May 1, 1899.] THE TEOPICAL 
AGEICUJ.TURIST. 
753 
ALOE FIBRE AND A DECORTICATING 
MACHINE. 
Our readers are aware that at the in- 
stance of a Syndicate of local gentlemen who 
have taken up the matter, a "Silhurn's Patent 
Decorticating Machine," to deal with Aloe 
Fibre, has been constructed at the Colombo 
Iron Works. It has given much trouble to 
the machinists and the gentlemen more 
immediately concerned ; but it is hoped 
thatall is now smooth, and lately an ex- 
hibition of the machine at work was 
conducted by the jjatentee at Mr. Alex. 
Stevenson's Fibre Mills, Mattakkuliya. The 
reason for going to Mattakkuliya was 
the need of a good water supply. The Gov- 
ernment has very readily met the wishes 
of the pioneers in a new industry — which 
may he of importance to the Colony, — by 
granting free carriage of aloe leaves by 
vail from Hatton, Kotagala, &c., and alto- 
gether as much as 87 tons, we believe, have 
been received. This quantity should certainly 
afford a fair trial and give a sample of 
fibre that can be practically tested in the 
London market. The machine is an insigni- 
ficant one to look at, the whole being en- 
closed in a small case ; but if it does what 
the patentee claims, appearance does not 
matter. The advantages claimed are : — 
"That the Machine will extract the whole of 
the fibre contained by the leaf. That the Fibre 
is extracted without anj^ breakage whatevei. 
That the Machine will decorticate one ton ot 
Aloe leaves per hour, which can be increased 
proportionately with the width of the Machine. 
That the Machine will supply a long felt want in 
the island, and will make the cultivation of Aloe 
a sure commercial success." 
Mauritius has a considerable export trade in 
aloe fibre, but we do not think it is very 
Erofitable to the producers. It remains to 
e seen if Silburn's machine will make a 
wider margin of profit to be secured in Ceylon 
and elsewhere. 
NOTES FROM THE CENTRAL PROVINCE.. 
March 25. 
I suppose the little monsoon will be on us 
more eai-ly than usual this year after the 
drought and frost. So far the showers are 
very partial. Kandy requires a lot more rain. 
Oh ! bother Tewson's case. We are all 
sick of it and the same of Talwatte. The 
"Standard" 's idea of a statue for the Kandyan 
murdered martyr is too funny. Where does 
murder come in the case ? At the worst 
the Tommies were hastening home to bar- 
racks, and Mr. Talwatte blocked the way. 
One of them gave him a clout on the head with 
a hockey stick, and it happened to alight 
on a most wonderfully thin-sculled native 
gentleman. He died from its effects ; but 
■/here was no premeditation in the matter, 
and all the wonderful letters from eye-wit- 
nesses that are sent in now, ai-e only pabulum 
to get more damages and synqjatliy from 
Government and the gullible native com- 
numity. 
The proper step for the P. A. to do in the 
matter of Hennikcr Heaton is to i)ray Her 
Majesty to bestow on liim a I)aroiietcy. He 
is more worthy of that title than the general 
dealer and blender of tea, Lipton, who scored 
a knighthood. 
94 
British North Borneo is to the front. They 
could not issue fresh shares when the old 
shares were at a discount. Now that they 
have touched par and even a premium, this 
issue of shares can be effectively placed. 
British North Borneo onlv wants developing 
to be one of the finest jewels cf the Empire. 
Why wei'e you down on Oarruthers for 
his report on gray fungus, in the Kelani 
Valley ? He tells you that the time at his 
disposal was too short to give more than a 
very general Report. 
[Which we think, had better be reserved 
and not given at all, for the reason that the 
matter required more careful study and 
attention tluui IMr. Carruthers could have 
given to it. We were jealous for the Crypto- 
gamist's own reputation in the matter, luiow- 
ing the good work he had done for cacao. 
—Ed. T.A.] 
» 
COLOMBO COMMERCIAL COMPANY, 
LIMITED. 
London, 7th March, 1899. 
Directors :— Alfred Brown, Chairman, Leon Famin, 
J G Wardrop, P C Oswald. Secretary :— J Aleo 
Eoberts 5, Dowgate Hill, Officea London, E C. 
Report.— To be presented to the Fourth Ordinary 
General Meeting of the Company, on Thursday, 16th 
day of March, 1899, at 12 o'clock noon. 
The Directors have pleasure in placing before 
shareholders statements shewing favourable results 
for the past year, viz. : — 
Profit and loss account for the year ending 30th 
Sept. 1898, 
Balance Sheet made up to 30th Sept, 1898. 
It will be seen from the profit and loss account that 
after debiting all charges, interest on debentures, &c., 
the profit for the year amounted to .. £9,716 ' 1 1 
A balance was brought forward 
from last year of , . 510 14 6 
Making the total at credit of profit 
and loss .. £10,226 15 7 
From this there has been trans- 
ferred to exchange reserve 
against capital expenditure . . 2,232 5 5 
Leaving available for dividend, 
d-c, a sum of . . £7,994 10 2 
Interim dividends of three per cent on the prefer- 
ence capital and 2} per cent on the ordinary capital 
were paid on the lath Sept, 1898, and the directors 
recommend that the following dividends be now 
declared, viz. : three per cent on the preference 
capital, making six per cent for the year, and 5i per 
cent on the ordinary capital, making eight per cent 
for the year, the latter free of income tax. 
After payment of the above dividends there will 
remain a balance of £1,303 83 2d, which the direc- 
tors propose ehould be carried forward to next year. 
The liquid assets in Ceylon appear in the Com- 
pany s accounts at the same exchange as in last year's 
balance-sheet, viz. :— Is Id per rupee, the present 
viilue of the rupee being about Is 4d. 
Exchange reserve ugaiust capital expenditure now 
stands at £20,000, inclusive of the sum of £2,232 5s 5d 
transferred in the present accounts 
The directors regret to report the death of their 
esteemed Colleague, Mr. Norman Stewart, and thoy 
have filled up this vacau'^y on the Board by the 
appointment of Mr. J G Wardrop 
Mr. L Famin, a member of tho Board, rotires from 
office on this oocasiou, and, being eligible, offers him- 
self for re-election. 
Messrs. Doloitte, Dover, Griflitha & Co., thoandi- 
torH.also offer themselves for ro-elcctiou. 
