tcngltodiuol aiul ciou ucUoua prepared for b dictsncA of 
g| mile*, from Nana Oja to Nowuw Kllya, which is atom i>ne- 
[binl of ILu lornl leoglb from NiiQU Ovti to Udn pDHellawa. 
Railway Rates. 
The (inestinn of ii K.diiplloii of Rnllway Rates on Tea 
la silll iiitt>''i< i^an Ui i><- r-t'iife bt; Kild to bo eedled 
dJlw'h'Ti'^.' ■ llM" \ ..ir'.' romurked llml (hit raltef 
iliut wiiiilil 1 ■ iiii.-i k'l uir ilK iici'iilKil would naturally be 
oWli A« .1 ..i.^d-r..! l:,.-t, l,..^s..VL.^, the reverse procedure 
ivnV a^lop.ud i. U... c ^.. far graiK-d, hot as ILe 
G.Vernor ul«o ul.~..rv,.:| ,1,.. 1„. nu, wish to «h»l th. 
door.Jl behovw v..ur A^-od.Ho„ yoar Cumin.rl.v, Ihinka 1 , 
and ilios.. cli.1 
Nanalaplllra o 
Do. do. 
Ing ibo Esfimaitd Iobs of Ro( 
Tea from 4ih lo 6th 
r ci'til in iho difTprenco 
lilv above Nawnlapiliyji, 
tbo Main Lino below 
bejend NiinaojTi oldy from 
rico'^fo" ■ 
s(h)... 67,691 
do. 3rd to 5ih class (b) 87,565 
Do. do. 3rd lo 6th class (c)l29,094 
ctioD of the rale on rico from 3rd to ith 
]o, do. -Ith to hth clasa 113,215 
10 calculations nro boaod on the actual traffic c;ou- 
• tthe Ralhvay in 1897). 
I I I I 1 > Ml 
OBYLl 
; QOVERKU 
I the 
A growing feeling of discontent i_ 
short delivery of goods on the Coylon GoTerDmenl Ridlway, 
more parlicnlarly as reganla Rice, !«! lo tho matter being 
bronghl before your Commitlee. A Snb-CominilUe w-a.a ap- 
poinled to investigate the matter, and voluminons atatielies were 
collecteit from Eaiato Agency Firois in Colombo Bhowiiig that 
Rice wasnlnioat invariably deliveredshort. The papers showed 
th.it as much oa 3^ per cent ot shortage is a fairly common 
average in the case of Rice. Aa Ihe correspondence chitfly 
dealt with abortoges of Rice, the Sob-^ommiltee confiii^ed 
the Sub'-Commillee''hiilf IS '^oi^tMcf with^'wusYhal o1'lfiul\ng 
ont where exndly the alleged leakage took place, and before 
draftimr the Hoport (o your Commitlee, an invitaliou was sent 
to the General Manager of the Government Railway lo meet 
the Sub-Committee in Kiiiidy and to discuss the whole qiiealion 
in semi- private conference. Jt is matter for regret that this 
invitation was not availed of. The Sub-Committee thereafter 
drew up a short report which wassahmilted to yonr Committee, 
and after adoption forwarded to Governmenl, to the Chamber 
of Commerce, and to the General JIanaper of the Railway. The 
Report briefly defined Ihe silnation and recommended certain 
alterations of the Rnles »nd Regulations of Ihe Railway which 
would tend to give greater security lo the ConRignee. The 
crux of the whole qneation at present is, that the Railway 
refuses lo recognize ila own weights as a basis for claim. This 
appears to yonr Committee B moat undignified attitude for a 
Government Railway making enormous profits lo suggest, and 
IB alae quite indefensible legally. The email pecnniary value 
of each particnlar shori delivery in comparigon with tbts waste 
of time and money involved in fighting a Government Depart- 
ment has no doabt deterred individuals or Firms from taking 
a test case, and has oncouraged the Railway authorities io their 
II ncom pro raising altitude. The margin of'sSlba.per ton under 
wliich amount the Railway will not recognize any claim for 
freight over-charges, seems lo your Commitlee to consiitute a 
direct incentivo to petty larceny. Incidentally the Sub-Com- 
;enld i 
t fai 
gnejai 
nipres 
dbyo 
B connected with Railway ttanaport a. 
leakage of wagons, careless woighment of Tea, 
~ "ri-ighing machines at Stations, etc., etc. In fact, your 
ot opinion (hat the time has arrived for a search- 
jng enquiry into Ihe present managemenl of the Railway. 
