THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. 1, 1904. 
DIKOYA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
ANNUAL EEPORT. 
Mjsmbeeship. — There art 74 members on the roll 
70 estates and four private, five estates ha^viog 
withdrawn during the y*!<r. 
! Meetings — Three General Meetings and four 
Committee Meetioga have been held during the 
yetr, the average attendance at the Committee Meet- 
ings being 12, and 21 at the General Meetings, both 
Bhowicg an increase on last year. 
Finance. — Your Committee are glad to be able to 
report that .your finances are in a satisfactory coudi- 
tioD, the balance in hand at the pres&nt moment 
being R16"35 as against K7 90 at the end of last year. 
The acoonniB have been audited by Mr Kollo, and 
certified as corrects 
liAEojK.-- During the year there is no doubt that 
there has been a general rise in the amount of 
money advanced under so-called " Coast Advances " but 
jpost estates have had suiBaient labour for their crop. 
Labour Federation, — Tour Committee recommend 
that this should be vfound up as soon as possible. 
Hospital. — During the year satisfactory progress 
has been made with the new Hospital, and when com- 
pleted the district will have a Hospital worthy of the 
requirements of the district. 
DisTBiCT AND MiNOE BoADs.— The main roads are 
in fair order, but your Committee wish to draw your 
attention to the aroitrary action of the D. P. V/. in 
charging the upkeep 0£ the bridges over 50 feet in 
l3ngth to the Eoad Maintenance account, instead of 
being paid for separately by Government as hitherto. 
Mr. Waddel], the District Engineer, is leaving 
the district at an early date, and, while congratulating 
him on promotien, the Committee regrets the removal 
of this officer until such an important work, as the build- 
ing of the new Hospital, is completed. 
Kailway Maiteks. — The extension of the goods 
shed has resulted in impioved accommodation at Hat- 
ton Station, and the improvement in the control of the 
cooly passenger traf&o has been much appreciated by 
the district. Your Committee are also glad to note 
that en extra first-class compartment is generally 
available for the 11"30 a m. Mail train. 
Police Magistkate. — Since the arrival of an able 
Police Magistrate, the institution of cases has been 
reduced by about 50 per cent., all frivolous cases being* 
conspicuous by their absence. 
Police,— Fowl robberies continue unabated, but 
we have reason to believe that we may see a reform 
throughout the force within measurable dictance. 
Pests and Diseases.— A Committee has been ap- 
ointed to deal with any pests that may appear in the 
istrict. To the best of the knowledge of your 
Committee, there is no Shot-hole Borer in the district. 
Tortrix has been prevalent, and there is no doabt that 
this Pest affects yield, and steps should be taken to 
collect the egg masses. 
3UTCHEE8' Licenses. — Your Committee are glad to 
note that Government has given orders that in future 
all licenses are to be submitted to the district Asso- 
ciations. Should any complaints arise, your Committee 
will be happy to deal wiih them. 
OBiTUiBy.— Your Committee wish to place on 
record their deep sense of loss caused by the death of 
two well-known residents in the district, the late Mr 
H 11 Roberts and the late Mr G A Wyatt, both of 
whom always took a deep interest in all matters 
connec.ed with the welfare of the district. 
Medical Scheme. — During the year a proposal was 
made to make the retainic; fee payable by the estates 
at 5 cents per acre, but this has fallen through from 
want of the required 75 per cent. Dr Bridgmau will 
the'-efore continue the practice as a private one from 
April 1st 1904. 
Mail Subsidy.— Your Committee are glad to report 
that Government has sanctioned the vote for an extra 
Mail Service to Bogawantalawa and Maskeliya. Oar 
thanks are due to the Post Master General for his 
Bopgort of the AsBQciatioa'a appHcatiQU- 
Official Estimates. — The returns have been 
received from moat estates, and a general average 
struck for ihose who preferred not to send in any 
return The figures are as follows: — 
Total acreage in tea, ,„ 29 437 acres 
Totfti tea in bearing ... 28 491 acres 
Estim.attd crop ... 13,063,400 lb. 
Average per acre ... 458 lb. 
KNUCKLES, KALLEBOKKA & PANWILA 
PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
ANNUAL EEPPOET. 
There are now 29 estates and one private member 
on the register, making a total of 30 members. 
This is the 3rd annual general meeting. 
Duriog the past year three Committee and three 
general meetings have been held. 
The returns for 1904 give the acreage in tea as 
10,706. Of this 10,492 is in full bearing, leaving an 
acreage not yet in bearing of 214. The estimated crop 
for the year is 4,164,000 lb. of tea, which shows 
396 lb. per acre for tea in bearing. 162,000 lb. of 
tea is estimated to be made from native leaf. There 
are 1,017 acres under cardamoms. 
The districts are free from shot-hole borer and other 
pests. 
During the year the Hoolooganga bridge has been 
replaced by a permanent iron structure. 
Strong representations have been made to Govern- 
ment with a view to the taking over of the cart-road as 
far as Hoolooganga as an imperial road, and there is 
every reason to expect that these representations will 
have' a successful issue. 
The accounts laid on the table show a balance to 
the credit of the Association of R6i"i2. 
This report iiavinp been read and adopted, Mr, 
Beeves re.sigDed the chair, 
■» M . ., 
MATALE PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
ANNUAL REPOET. 
Your Committee have pleasure in stating that the 
position of the Association is satisfactory. The num- 
ber of Estates in the Register is 63 against same 
number last year. The meetings during the year 
have been well attended. The finances are in a 
satisfactory condition. Certain Reports have been 
handed in which are incorporated in the General 
Report. 
Business or the Year. — This has not been very 
extensive. The principal matter of interest was the 
sitting of the Cocoa Thefts Commission, a matter 
brought about almost entirely by the indefatigable 
exertions of our late Chairman, Mr Jas. Martin, to 
whom the thanks of the Cocoa-planting community are 
due. To date the Report of the Commission has not 
been issued and so we can form no idea as to the pos- 
sible result of same. 
Illicit Sale of Toddy.— Government have been 
approached several times calling attention to the illicit 
sale of Toddy and proposing fresh legislation, but no 
result has followed. 
Post Office at Ukuwela. — The Honorary Secretary 
was insti ucted to write to Government pressing that 
a Post Office should be granted for Ukuwela and re- 
feriing to past correspondence. The Hon. the Colonial 
Secretary replied that he was directed by His Ex- 
cellency the Governor to state that "it is regretted 
that the additional expenditure required to establish a 
Post Office at Ukuwela cannot be provided at present 
in view of the more urgent claims of other localities." 
The Labour Question. — This has exercised the 
minds of this Association as well as those of all the 
Planters' of the Island. The high rate of advances, 
the unsettled state of our coolies and the demoralising 
effect of all this on the labour of the country haa 
roused Plaatere to try to see eome way out of the 
