March 2, 1891.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
63 r 
and they come in crowds, bringing often their wives 
and babies ; for in Mr. Buchanan’s generous manage- 
ment there is no rule as to one portion one person. 
No 1 if a man is in low water he can have one portion 
or half-a-dozen plates and knives and forks if half- 
a-dozen mouths are to be fed from the one portion. 
At first but one Teetotum was opened, but its success 
was soon a proven fact and four others are now opened 
in different large thoroughfares of East London. 
Mr. Buchanan imports his tea direct from Ceylon, from 
we suppose his own fine plantation in Ambagamuwa, 
— so he is his own middleman and neither he nor his 
purchasers lose thereby. Of the value of his work 
there can be no doubt, for it is a want of good 
food that too often is the parent of the English- 
man’s craving for drink. To raise the standard of 
comfort among the working classes is in itself a 
good, and one with, far-reaching results. 
Each Teetotum has its rooms for recreation — 
billiard and bagatelle tables, draughts, chess, back- 
gammon, &o. Mr. Buchanan has taken care that 
those who come to play should have the ehanoe of 
remaining to pray ; for in each room there are papers 
and advertisements about “the Club” into which the 
men can be drafted or where they can have all those 
kindly ndvantages of human fellowship without 
which in a crowded city it is hard foi’ a man to 
believe in a Divine and Beneficent Power. 
— 
ME. SCHWANN, M. P., ON TEChlNICAL 
EDUCATION. 
Pursuant to announcement the meeting arranged 
by Mr. George Wall for the purpose of hearing 
Mr. Schwann, M.P., on technical education came off 
today (Feb. 5th) at 11 a.m. at the Fort Library, under 
the Chairmanship of Hon. S. Grenier (Attorney- 
General). There were also present: — Hons. W. W. 
Mitchell and P. Ramanatlian, Messrs. J. B. Cull, 
George Wall, J, H. Marsh, H. W. Green, H. H. 
Capper, F. Beven, and C. M. Fernando, Miss Fredoux, 
Kev. W. J. G. Bestall, Messrs. J. L. K. Van Dort, 
J. W. C. de Soysa, and J. Allport, and a goodly 
gathering of schoolboys from the Koyal College. 
Mr. Grobge Wali, briefly introduced Mr. Schwann 
to the meeting. He said that Mr, Schwann was associ- 
ated with one of the largest technical institutions 
in the world, and ho had no doubt that they would 
all be glad to hear him oa the subject of technical 
elucatiun. 
Mr. Schwann prefaced his remarks by saying that 
ha regretted that amongst the many attractions of 
the island, there was one detect in the very rapid 
changes of temperature which produced a great 
eflfoot on one who was not acclimatized. The effect 
of the temperature had produced a huskiness in his 
throat, which prevented him from speaking out as forci- 
bly as he would wish in advocating the cause of techni- 
cal education. He thought it was unnecessary to enter 
into any lengthy arguments on the subject, or to 
speak of the advantages of technical instruction, 
because the subject was not altogether new to the 
inhabitants of Ceylon. Several gentlemen whom he 
saw at the meeting (and one in particular) had 
already advocated the advisability of establishing a 
Technical Institution. Now it seemed to him that 
it was advisable to form an Association for the pro- 
motion of technical instruction in Ceylon, and the 
snoocss of that Association would depend on those 
who composed it, and to this end it was indispen- 
sable that they shonld have gentlemen who were con- 
versant with tlio subject and who would also bo a 
guarantee to the publio that tho ends would be 
carried out in a practical and earnest manner. 
