852 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jvst J, 1899. 
done. With tbia object in view, three village tinks 
were constructed BOiue years ago by Governiuc-nt, and 
a fourth — the old abaiidoubd one of Taiupichchiya— 
is now being surveyed with the object of hivving it 
restored. Mr. West's attempt to centmliKe the 
Veddiih population ill a part of Bintenna will also be 
of much service towards this object, for as soon as 
they show any inclination to settle down to fixed 
occupation a lank and lands will be given to them to 
v/Qrk upon, and no doubt the example will be followed 
by others. 
(Signed) C. A. Murray, Acting Govt. Agent. 
Battioaloa, February 27, 1899. 
THE SOUTH \YANAK.\JAH TKA ESTATES, 
LIMITED. 
Tlie annual f^eneral moetins; of the Hharchol<ler.>i 
of theSontli Wanarajali Tea Estates, Limited, \va.>i 
held at the ollices of the company, ."iO, Mincinji 
Lane, E.C, on Thursday, the I'Mi inal. 
The ehair was occupied by Mr. M. 1*. Evans. 
The Secretary having.' road the notice con- 
vening the meeting,', the Ch-MHMAN .said : 
Tlie report and balance sheet have been duly 
circulated, and I trust you have found them not 
only satisfactory, but clear in all re>pects. I 
presume you will take them a.s read, but before 
moving tiieir adoption I will endeavour to give 
you some information as to the busines.s of the 
company during the past twelve months, which, 
I am able i;o say, has been fairly prosperous, 
notwithstanding an adverse conimenconient. At 
our meeting last year I mentioned that we were 
suffering from a depressed tea market, and that 
the price of Ceylon tea had fallen to the lowest 
point ever recorded ; this state of things continued 
until August, when a recovery took place in the 
market value of all kinds of tea, which sti'I, I 
am glad to say, continues ; the conunon anil 
medium kinds being at present about 2d to 3d 
per pound above the lowest prices previously rul- 
ing. The finer kinds have also participated in 
the advance, but not to tlie same extent. When 
prices began to rise a large portion of our crop 
was fortunately unsold, and we wen; thus enabled 
to take advantage of the more healthy condition 
of the market. The crops, as estimated for the 
year, were 445,000 lb of tea, and the actual amount 
sold was 444,384 lb, including about 60,000 lb of 
bought leaf. The gross selling price has averaged 
6 81d per lb, as against 6-51d per lb last 
year. As regards future crops, it must be 
borne in mind that we have 64 acres of 
young tea yet to come to maturity, and also 
"that much of the older tea has been 
plucked sparingly, in order to get it well estab- 
lished ; and it is very satisfactory to notice that 
our managing director advises that the estates 
are in good order, and the bushes in good heart, 
so we may, in tlie natural course, expect an 
increase of crop during the next two years, with 
a corresponding decrease in the cost of produc- 
tion. Contrary to expectation, the rate of ex- 
change has been nearly ^d higher than last 
year— the average rate for our bills being Is 
417(1 per rupee. A small loss in our rice 
accounts last year has been changed into a 
small prolit for this year, .mid to date this 
account continues to show a piofit, but the fresh 
outbreak of plague iu Calcutta having placed 
that port in quarantine, it is possiMe that prices 
of rice may rule higher for a time. The sum 
outstanding for advances to coolies has been re- 
duced by .£200 this year, and the amounts now 
put under this heading are small, and all the ad- 
vances are recoverable and oonaideretl hafe. Yo« 
will have .>,een by the report that the IJIaokburn 
Factory lias been completed, the total cwst b«nj{ 
t i 910, us against the managing director's sati- 
niate of £2,00ii. The most recent ty|je of machi- 
nery has been supplied, and by hil««t reports every- 
thing was working sHtisfactorily. Vou will aho 
notice the special expenditure of £(550 for the 
purchase of the field of tea adj jinuig the above 
factory, which was fully referred to in our last 
year's report. The rest of our outlay on capital 
account does not exceed C'lm, whicii money lia« 
been spent on the up keep of non bearin;; land, 
and erection of new oonlie lines, &c. by lookinjf 
at tlie report you will find that we are enabled 
to wiite oli'€2.o for depieeialion, and a further 
£200 from the preliminary expenses, carrying the 
small balance to reserve after providin'/ for the 
dividend, bringing the renerve up to C±£it, which 
wi- se<' every pro«i>ect of adding to considerably 
by the present sea-sou's trading. Our teas are 
selling at satisfactory rates, and in lonneclion 
with the future of the Ceylon tea industry it ia 
encouratring to notice the greatly iuerea*e<i de- 
mand for t!ie tea from the colonies and 8f)ecially 
from Kussia, to which countiy have been shipped 
from Ceylon direct during the past twelve months 
2,714,000 lb., against 4.39 350 lb., the curresond- 
ing period of the previous year, and the shipuienU 
from London to l{iii*bia during l.i,-*t year were 
6,67o,0.S7 lb., against 0,272,596 lb. in IS'J7. I now 
beg to move that the re|HirC and statement of 
accounts for the year ending December 3Ut, IS98, 
now presented, be received and adopt<;d, and that 
the ilividend of 5 per cent, per annum be paid on 
the oidinary shares of the Company registered 
on the 4th inst, the same to be paid on and after 
the 15th inst. 
The motion was then seconded by Mr. H. A. 
Hancock. 
Mr. Chapman called attention to tlie balance 
of the amount for preliminary expen.ses, and in 
reply tlie Chairman stated this would be charged 
in the current year's account. 
The Chairman tlum ]iut the motion for the ad- 
option of the report and the payment of the 
dividend of 5 per cent on the ordinary shares, 
which was carried nnanimou-ly. 
On the motion of Mr. Kvans, seconded by Mr. 
Dunn, Mr. Hancock was re-elected to a seat on 
the board. 
On the proposal of Mr. Chapman, second^rt by 
Mr. Alex'Ttnder, Messrs. Fuller, Wise, and Fisher 
were reappointed auditors. 
The Chairman moved a vote of thanks to Mr. 
Tatham, the managing director, and the staff 
abroad, for their services during the past year, 
which w.as secondei! by Mr. I.awrance. who spoke 
in comjilinientary terms of work performed abroa<I, 
and adopted unaniinously. 
Tlie proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to 
the Chairman.— iZ. d- C. Mai',, April 21, 
The QtjiNiXE Speculation has been going 
the wrong way for speculators this past week, .says 
Chemist and Drurigist of April 22, as the Java baik 
shipments are good. 
Gemsdok and Ostriche.<? are so numerous in 
Bushiiianland at present tiiat fanners and others 
are conipiaiiiing of the d image done by them to 
veld and water, where it has rained. That they 
have multiplied and increased at a marvellous 
rate within the last few years is a fact generally 
recognised. 
