week I went this trip. My view 
in visiting Richmond was with the object of 
inspecting the 
HAWKFSBURY AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, 
an institution founded by the Government for 
the. training of tho-e who are to till the .soil. As 
this institution is one of the best, soutli of the 
line, if not in the world, a few words res|>ect- 
ing it may be of interest. There, over a liuu- 
ared students, some from other parts of the 
world, including a Jap, while one of the smartest 
in the College at present is a Frenchman from 
Noumea. Boarders are charged 10s a week, the 
inclusive charge for board and instruction being 
£25 a year, part of the agreement being that 
they help in the work of the farm three days 
a week. Those who live in the district pay £2 
a year, with £5 for daily lunch. Each student is 
provided with a bed-room and takes his meals 
in the large dining hall. There is a fine gym- 
nasium ; and cricket, football and other games 
are indulged in: electric light is laid on and there 
are a laboratory and a lecture hall. Tlie insti 
tntion is under the charge of Mr. Valder, the 
l)rincipal, assisted by several piasters ; while each 
section on the large experimental farm is under 
the control of a practical man, not necessarily 
with scientific knowledge, who is assi-ted by 
the students who are first of all taught in tbeclats- 
room and then are sent out into the field to 
gain practical knowledge. When I arrived at 
the College I found that Mr. Campbell, an 
agricultural inspector, was coming from Sydney 
with 40 or 50 boys, the agricultural class at the 
model school, the best public school in Sydney, 
and so I waited to go round with them. Soon 
after their arrival all sat down to a sub.stantial 
lunch, all of which, with the exception of tea 
(whicb, in Australia, is brought on at every meal), 
was produced on the farm. Afterwards the prin- 
cipal took us round, first of all showing us the 
horses, and the various machinery, and the most 
up-to-date methods being taught the students. 
VVe saw the sheep, which were being herded, 
the poultry, bees.ano then from.lhere to the dairy, 
where each visitor was regaled with a glass of 
delicious milk. Here butter and cheese are made. 
The cows were a very nice lot of animals, while 
the pigs looked in good condition. It should be 
mentioned that the animals, &c., reared in t 
farm, are many of them sent to the mark 
aiid are sold as fast as they can be secure 