Military Contriudtion to the Imperial Trbasuet. 
the paragraph in the Annual Report 
_ Febrnary, 1899, yonr Committee 
: adviKablo lo place on record tor information and 
guidance the foUowinff etalomeni by the Tar Offico officially 
pre.sentej 
■ed from Downing Sire 
it of tl 
o the 1( 
1 Gove 
its. 
Rb. 
Ra. 
AxsUAL Cost i 
CEYLON, 
f THE OARRIEOK, BXCLVDIKG f 
BulLDUiGB, 
Vote 1. Pay, 4c., of ihe 
Army (excluding De- 
ferred I'ay InBued in the 
United Kingdom) 
Deferred Pay issued at 
Votes Medical Services 
Tote 6 Transport, land 
Voic7*pJoviBlonB4c 
Vot« 8 Clothing 
Voi« 9 OrJliiBUiM WugM, 
Afl, Anna, Aoooutrif 
rnvnta, Ammunition, 
Itnrrnck Slorussnd 
17,921 
22,686 
6,657 
12.670 12,825 13,489 
2S,S70 27,656 36,39j 
S,tl26 6,112 6,783 
Votell RoglmoDlal 
Scboole. Librariea, Ac 278 300 
Volo 12 MlBcellaneouB ... — 23 
Home Charges for Dfi- 
poio, &o 11^ 11,320 11,3W 
Pension*, normal obargn 19.310 19,.110 19,:tl0 
Tolal i:l(>i,irii m,\ri-z i6iifi6b 190^591 
12,000 
a Not included for 189f. messing allowance £ 
boon Isanud locally, and included under vote 7. 
. !> In 1898 there were special charges for new 
uboui £15,811. 
Pnoi-osEb Grant 
1,918 having 
presslon of^regrot 
5 quea 
isidcrublL- i 
of policy and e _ 
in tko proposiil whlch'unJ 
act lhal yont- Aa.oeialio,, wae invited to move in tho 
^av,. r.a^on.ble hope tbat no Gasco would be allowed 
In last years Report It waa stated; Your Committee 
i-.inK whetliur Government approval has followed, and 
ih... prupostd grant of Re. 120 per annum will be 
ULionnred, bi.t trusts thsi bo much trouble having been 
the matlor effect will be given lo the recommendation 
fa?er in'tho yl"Hn''^f~""« «??eht 
milieu was informed 
pusal, on receipt of the letter from 
the communication from Oovernmeni on the subject, and that 
the Liouioniinl-Uovernor was unable to go boyond tho original 
suggeaiLOn, in the absence of any fresh faeia. When it is 
remembered that ton years ago the then Major-Generul Com- 
manding approached the Association on tho subject ot a 
PlHulers' Volunteer Corps, ami that recognizing tho importance 
ot. such a proposed orgiinixallon the Committoe did all in ila 
power to make the movement known through the various 
District Associations, it would have beonn graceful and gnili- 
fyiiig aokiiowledgmunt had Qorernmeul readily accepted " 
considered recommendation forwarded by the Asaooiution 
the favourable approval of Uls Excellency the Governor, i 
grunted the desired ooncesaion of Its. 120 a year towards 
upkeep oE a horse lo each man of the Mounted Infantry \ 
attended Camp, made ITimsolf efHcient, and at same time ow: 
a suitable horse not less than il banda in height. 
Tbb Cevlos Coxtikgent of Modntbd Ixfantry 1 
South Africa. 
Though not all Memberaof your Association, your Ci 
Exprcasfd in Rupees ...I,5jO,-199 1,611,943 1,763,066 1,684,934 
Sterling value uf Rupee 
during ejch financial 
year li. lid. U IJd. Is. Z\d l3 Hiti. 
Tho War Offleo slate thai it will he observed lhat. while 
the groMh of iho Ceylon Revenue has, on the percenlage 
83-alom. ciused (he cimlribuiion to increaae annually, iho 
oxpeiiHB uf the Garrison has also increased, with Ihe result 
that the «intribuli.,ii still falls shorl of the maximum fixed by 
the Ordinance, viz., three-qnariers of the cost of the Garrison. 
The incTCtise in expenditure is due lo tour principal 
causes :-(!) The gradual rise in the sterling value of the 
rupee from la. l^rf. lo la. id; (2) an increase of the Garrison 
by fleveniy-fonr men ; (3) special charges for n(!w armamonis ; 
(4) the ^rant of messing allowance to European soldiers 
in 1898. The War Offleo add that there will be no objection to 
fnmiehiiig the Secretary of Slate for the Colonies with an 
annual slaiemeni of the military expenditure, and steps will 
be taken to supply it in November or December of each year, 
ihnt'being the lime when the Army Appropriation Account is 
compiled and the information can be completed, It iseatimatcd 
that the opendiluro for 1899 will be about the same aa for 
1IS3S. ami that the conlrlbuilou will be £122,035. 
