Out. 1, 1S98.] THE TROPICAL 
AamCULTURIST. 
253 
COCONUTS AND COFFEE. 
A new settlement hns been stai-tfd by one of the 
most energetic Malaya on the Perak river, Pawang 
Jais by name, who is planting coconuts and Liberiau 
coffae, and has about twonty-tivo other settlcro round 
him. The land is high, the natives say it is rich 
and suitable for coconuts. — I'crah Govenmient Gazelle, 
July 29. 
^ 
THE MOCHA TEA COMP/VNY. 
A general meeting of the Mocha Tea Com- 
pany, Limited, was held at the oHice of Messrs. J. 
M. Kobertson & Co,, the Agents and Secretaries, 
Prince Street, on tlie 19th A ug. The Hon. J.N. 
Campbell was in the chair and there were also 
present the Hon. Giles F. Walker, Mr. H. G. 
Jiois, Mr. W. E. Mitchell, and Mr. A. Betluine. 
The following were represented by attorney : — 
Mr. H. Bois by Mr. H. G. Bois," and Mrs'. E. 
F. Walk-er by 'Mr. G. F. Walker. 
The Chairman moved the adoption of the re- 
port and accounts. Tiiey would remember, lie 
said, that at the last half yearly meeting thoy 
decided not to dechxre an interim dividend, and 
now the accounts showed that the prolit earned 
was equal to 1-1 per cent of the cai)ital of the 
Company. He did not know if there was any 
other i'.em in tlie report which need be dealt 
with. They would notice that the loan for the 
purcliase of the Lanka and Craighill estates had 
been reduced from IIGO,000 to 'E4.),()U0 during 
the year. He begged to move the adoption of 
the report and accounts. 
Mr. Bi'yi'liUNK asked for information as to 
the workinL' of the estates, which some 
of the shareholders thought was high. 
The Chairman said that the expense at 
Mochaestatc was -26 47 per cent, which, less manure 
'70, made 25 71 per cent ; at Glentilt it was 
32'58, less manure 4'48 making '2S'10 per cent 
and at the Lanka estate 30 99, less manure 
6'52, which made 30 47 per cent. Last year 
Laiiica estate was only worked nine months, 
and this year it had been worked twelve. The 
cause of the increase was in the manure, 
which had been applied, and they had not felt 
the effect from it they hoped they would. 
There was no other increase in the working of the 
estates, as they would get from the estate 
rejiort. At Mocha it was a little less than it 
was before. 
Mr. Bois :— The report for Mocha last year 
was 181,000 1b., and now it was 188,000 lb. 
At Lanka the crop for the nine months last year 
was 47,000 lb. as against 53,000 lb. for the past 
twelve months, not much increase for the e.xtra 
tiiree months. 
After further conversation M rBETHUNE seconded 
the motion for the adoption of the report, which 
was carried. 
The report was as follows : — 
The Directors have now to submit their report and 
accounts for the season ending liOth June, 1898. 
The total quantity of Tea made on the Compnny''B 
Estates was 378,052 lb. which cost :-U-34-100 cts. per 
lb. delivered in Uolombo whilst the net average price 
realized was 45 'ir)-100 cts. per lb. as compai'cd with 
4() 68-100 cts per II). last season. 
The net profit for the year after writing off ]ll,G7()' 43 
for coat ot tea extensions is K55,9lil-79 ^vhich is 
eqnal to nearly 1 1 per cent on the capilal of the 
Company. To this must be added the balance of 
Kl,yi;!'r)S brought forward from last Bcasou less the 
ehortfall on the old crop after deducting tho valuo 
pf Coffes goldi 
There has been transferred to Dapreciation 
account a sum of . . .. ..Iil0,147 60 
A bonus has been paid to the Superinten- 
dents of Mocha and Glentilt of ..R 2,000 00 
Leaving a balance still to be dealt with 
of R44,68;j-r)9. 
Out of this it is proposed to pay 
a dividend of 11 per cent ab- 
sorbing.. .. ..H44,'M0 O;) 
and to carry forward ..K 243 59 
The Company's properties now consist of :— 
1,055 acres tea in bearing 
22 ,, ,, under 2 years 
56 ,, Grass land 
101 ,, Forest and fuel treea 
21 ,, Buildings, roadf, &c. 
1,255 acres. 
The estimated crops for season, 1893-99 amount to 
389,000 lb. to ccst RllG,280-00 in Colombo Irom 
which must be deducted tho receipts from tho 
Glentilt bazaars. 
Mr. F. W. Eois having left the Island, Mr. G. F. 
Walker was appointed to the vacancy on the Board. 
Mr. G. G. Bois retires in accordance with tho 
articles of Association, but being eligible, offers him- 
self for re-election. 
The meeting will have also to elect an auditor for 
season, 1898-79. 
TllK DIVIDEND. 
Mr. W. E. Mrt'CHKLi, proposed that a divi- 
dend of 11 ])er cent for the season, 1897-8, be 
declared forthwith. 
The Hon. G. F. Walkkr seconded. -Canied, 
THE directorate. 
The Chairman had much pleasure in propos- 
ing that Mr. H, G. Bois be re-electeil a director. 
Mr. Mitchell seconded the motion, which was 
carrieil. 
THE auditor. 
Mr. Bethune proposed the election of Mn 
Hercules J. Scott as auditor. 
Mr. Mitchell seconded.— Carried, 
A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the 
business. 
PLANTING IN THE STKAUrS. 
(An Administration Ileiiort on Nctjri Sambilan 
for 1897.) 
The returns, in the Appendix, ot land already 
alienated, only give the surveyed area which is per- 
manently occupied ; they take no account of over 
86, DOC acres of land that are owned by tapioca planters 
in tho Negri Sombilau (old) ; they do not include the 
gardens and padi fields of some 30,000 Malays in those 
States, the measurement ot which has only now been 
commenced ; and they overlook numberlesa holdings 
which are cultivated without the knowledge ot land 
officers. The most noticeable of land matters in 1897 
(other than the cultivation of rico and coffee, with 
which I will deal on) hav e been the great impetus to 
the cultivation of coconuts and the inllux of Chinese 
settlers in the Coast District ; the activity in the 
manuiiacture of bricks and lime at Port Dickson, 
Seremban and Kuala Pilah ; the improving proteclioa 
ot our forests and tho better tillage of land in tho 
State generally. Exclusive of small areas there are 
more tlian 25,000 acres of land hold under coffee and 
coconut leases, of which about 6,000 acres have now 
been planted with an expenditure of over a million of 
dollars. Depressed prices ruled for tlie greater part 
ot the year, but, as tho estates are mostly young, only 
those will suffer which are already in bearing. Tho 
outlook, however, is not bright, for tho opinion 
expressed in thu London market on tho (juality cf tho 
colfeo are far from encouraging. In those untoward 
circuuiatan«o3 tho phmterij dosorvo iiud have Ihg sym. 
