Mauhh 1, 1900.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 593 
bnb yoiu- Committee are glad to report that the 
Kelani Valley is fairly free from tliem. 
Mr. Kei.w.w ij.vMBER ; Government Mycologist, 
Sec. Your Coramittee await with eagerness Mr. Kel- 
way B.imber's Report on the cultivation and maou- 
factnre of tea. They are glad to note the appoint- 
ment oE Mr. Carrntbersas Government Mycologist in 
addition to the appointment of Mr. E B Greeu as 
Government Entomologist, and they hail with ap- 
proval this inauguration of an Agricnltural Depart- 
ment, which has been too long delayed. 
Coach Skrvighs. — Niiraerons complaints as to the 
state of the coaches, and the cruelty practised on the 
horses have again been received during the year. Th^ 
matter was brought to the notice of the Colonial 
Secretary, who has replied that complaints should be 
forwarded to the Government Agent "Western Province, 
who will take action thereon. Your Committee hope 
that members will act on this recommendation, and 
report all cases of crnelty that come under their notice. 
Obitu.^ey.— Your Committee regret to record the 
death in England of Mr. Chas. Ogilvie, a resident 
proprietary Planter of long standing in the district, 
and that of ilr. F Drumvnond, both late members of 
your Association. 
MATURATA AND HEWAHETA PLANTERS' 
ASSOCIATION. 
POTIfiTII ANNUAL llEPORT. 
Your Committee beg to submit the fourth annual 
report, 1899. 
Oppior Bearers. — Messrs. A C Kingsford, Chair- 
man ; R B Roberts, Hon. Secretary. 
CoMMiTTOE.— Messrs. Q PI Bennett,, HE Power, 
G F Deane, D H Williams, L St. G Carey, E Tur- 
ner, T N Oichard, and H V Bagot. 
Kandy Heprese-- tatives. — The Chairman and Hon. 
Secretary, Messrs. E. Turner and L St. G Casey. 
Meetings. — During tho year, three gen'^ral and 
four Committee meetings have been held. The roll 
of membership is 39. The balance in hand is 
R186-09 as compared with R53'39 in 1898. 
Tne tea crop was generally satisfactory, and in 
many instances estimates were exceeded. 
The estimates for 1900 show a slight increase- 
Total In Yield 
acreage bearing. Crop per 
in tea acre. 
lb. 
Maturata 0,733 r,,746 2,154,875 381 
Upper Hewaheta 4,14(5 3,580 1,053,000 401 
Lower flewaheta 6,756 6,207 2,317,350 373 
j;inADS.— The Grant-iii-aid Road from Padiapallella 
to EUamalle has been completeC'. 
Your Committee would again urge upon Govern- 
ment the desirability of continuing the cart road 
from Loolecondera to Rahatungoda, raoie especially 
in view of the increasing traffic thrown on the 
Hangurankette Road. Further they would urge on 
Government the necessity of improving the zigzigs 
between the 10th and 12th mile post on the Hanguran- 
kette Road. 
Bridle P.\ths.— The bridle paths have been kept 
in a fair rate of efficiency. Grants have been recr i - o l 
from the D R C, Nuwara Eliya, for RahatuD{^\..ui- 
Denika Road R70, Gonavy-Rahatungoda Road R230 
and considerable sums in the Maturata District. 
Your Committee regret that the amounts received 
from the D R C Kandy were quite inadequate, and 
in view o£ the amounts collected in Road Taxes from 
this part of the District, and number of natives 
using the roads, should ask for a more satisfactory 
vote for 1900. The Committee is glad to report that 
the bridle path from Upper liewabeta via Ramboda 
to Nuwara Eliya, asked for by your Association is now 
in course of construction, and will be of great conve- 
nience when opened. 
Hospitals. — Your Committee is now able to re- 
port that foundations for the Maturata hospital are 
being cut, and the Director of Public Works hopes to 
spend during the year the amount provided for ia 
this year's Supply Bill, viz R35,000. Your Com- 
mittee fail to understand the lengthy delay in com- 
mencing this work, considering that tins liospital was 
sanctioned, and a vote on account in the Supply Bill, 
R-2n,0CO was taken in November 1897. Your Com- 
mittee are of opinion that a smaller and less expen- 
sive building, cjnslructed with less delay, would have 
been of greater benefit. Mr. Roberts was nominated 
by your Association, visitor to the Deltotta hospital 
in November, 1898, but as yet the appoinment has 
not been confirmed by Government. 
Telegraph. — Your Committee have for some years 
past ur^ei the desirabdity of telegraphic extension 
to Deltota and Hewaheta, and regret that tho more 
receut offer to guarantee any loss on the working has 
met with little response. 
Cattle Br.\nding. — This matter, originally brought 
into prominence by your Association, has again had 
the full attention o£ the Parent Association and the 
public press, and your Comnjittee trust that the 
Ordinance will no longer be allowed to remain 
a dead letter, and that instructions will be issued to 
the police to take action which will minimise this 
cruelty. 
RiNDEUPESl'. — A serious outbreak in the early part 
of the year caused considerable difficulty in carting. 
We trust that future outbreaks will receive more 
prompt attention, 
Agricultural Chemist. — Loolecondera and Galaha, 
the selected est-ites, were visited twice by Mr. Bamber 
during the year, and we regret that we are unable 
to report more fully owing to the long delay in print- 
ing tlie report. 
Blight.— Your Coramittee are glad to report that 
l^ere has been no serious attack of Blight in the 
district. 
Paris Exhibition.— Exhibits of comm rcial tea, 
were kindly sent from Bramlev estate in Maturata. 
Cclumbia estate in Upper Hewaheta, and Great 
Valley in Lower Hewaheta. 
Laboup.. — Your Committee rt-gret that labour is 
generally insufficient, and they consider this is greatly 
due to the closure of the North Road, and consequent 
enhancement of the cost of bringing over coolies, and 
would therefore urge on Government that the funds 
usually devoted (approximately R100,000) to the up- 
keep and establishment of the Northern Route should, 
in the event of its being considered advisable to 
continue this course, be devoted towards subsidising 
the steamer service for immigrant labour. 
Labour League. — This has worked smoothly, and 
no complaints have been received. 
Railway Rates. — Your Committee feel that they 
cannot do better than repeat their paragraph in last 
annual report re railway rates, viz., " We regret that 
so far Government have not acceeded to the request to 
lower the rates on tea from the 4th to the 6th class; 
and would wish to draw the attention of His Excel- 
lency to the great difficulties and cost of transport 
both from Maturata and Hewaheta estates having 
in carry and cart their produce over difiicult roads, 
fi oni 25 to 35 miles, before reaching the railway, and, 
in addition to paying rates for cartage, contribute 
annually in tolls, grant-in-aid roads and priva'o 
roads R20,000 towards the annual upkeep of roads. 
All estates have used the railway from the time of 
its opening, and also contributed towards the export 
tax, which paid for one-third of the cost of construc- 
tion and should therefore now, in this tit-.e of depres- 
sion, lay claim to special consideration, more especially 
in view of the large profits obtained from the 
Colombo-Kandy section of the line for many years 
past." 
Plague. — Your Committee congratulate the Gov- 
ernment and the Planting Community on the 
immunity of the Island from Plague during the past 
year, and trust that Government will continue the 
present most necessary precautions, 