For the purpose of raising subscriptions and dona- 
tions they would have to appoint gentlemen of some 
high position in the city who would be willing to 
lend their co-operation to tho sobeme, as ic was evi- 
dent that it was not likely that the public would sup- 
port any project which had not among its suppor- 
ters men who could command the entire respect of 
the public at large. He believed there was a building 
in Colombo which might conveniently act ns a centre 
for tho Technical School. Ho meant the Agricultural 
School. He believed that education in agriculture 
was imparted in that school, and there was no reason 
why education in engineering, carpentry, &o., should 
not also be tiught there. He was glad to find 
that H. E, the Governor was favourably disposed 
towards the scheme, aud he would be only too glad to 
accept the patronage of such an association. It was 
also advisable to have a number of vice-presidents — 
gentlemen who, although they might not take an ac- 
tive part in the work, yet would be desirous to iden- 
tify themselves with such an institution. But it 
seemed to him that the chief respon.sibility rested with 
the Executive Committee, and that body, he thought, 
should be specially gifted and strong in their own 
special subjects, and that Committee should consist of 
men who were willing to lend their aid towards the 
inauguration of the scheme and who were able to sa- 
tisfy the publio that the objects would be carried out 
in a practical manner. Finally, if they got the coopera- 
tion of one or two business men, and espeoially a few 
gentlemen who were connected with the Spinning aud 
Weaving Mills or any other industry in the town, they 
could have no doubts as to the suooess or the scheme. 
They also required the service.s of a Director, and 
an able man who would command the respect of the 
public. Mr. Mitchell, ha heard, was proceeding to 
Europe by an early mail, and he was ooriain that he 
would select a useful man to take up the duties 
of that important post. He was glad to find that 
Mr. Green had succeeded in getting them a grant 
of R5.000 per annum, which would go towards the 
salary cf the Director. For his own part, he would 
be happy to render any assistance to Mr. Mitchell 
when he was away in England, and he had no doubt 
that Mr. J. E. Reynolds (the Secretary of the 
Manchester Technical Institute), Sir Philip 
Magnus. Sir Henry Roscoe, and a few other 
gentlemen who were interested in the work that was 
carried on in the Technioal Institute at Mauohestor, 
would cheerfully lend their assistance to Mr. Mitchell, 
Ho thought that some objections might be started 
against the establishment of a Technioal School, but 
he pointed out the successful character of 
the iudustry as carried on in Manchester where 
an immense number of trades was carried on. There 
was one department where a num'oer of people were 
turning out special objeots of domestic utUity, while 
others turned out small screws, which were aol- to 
those manufacturers whose attention soh ;.- . 
voted to the construction of engines, . ud if Ur: in- 
dnatry met with such encouragement ii L e. i..,,, ,vhe 
competition was much greater there than i.'. '.,,s bore, 
the Technical Institution was bound to ffoutlsh la 
Oeylou. Without monopolizing the time of the meet- 
ing, he begged therefore to move a resolution 
which was unanimously carried, viz. “That tho fol- 
lowing gentlemen with power to add to their number 
do form themselves into an Association for the pro- 
motion of technical education with the object of es- 
tablishing a technical school in Oolombo and for the 
encouragement of any movement likely to assist the 
application of art and science to the industries of 
Ceylon : — Hons. S. Grenier, A, R. Dawson, W. W. 
Mitchell, J. J. Grinlinton, A- de A. Seneviratne, P. 
Ramauathan, Messrs. George Wall, John Ferguson, H. 
W. Groan, J. B. Cull, J. "W. O. De Soyza, H. H. 
Cappsr, F. Beven, Edmund Walker, S. Rsjapakse, 
Drs. Rockwood and H. M. Fernando.” In 
explanation of tlie latter part of his resolution, 
viz. that the Teohnical school do also encourage 
otlior movements of a similar oharaoter, Mr. Schwann 
said that it was possible that other institutions would 
like to affiliate themselves with them aud thereforo 
it was desirable that a Teohuioal Association in Colombo 
should have a wide basis. Apart from that faot a 
great number of the iuhabUauts of Colombo would 
like to co-operato with them. As regarded fnnds, 
he said that the institution to a large extent 
depended on th^ Jargo numbei; of maU eubsoriptiou^ 