Coylon Garrison as defined by 
for the years 1895 to 1898. 
1896. 1897. 1S98. 
1895. 
£ - _ _ 
Cost of (rarrison, omlt- 
ling tliargea for new 
works 161,164 160,032 168,665 196,591 
Three-quarters of above 
amoni.19 120,873 120,024 126,499 147,443 
Military Contribolion 
paid by the Colony for 
eachj'.'jT:— 
Expresatd in Sterling ... 85,048 90,269 105,323 119,020 
s the r 
's of I 
Mounted Infantry for South *tricxi 
pluck, gallantry, and devolioi l>> I 
Throne, which the sjieody BoiiBfiioK 
tingent oshiblls. Yonr GomililKoe 
- mnnity B^nomlly will follow the 1 
a of e 
1 Mer 
and euthusiastio Huml-ofI that have bteu so cordially bes 
on the "Absent-minded beggirs" fron Ceylon's most fav 
Bistricte. The full list Inclerting Ihe suit is as follows 
SrAPf. 
Capl. Ruilmrfoni | Sergt. Major Money 
Cnpt. Anderson 
Cnpl. W L Murray-Menisloa 
Lieut A H Thomas 
Lieut H Coteaworth 
Lieut G M Wigram 
C Murland 
E H L Thomas 
T Dickson 
J H Thomas 
P Slurdee 
G C S Hodgson 
H C D A Hurtwoll 
0 Shelley 
Y Thome 
H C Wallace 
G F Farquharson 
F de Lanoy Williams 
H C Graham 
H V Hill 
G L 0 Armiiage 
Lewis A Wright 
U F Mason 
H S Brettell 
A H Bury 
W M Ed ley 
T Harward 
Claude C Bell 
R W Brailhwaite 
G B Williamson 
WATunstall 
S K Wickwnr 
J B LiniiKiy 
W Murray 
R G Mnsaey 
A P Bell 
WAT Kellow 
W J R Hamilton 
C McLennan 
Roy G Anderson 
Stanley Sinclair 
W N Robertson 
A Dickson 
C Maxwell 
R W Graham 
H He.illi 
Geo. McLaren 
W T Hodgson 
G H Baird 
A S Hopper 
J W B Paul 
Trailord Lewes 
Thoir 
s Lew 
W Ferguson 
C S Northcoto - 
E S Stephens 
T Y Wright 
C Hammond 
D Gow 
A H Parker 
J H Barker 
A dementi- Smith 
J C Marsh 
F E Saville 
J P Hortin 
H St. George Carey 
W F G Campbell 
C A Ferguson 
H Alridge 
N W Smellie 
F D Green 
G B B Brown 
J F Marshall 
W R Keating 
Henry Gordon 
M J Paine 
J E B Horsfall 
A J Kinlock Paul 
Prealon White 
A de C Caraon 
C E Shnttleworth 
C Campion 
W B Mortimer 
J B Sidgewick 
W Noble 
J F Halliday 
W S D Oldman 
N S Mansergh 
C E Clarke 
Alex. Tait 
E L Humfrey 
H F BroweR 
H J G Marley 
M J Alderson 
V H Seeker 
A Q Craighead 
Harold Tebb 
Drummond Hay 
J Ironside 
L Dawson Campbell 
R B Wilson 
F C Peek 
Alex. L Baines 
A C Corbtiia 
E G Anstrnlher 
E Massey 
S H Hayes 
W M Kelly 
A A Fninklin 
H A Bell 
M norrie 
R Agar 
A J Maudsley 
L E Pate 
J Becke 
Preston Plum ridge 
W A Tyller 
R H Henning 
LW Graham Clarke 
C Garlow 
C Dweltso I liiimasamy 
C Clarke I Kuwadar Bey 
TRANSVAAL War Funu fob the Relief of ™b Widows 
AND Orphans op Soldibrs op the (JUBEn 
Killed in South Africa. 
A circular letter was forwarded to the Honorary 
Secretaries of all District Associaliona. and others, invllmg their 
good oiBeca In bringing the subscription lists, which accom- 
panieJ, to Ihe notice of members and others on behalf of the 
Transvaal War Fund for the relief of widows and orphans of 
soldiers of the Queen killed in Soolh Africa. As duphcate 
lists appear also lo have been eirculaied.lhrongh other channels 
it is not poaaiblo to state what the contribution to the Central 
from Iho Planting Community aggregated. 
o tho 
Labocr Supply. 
