46 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [July 1, 1898 
Mr. Donald Andrew seconded the motion, 
which was carried. 
Mr. K. W. FOKBKS:— I am very much obli;,'ed 
for your vote of confidence. I hope [ shall keep 
up to all that Mr. Anderson says. 
Mr. Todd, moved :—" That Mr. J. B. Laurie 
be re elected auditor for the ensuinj^ year," re- 
marking that Mr. Laurie had done the work 
very well in the past. 
This was seconded by Mr. G. W. Paine, and 
carried . 
The Chairman :— I have now to move that a 
vote of thanks be given to the Ceylon and 
London staffs. I have very great pleasure in 
proposing this. Your staff m Ceylon, I am sure, 
are quite as dissatisfied with the short-comings 
in the result of their endeavours to carry on 
the past year s working of the Company success- 
fully as we are. But they will continue to do 
their very best. As to the London staff, the 
same can be said, only with them the disappoint- 
ment came all the sooner for they ha<l the accounts 
sooner (laughter.) But they have shown the most 
praiseworbliy activity in doing their best to keep 
your teas up to the full price in the market. If any 
of the brokers were here they would be able to say 
hew our stafi'in London has gone at them to keep 
prices up (hear, hear.) Perhaps that is why none 
of the brokers are here t'iday, (laughter.) 
Mr. DODDS :— I second, that. It has struck 
me that there has been a grat deal of thorough- 
ness in carrying on the Ceylon tea industry. We 
owe onr best thanks to all tho.se who carry 
on the industry, those in Ceylon and in London 
as well (hear, hear.) I say this because I noticed 
in the Investors' Review of May 6 an anonymou.s 
article which rather criticised the action of those 
responsible for the working of Tea Companies. 
Still, t do not think an anonymous article like 
that can have much influence with the public. 
To me it is a great satisfaction to have such 
gentlemen on the staff and on the directorate 
as we have in this Company, and as are to be 
found in so many others of the Ceylon tea Com- 
panies (hear, hear.) 
The proposition was carried unanimously. 
Mr. G. W. Paine :— 1 have lo propose, 
" That our best thanks he given to Mr. 
H. L. Forbes, the chairman, and his brother 
directors, for their able conduct of the Com- 
pany's business." I ought to thank Mr. Forbes 
personally for his practical remarks as to the 
cause of the diminution of this Company's divi- 
vend. It is really the same as in other Companies. 
The rise in exchange and the fall in markets 
are, I think, the only substantial causes of the 
reduction. There seems little chance of reducing 
exchange prices at present. As to the Com- 
mittee appointed by the Government, do you 
think there is sufficient representation of Ceylon 
tea Companies on the committee. 
The Chairman :— I don't. 
Mr. Paine : — Can we not move or get our asso- 
ciation to move to get some one on the Committee 
who would represent us directly? It would be 
a good thing (hear hear). 
Mr. G. G. Anderson -.—Lord George Hamilton 
said in the House that the reference to the Com- 
mittee had been completed, and that the Con- 
stitution of the Committee could not be altered. 
The name of Sir John Muir was mentioned as 
that of one who was largely interested in the 
Indian and Ceylon tea industry. 
The Chairman :— Ceylon proposed Mr. Christie, 
A3 you know, of course. One gentleman is on 
(be Committee wbo met me the other day and 
confesHed he knew little iibout the quMtiou, ftiid 
Haid he would he gla<i to have «ouie viewb on 
the subject (a lauxh). I said I would be only 
too happy to let him have our viewb (hear, hear), 
and I shall certainly take the opportuiiily in the 
interests of this Company and of Ceylon Com- 
panies generally to do everything I can to send 
information and views to ihi» gentleman. He 
seemed to be very anxious to get any informa- 
tion and to have the expression of Ceylon view* 
generally — and Indian as well, of course— and I'll 
take care he has all 1 can give him (hear, hear;. 
Mr. Todd : — Perhaps you can give evidence. 
I second Mr. Paine'b proposition. 
The proiK>sition was carried, and the Chairman 
briefly replied. 
Mr. DoDDS :— You said, sir, that the coolie* 
were " bought and sold," (laughter.) I hope you 
don't mean that literally (laughter.) I should 
not like any misunderstan<ling on coast advance* 
to get spread about through what may be re|K>rled 
of our meeting in the papers. 
The Chairman having explained the coast 
advance system, amid much laughter, the prooee<l- 
iti^K closed. 
PKODLCE AND PLANTING. 
Dividends. —When two abl^ administered Indian 
tea companies fail to maintain the same high rate 
of dividend as in previous jears, it is evidence that 
tea planters hnve had more than irdinary difficulties 
to contend with of late. The Assam Company haa 
been paying 20 per cent dividends since 1)191, bat 
for IS'JT the rate is only ITJ per cent. The ont- 
tarn of the Jhanzie Tea Association has proved 
202.909 lb. less than the estimate and 142,816 lb. 
short of the 1896 total. The prices reslised were 
somewhat more favoarablo, but this was, of coursf, 
more than connteibalanced by the shortfall. 
Low ExcHANOK IN CHINA, — Although the export 
trade of China, as a whole, has benefited by low 
exchange there was no apparent effect on the tea 
trade daring 1897. In spite of a farther falling off 
in the shipments of tea, the value of the exports 
for 1897 exceeded that of 1896 by over 32 million 
(aels. The year 1895 held the record with the valae 
of Hk. Tls. 113,293,211, but 1897 has beaten this 
easily and stands at Hk. Tls. 163,501,358, which 
nearly doubles the figures for 1887, although at that 
time the tables included the exports from Formosa. 
The increase is not due to an exceptional demand 
for a particular article, and almost every item, except 
tea. has shared in the expansion. 
The Tea Trade of Ningpo. — We gather from the 
consular report that the total trade of the port of 
Ningpo for 1897 fell off to the extent of £206,376. 
Practically the whole of the decrease occurred under the 
head of exports. It is accounted for by the opening of 
Hangchow as a treaty port, and the consequent com- 
plete diversion of Fucnow teas and the partial diversion 
of Pingsuey teas. — H. and C. Mail, May 20. 
Professor Dewar caused a good deal of amuse- 
ment at the Koyal Institution of Friday night, 
last week, by producing a nulk can, which he 
had filled with liquid air, and pouring the fluid 
out, just as one would the more familiar sub- 
stance milk. A few years ago, he said, liquid 
air could only be obtained by the ])int, now a 
ffallon of it could be produced with the greatest 
ease, owing to the improvements in the apparatus 
for its manufacture. Professor Dewar remarked 
that many industrial and commercial uses for liquid 
air had been found, and as production was cheapened 
further applications its would be sought for. — 
Sritishana Colonial Druffgist, April 8. 