Appended herein are abslracli 
showing the arrival and departnre o 
and 1899, reapoctively. 
a of m 
Jannorj 
February 
March 
Juno 
July 
August 
September 
October 
November 
December 
January 
February 
Jnly 
Angasl 
September 
October 
November 
December 
Jan nary 
February 
April 
May 
A^lst 
September 
October 
4,319 4,349 4,ltl8 4,913 
5,fil7 
23,735 
16,819 
14,580 
15,296 
6,805 
5,586 
9,532 
13,643 
18,785 I 
20,808 , 
14,228 
10,691 
13,846 
8.712 
3.236 
4,981 
5,079 
6,648 
7,C0G 
8,044 
4,808 
10.57* 
3,479 
3,960 
5,2T3 
9,476 
27,124 
19,201 
12,517 
5,587 
8,498 
6,713 
8,072 
7,313 
8,077 
ll,59o 
16,932 
6,409 
8,164 
7,326 
5,892 
U,509 
18.088 
28,938 
55,913 
76,938 
96,487 
111,067 
126,393 
133,290 
144,108 
153,075 
6,805 
12,391 
21,923 
35,566 
54,361 
75,199 
89.387 
100,078 
113,924 
3,313 
6,449 
: 1,433 
i6,5i2 
23,i6S 
30.766 
38,370 
41,203 
44,967 
53,0ii 
57,8 19 
68,393 
■Vew policy" vraa definitely 
of Stall' and communicated lo 
-ji daiedrilsi July. 1899. 
smaller Iowm and large baiaora, bnl 
la paid lo the burial of th 
necessary. io bring ihe Or.ll 
Tl'" ''T ,r.ol'Xred a. "a General Meeling of yonr 
lliis ,i.,--p.iKii , D«-Ji-mbcr 1.S39, and the reso- 
AB5Wi.iiwn l>*--i' "-'''.j^^^^^^ ,^^^1^^ rtoordotihe proceedings 
gauge MStimaled I 
;ay fro 
ndilare of 
r' to'lK' rdeed by loan and half 
uf luist and future y-'ars. The 
I tlie Noribern Railway from 
■,ui;e*iTiiur^i on (he light broad 
L106U0O0. The Keluni Valley 
d Yaiiyantota en 
I (si 
■eased to Rs. 
12,713 
22,188 
39,313 
58.513 
71,030 
78,617 
87,115 
D'tnrea 
7,745 
15,822 
27.418 
44,350 
52,733 
63,333 
70,643 
77,419 
83,807 
90,217 
96,380 
1 05,706 
7,185 
14.862 
22,544 
29,547 
38,207 
44,682 
50,276 
58.661 
64,697 
[hL- abi 
Huihvay from Nanooya [i 
3.672,575 'Jtl) and the 0 
Itugula i/jaNeweraEli 
Ra. 1,181,000. In a.l. 
inctndea the expendilery of a sum of ■'i;i"'''^"",'",y'ri '„*? 
Million ruuees on irrik.MiioLi, to be spread over a P'^'OU ol 
niay he laken from^ ?L',^„""^\'."'-^i!.°".X'!!"i,,,7^^ "^^^ lo tho 
" ' itl'^tSir 
irrigation 
e No. 6 of 18J2. The surplus revenuesacci 
end of December, 1899, are expected to amount to i 
Million rupees, and adding the lis. 200.000 ot ihe 
fund tor eight yeor^aod the Uilance oftli?-.'^"""-'""'',^";!'"'!'^ 
ed which amounts to about He. 280.000 there would remain 
to be provided a aum of about Rs. 2.400,000, ef"';"" ■ 
400,000 per annum for six years. The whole ^J';%99 _n.l 
before tL Ugislalive Council on the lai"" December ™ 
was nnanimously approved of, ihough the ''^^"^ 
Planting MBiubers endc! " " * - """^ 
he Legislative Council to 
_ . .i.„.,i,l ho Drovided. 
nofUcial 
■or IStlOon Public 
,Oll.200,afnrlber in- 
urs and the estimates 
Ra 2,335,213, which 
indicate how the funds fc 
In this, however, they were not support 
members. Tho eslimatts of expendit 
Works annually recurrent amount lo K 
crease on the amounts voted in previoui 
for Public Works extraordinary lot^d 
amount was somewhat reduced by omisi 
for new Public Works Department Offices 
of the Colombo Musunin, aa wellas sover.d olhi 
oulaiaiiouB. It la noticeable that although seveiMi"" " iv..«.<. 
have been applied for on tho grant-in-aid principle tliuy have 
nearly all had to be set aside owing lo Iho very high cost of llio 
work as estimated, which made it impossible for propiietors to 
accept the roadson those terms. Your Commitlee is ot opinion 
that it should bo optional for those interested to apply fur a first, 
second, or third class road according lo the requireiuenia of the 
Dialrict, instead ot being forced to accept any road that may be 
recommoiided by the Director ot Public Works. IE Uovern- 
munt insist upon making first class roads when che-iper roads 
would be suQicienl, they ahoold bear tho whole of the increased 
coal. At tho request of the Mercantile and Planling Membe" 
uildingsat 
o the 1 
it of Public Worke 
1 Po 
Lt99 of Estal 
ery : 
for 
iupplie 
proper attention 
of the dead on estates it will not be 
force in the planting 
Crime ix Cetlo.v, 
1 this grave subject was passed at a 
atud 
Mem 
Lv^LvvrrT"' ?° i^'^niifi' Of making such 
tt^^ .1, t '.'""'''"''8 ^'^'^ customary method of 
n h ^i*""' "^r "^'^^ Ordinance further prnvl.lea 
i^tUrConn^ -^^ '"id before the LegiB. 
lati 70 Conned, when it if, open to any member to movo a 
reso u ion disapproving of them, and if such resolution ba 
carried the by-laws will be disallowed. This Ordinance con- 
solidates the law relating lo General Cemoleriee and Bniiul 
OroniidB and wUl bo of value in largo towns and Municipilitks, 
it mj even Bo advauuigwaB lo bring it into lores m 
His Excellency the Govs 
lo^lh' 
n'rivals. The question is a serious one, wiih possible grave 
naults both to the Planting enterprise, to the Railway, and to 
tie General lievenne. 
xubpisg out the plague: govehnsibnt proposals to 
Protect Tasiil Cooliss. 
In May last your Conimitteo forwarded the following 
Report to Govornment: " Your Commlvlee having conferred 
with the Princi|ial Civil Medical Oflicer and Inspector-aeneral 
ot Hospitals OS instructed on the subject of the following 
rffiolution— ' that, in drawing the atlenlion ot Government lo 
Hb list of drugs and disinfeclanta stated as neceeary by the 
Principal Civil Medical Officer for the requiremenls ot each 
eftaio in the event of Plague, the Committee wonU urge that 
Boffioient quanlilies be indented for, and kept in '^-uk at the 
district dispensBries and hoapiiala for Ihtir use and for 
the USB of estates, as the Committee iindi-rslaiids, from com- 
et?, that (bodispenei 
being by a 
in CVyton, 
I differ 
world. 
eiit. The deplorable slate of 
:uutited fur was certainly <,voree 
'the'°timo"has'nor '""^-^ ''"l"--'"^- ' 
.uo iimo uda 1101 come to appoint a Commission of Enquiri" 
for the purpose ot con.i.l«rrug means whereby crim"s of • 
violence may be moro «„r.ly prevented is, your CommiUee 
icuis, matter lor consiJyraUun again. It will be remembered 
that in his address m opening ihe LegiHialivo Council in 1886 
His E«cel eucy the Iheti Governor remarked " I have been 
painfully impressed with the great prevalence of crimes of " 
violence, ond ihe comparaiive immunity with which they ar« 
commitleU. in I&83. and the first six months of ISSii one ■ 
hundred and two distinct trials for mnrder, iu some of which 
several pensona were accused, took place In Ceylon In only 
nineteen cases were capital convictions obtained. In addition 
to tUtae cases Iwenty-nino murders were committed and re- 
ported by Iho police, tor which no one haa been even brmight 
to trial ; and lorgo as this number would ba if viewed rela- 
tively to tho whole population, it must bo remembered ihiit 
with Iho exception ot one or two, Ihe whole of tho murders 
have been committed by Sinhalese, .ind that ihe percenlage 
of munlorej-e mual be taken from a population, not of nearly 
3,000,000. but of less than 2,000,000. I offer no theory lo 
explain these facia, but they are facts which call for vary 
serious consideration." To Iheao stulementa the Legislative 
Council replied :— "The Council share the deep concern felt Ify ■ 
your Excelloneyai the pro volenceofcrlmeeoC violence in Oejlon, 
and desire to express the earnest hope thai some means may 
be devised for tho belter prevention, detection, and punishment 
of such crimes." Again, His Excellency, in opening tho 
Legislative Council next Session, said—" When addressing yon ' 
hial year at the opening ot Iho Session, I called your altenlioit 
to ibo prevalence ot iinpnniahed, or inadequately punished, 
crime. I r-^gret that I cannut perceive any Improvement In ■ 
this respect during the last twelve nionlba. Crimeaof violence ■' 
contihue lo abound, and thefi from dwelling houses haa becuirio : 
so common an ofFenco oven in the capital as to create a Renerol " 
feeling of insecurity. My aiiention has been verv serioasly 
given to-this moat unsalisfuclory condition of aUrtirs' the causes 
of which are, I fear, complex, deep-seated, and ot long dura- 
eniblodis . . _. 
of labour tor the now schemes of Klilway com,tiuclion. Therl 
ic, your Committee Itnde, a widespread feeling of apprehension 
aiuong the Planting Community that the prospect of compara- 
tively higher wages might induce coolies to leave Estates for 
t^ese works. It is also considered that likely sub-Contraclora, 
eipeoially in Planting Districts, might be tempted to olFer high 
tiSvnnces for Estate labour, which would tend to a geneiBl up- 
s iliiig of tho labour force nil over the Island, and to mililaling 
t^ainat the work of the Labour Federation of Ceylon. This 
(Tganization haa already been instrumenlal in greatly redncing 
aiuormally highadvances, which, increasing by leaps and bounds 
dirlng the past tow years, bad reached dimensions that Ihreat- 
o\ed tho slabilily ot tho Planting industry. A aub-CommiUeo 
aipointed recently to consider iho qnestion of Labour, drew op 
a meniorondum which was adopted by yonr Committee and 
fjrwarded lo Governmenl. The memorandum sngge-sled that 
Oovernment should appoint a Labour Bureau, or Committee, 
>jhich should include at least one member o£ the Planters' 
Association, and that Government should attempt lo secure tho 
cb-operalion of the Madras Government in recruiting Labour 
&cm Dislricls in India, other than those which at present 
mpply tho bulk of your Estate labour. Thememoraadumolso 
l.<inted out tho danger to the health of Tamil coolies empluved 
a earth works in the low country, and suggesled the empl'oy- 
iient of iQcal Sinhalese, as far as possible, aa sach labourera 
flB more inured to utlacka of Malaria. Your Gotnmiltee la 
filly aware of tho extreme im|iorlauco'of pressing Government 
totake steps as soon na possible to provide labour for Iho new 
Riilways and other Public Works which will necssilate the 
enployment ot large forces of local or imported labour. This 
' lo than ever, as ihe depurtures during 
I from the Island have exceeded the 
necessary by tho i'ridti'iial Ci.u ^{)!ait•al OIBour and Inspector 
General of Hospitals for Un; requTr^mruls of onch tBluie, will 
bo available in ample quanlilies at ihe district dispensaries and 
hospitals. With reference to the suppliea of ordinary medi- 
cines at Government Dispensarleaand hospitals, your Committee 
wore informed by the Principal Civil Medical Officer that a 
Commiiteo is now Investigaling the queaiion of the supply and 
distribution ot medical stores. Your Committee accordingly 
tccommond that Ihe Pl.mters' Aaaocialion shonilr-appiy lo 
QovernmoQl for a copy of this report, which it ia anderatood 
will bo ready on an early date, and enable tho Plnnlers' 
Association to tuka further action if necessary. Your 
Uommittee learn with saiisfaction (hat in thg event ot 
Plague breaking out oii an estate, tho Principal Civil Medical 
DCTicer'a Department will lake charge of the cnse and will 
provide attendaiila. Your Committee further undBrstand that 
for tho purpose of watchmen, the police have already been 
aupplomented by enrolling their pensioners for speciiil Plague 
duty. Tho matter is doubtless receiving consideralion, but so 
fir your Commitlee haa not been favoured with the desired 
copy ot tho repoit of Iho Principal Civil medical OlDcer referred 
to on Iho question of the supply and distribution of mcilical 
Ragaua Camp. 
Last year yonr Committee was able lo report that four 
aeparate camps had been constructed. Tothcsoallfthbaa been 
added and the camp is now cousidercd to be complete. Each 
of tho five separate camps consists of four or five afaedsand are 
capable of accomodating about 500 coolies. There is aUo an 
Observation Shed for each camp, where SDSpicious cases of 
intectioua disease can bo istdated and walched. A good water 
supply ia provided, also bathing and lalrine arraDgemenle and 
kitchens. There is one Infectious Diseaae Hospital for the 
wbolo of the camps. This is tally equipped, and there is a 
resident Medical Officer and Assistant. There are two incin- 
eratora tor tho five campa tor tho destruction of excremeiilal 
mattor and refuae. There ia also a Threalis Steam Disinfecting 
Apparatus for the whole of tho Camps, and cauldrons at each 
Camp for the boiling of infected clothing. One, and if posai- 
blo two, Campa will always be kept empty lo allow for an 
ootbreak of plague. In order toaocpmplish thia the arrivala 
of several consecutive days will be placed in one Camp, tlioso 
of tho next tew days in another, and those of a third period 
in the third Cump. By the time tho third Cam]) ia full tho 
immigrants iu the first Camp will have passed a full ten daya 
period of quarantine from tho lime they left their laat place of 
infection, and lhat Camp will bo ready to receive fresh arrivals, 
and so on in rotation. It la claimed that the institution of the 
ono ronlo of immigration via Colombo, combined with the 
Rogama Camp which haa made it possible lo close the North 
Road without loo seriously affecting the infiux of labour, has 
-had a moat beneficial efftct in preventing disease ot all kinds 
from attacking tho immigrant cooly. Small-pox has been 
rather mora prevalent than it Bhonld have been, but a new 
Byatem haa now been introdnced ot icspection at the break- 
water which is likely to prevent Ihia in future. The affecled 
cooliea are generally found to ho unvaccinated. This haa cauaed 
tho Principal Civil Medical. OIDcorto considero plan by which 
theimigranlamayho vaccinated immediately on arrival, and 
It is understood that Ihis plan has been accepted by Government 
and will be carried out. It is matter for congralulition that 
the precautions adopted by the Plsgue Committee have been 
BO far succeMful in preventing the outbreak of plague in the 
Island, and these precautions continue to be strictly enforced. 
Cemeteries Ordinance. 
„nH.!r H,« ^i^?'^'' ""^ i"""; P^^=*^ Legislative Council 
under the provisions of which the Government have power lo 
Z^ifi!:f;Z« ."v," '<8i"'^"''on of burial grounds within 
rl^i^^lt^Sf . fif''^"'' Specially including tho 
Ke in to w h'- ''"fi^'^'l. 'h'' ordinance will 
not be in force within those districts. During Ihe debale 
this Orilinanco Iho Governor, -* .i.- 
rappK 
The evi 
To 
e Com 
tue in doing so I desir 
11 of Enquiry ; but it j; 
find men competent 
n of 
dllEculty to hod men competent (o nnderlako such a 
duty, who have at the same lime leisure to devote to it tho 
.'",".,0'^ "''motion which lis efficient discharge requires. 
In I8afa,imd the first six months of 1887, one hundred and 
forty perjona were tried for mnrder, of whom 29 were sen- 
tenced to death. During the last three moniha there have 
boon no fewer than 28 separ.ito trials for murder, in which 43 
persons were accused, of whom 9 were capitally couvicled." 
Keplyiiigtolhesu obaervjiions, ihe Council remarked— -'Vour 
Excellency's intention lo appoint a Commi.^siou of Enquiry 
for tho purpose of considering means whereby crimes of 
violence and thefts from dwelling-houses may bo more siirely 
prevented and puniahed meold with the cordial approval of iLo 
Council i and, while fully reallEing the difficulliea menriuiied 
by rour Excellency, they yet hope lhat it may he po3.rhle to 
find among the several communities of the Island g<.uil.'«'«" 
with special fitness and qualiflcailous, wllliu" Bud able " 
upon Iho Com.-' ■ ■■ = - ■ > --"i 
quota 
I ot I 
by yoi 
icting I 
Com 
and I 
■ '""timo 
I they 
;d District Road Committees. 
In your Committea'a Beporl for the year ending I7th 
February, 1892, 
given lo the proi 
Committees, and 
"Consideration has acaln been, 
ot the Provincial and Dlslrict Road 
Iter for regret that ao far effect haa 
representations, though Government 
j of t 
ax-payers safe- 
l the Ordinances enforcing 
1 of Ceylon 
the etiicient and economical working 
01 mo laws on luo subject. With a view to that cordial 
co-openition that Is alike esseullal and advisable, your Com- 
miiteo would again urge Government to take the neceasury 
slupa iu tho matter without delay," It is sulisfactocy lo roEorl, 
that your Committee feels 
,t after 
ado a re, 
e lai 
3 of y 
boini 
wial Uoad Committee, Control PjovIuco, and 
the District Uoad Commillee, K;indy, would bo forwarded lo 
the newspapers for publication. There can be no doubt lhat 
this is a step in the right direction, because those interested 
Instead of being kept In the dark have at all events now an 
opportunity ot perusing the proceedings and of noting iho " 
proBrusf) of buBineos in which they may be inieresied. Your- 
Commiltee avails of the opportunity to slrougly recommend 
every attention being given to tho rcquirementa of the law in' 
relation to Local Commillees, aa their acta and decisions as 
well as their obaervaiions in regard to District roads and their 
requiremenis are of much value and iisslsiance to the Provin- 
cial and District Road Commlltees. 
EXCUAKGE AND THE CURIlUXCy QUKSTION. 
In last year's Report il was remarked that it wasimpoaslblo 
lo foretell tho ultimate reault ot the dellberallona of Lord 
George Hamlllon'a Currency CommHiee,-but your Committee 
is no longer in tho dark, and has to record (he following 
summary of the report to Parliament of the Indian Currency 
Committee.— "Tho Indian Currency Commitlee hiia mado its 
report and roooinmeiid a gold st.indiird with the soveieign as 
legal tender and fising the rupco at sixteou-pencu Tho 
Currency report is divided into eight seclions, Tho first 
aoclion recbunta the hialory of iho Monelary System of India, 
Seolion two dlacusses the silver standard anil says Ihe re-open- 
ing ot Ihe Minis would bo so fully and immediately diBcoonlcd 
aa to defeat tho object of such a course. Discussing tho fenra 
— " 1 Indian Tea Industry being thre - ~- 
lUg 01 
<t the 
Tho third soctii 
It is impossible 
It might provu 1 
ududtry would bo promoted if it was worked 
inder the same standard o£ value as lhat of tho countries to 
wbich they export iheir produce. The report concurs in tho 
' ot to revert to the silver standard. 
in favour of a gold standord and saya 
n the alatus gno permanently, though 
_ . . - -0 create a margin ot gold sufficient to 
India over adverse years It advises that atepa be taken 
lo avoid all possibility of doubt aa to Iho determination not lo 
revert lo the stiver standard, and to proceed with measures 
for Ihe effHclive ostobliahment of :i gold standard. The 
fourth aaclion saya tho Commltleo ia unablo to commend the 
propo8:ila of the Indian Government as embodied In its despatch 
Of 3rd March, 1893. Tho fifth section deals wiih the scheme 
for establishing a gold stiiudard without a gold currency 
Tho Comuiiltee considers that the nailvo habit of hoardlog 
gold does not justify the permanent refusal to allow India a 
gold currency and favours making tho British sovereign a legal 
tender. As to Iho current coin, it considers that the Indian, 
Mints should coin gold unrestrictedly on the same lerma 
as the Australian Mints, Section sIk of tho Currency report, 
dealing with convertibility, saya that iha existing condillona 
prevent liuiiilng the amount for which rupees should bo legal 
tender, and for aomo lime to come the Indian Government 
should not ho legally bound to part with gold in exchange for 
rupees, but should make gold available for Foreign remiiiancsa 
whenever oxchange falls below specie point. Tho oxclusive 
right to the rupee coinage must remain vested In the Government, 
and profits should be kept in gold aa special reserve. Section 
seven recommends a legal rate of six-pence fur the rupee. The 
recommendation is not made Qiiauimoualy, but by a majority 
of the Commitlee, who point out that this is now tho normal 
rale lo which prices may be assumed' to have adjusted Ihem- 
solvea. Section eight says, the eHecLiveeatablishment of a gold 
standard iaot paramount inportance 10 the material inlereets 
ot India, not only to promote exiating trade, hut to encourage 
tho influx ot captial. For tho apeedy allainracnt of thia object 
it is eminently deeirnblo lhat the Government of India should 
huabaud its reaouresa and exercise resolule economy to 
reatrict the growth of gold obligation. 
;g op PnoMisaoRY Notes Drawn Upo.n Estate 
Kasgambs d7 tbe Local Banks. 
A letter waa issued to all Banks in Ceylon poinling out 
of discounting Kangunies' notes is greatly 
10 interests of the Planting Community and 
ae coaat advances which the Asaocciation is 
check, and that facilily so granted encourugs 
acIioUB. Your Committee urged all Managers of 
1 as far as possible to discontinue the oust om. 
!H received your Commilleo thinks that the 
practicable bnt continues 
that Iho < 
m give prom 
I lo the matter. 
Jury Lists, Central Province. 
Barly in Ihe year your Com mil lee drew Ihe attention of 
Government to the Jury Lists of Ihe Cenlral Province published 
In the Government Gnzetlo qh being most deftclive, and poinlod 
meul on tho 26lh March, lB98,°r^oiuuien.linK exunsion of 
radius of lliuse liable to serve was it'^cepled by Gor'.rumenC 
mid should b9 adherwl to, tlia eo^* li^^ bsing (LoroajUj 
