AtJGi  I,  1895. J 
THE  tROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
117 
eliaseil  by  Messrs.  A.  H.  Pargitcr  and  J.  H.  ]5ro\vn 
for  .€6  250.  Tliey  comprise  some  300  acres  in  tea, 
30  acres  cardamoms  and  200  acres  uncultivated  or 
reserve. 
4^ 
CEYLON  TEA  TRUST  COMPANA'. 
(From  oar  Correspondent. ) 
.June  14. 
.V  very  big  Company  is  just  being  adver- 
tised that  lias  a Ceylon  connection.  It  is  called 
the  ('eylon  Tea  Tru.st,  and  has  been  incorporated 
•with  a capital  of  £60,000  for  tbe  pui'iiosc  of 
developing  tea  estates  in  Ceylon.  Enclosed  you 
will  receive  copy  ot  the  lengthy  advertisement 
made  by  this  new  Comjiany  in  the  London 
Times.  You  will  observe  that  the  only  estate 
mentioned  is  that  of  Oolapane.  This  is  not  a 
very  extensive  estate  apparently,  and  the  pro- 
ject advertised,  we  iiresume,  is  intended  to  cover 
the  acquisition  of  other  properties,  though  none 
of  these  are  mentioned.  The  scheme  apjiears  to 
be  fathered  by  a body  calling  itself  the  Nugget 
Exploring  Company,  though  what  this  may  be, 
or  what  possilde  connection  it  can  have  with 
the  tea  enterprise,  I neither  know  nor  can  sur- 
mise. The  title  chosen  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Trust 
niOT  intimate  a very  wide  range  of  business  : — 
The  subscription  List  -will  Open  this  Day  (Blonday), 
10th  June,  1895,  and  Close  at  4 p.m.  for  both  town 
and  country  on  Wednesday,  12th  June,  1895. 
The  Nugget  Exploring  Company  (Limited),  through 
their  Bankers,  invite  subscriptions  for  60,000  shares 
at  par. 
The  Ceylon  Tea  Trust  (Limited),  Incorporated  un- 
der the  Companies  Acts  1862  to  1890,  whereby  the 
liability  of  the  shareholders  is  limited  to  the  amount 
of  their  shares.  Share  capital  £60,000,  divided  into 
120,000  shares  of  lOs  each.  Issue  of  60,000  shares, 
payable  2s  on  application,  3s  on  allotment,  and 
balance,  2s  6d  on  1st  July,  1895,  and  2s  6d  on  1st 
September,  1895. 
Directors. 
H.  W.  Pritchett,  Esq.,  1,  Winchester-avenue,  Monk- 
well-street,_E.C. 
F.  C.  G.  Bitso,  Esq.,  .3,  Bernard-street,  Russell- 
square,  W.C. 
E.  C.  Bredin,  Esq.,  58,  Stratford-road,  West  Ken- 
sington. 
A.  H.  Baily,  Esq.,  32,  Goldhurstderracc  east.  South 
Hampstead. 
This  Company  is  formed  to  acquire,  cultivate,  and 
develop  Tea  Estates  in  Ceylon,  a,n  industry  which  of 
recent  years  has  yielded  satisfactory  returns  on 
capital  invested. 
The  following  quotations  for  Ceylon  Tea  Compan- 
ies’ Shares  are  taken  from  the  Ceylon  Observer  of 
3rd  April,  1895. 
From  Messrs.  Gow,  Wilson,  and  Stanton’s  List 
of  May,  1895. 
Ahrcage. — This  Estate,  consisting  of  161.1  acres 
situated  in  the  heart  of  the  tea-producing  portion 
of  the  Island  of  Ceylon,  has  already  been  profitably 
worked  by  the  present  owner,  having  100  acres  in 
full  bearing,  with  the  remainder  just  commencing 
to  bear. 
Besides  this,  400  acres  highly  suitable  for  tea  gro-.v- 
ing,  adjoining  the  Oolap>anc  Estate,  c/ui  bo  secured 
by  this  Company,  which  increased  area,  when  pro- 
perly cultivated  and  in  full  bearing,  should  enorm- 
ously enhance  the  profits  now  being  earned. 
Situation. — The  estate  is  situated  at  an  elevation 
of  1,800  feet  in  close  jiroximity  to  the  celebrated 
Marfawattee  Estate,  whose  average  yield  from  the 
earliest  planted  fields  has  for  years  past  been  nearly 
1,0001b.  per  acre  per  annum. 
Transport. — The  facilities  for  transport  on  this  es- 
tate are  exceptionally  favourable,  as,  in  addition  to 
the  Ceylon  Governm^^nt  Railway  passing  through  it 
(a  station  being  actually  on  the  property),  it  is  inter- 
eected  by  good  cart  roads. 
Water  Supply. — The  estate  being  bounded  by  the 
Mahawela  Ganga  (the  principal  river  of  Ceylon), 
there  is  an  unfailing  supply  for  working  a tea  factory. 
Yield.— Despite  the  small  portion  of  the  estate  in 
full  bearing,  last  year’s  crop  amounted  to  about 
60,000  lb.  while,  judging  from  the  yield  of  the  oldest 
planted  tea  the  capacity  per  10  acres  of  cultivated 
land  should  yield  at  no  distant  period  about  100,0001b, 
of  tea  per  annum,  this  year’s  crop  being  estimated  at 
80,0001b. 
It  is  proposed  to  erect  a large  factory,  which  on 
the  present  output  of  this  estate  should  effect  a cotr- 
siderable  economy;  in  addition  to  which  a large  profit 
may  be  derived  from  the  purchase  of  native  tea  from 
adjoining  estates  to  be  manufactured  and  sold  by  this 
Company. 
THE  INDO-CEYLON  RAILWAY: 
THE  VIEWS  OF  MR.  SHADBOLT  : COLOMBO 
TO  BE  THE  “ LONDON”  OF  ASIA.  ” 
We  are  pleased  to  he  able  to  lay  before  our 
readers,  the  following  very  clear  conclu.sive  letter 
addressed  to  us  by  Mr.  Sliadbolt,  Chief  Engineer 
on  the  Madura-Paumben  Survey,  whose  Report 
on  this  and  on  the  crossing  to  Ceylon  we  reviewed 
the  other  day.  It  will  be  ob.served  that  Mr. 
Shadbolt  is  convinced  the  line  must  l)e  on  the  metre- 
gauge  and  run  direct  to  Colombo  traversing  Adam’s 
Reef  Ijy  means  of  a solid  breakwater  rather 
tlian  by  scre-wpile  bridges  as  proposed  by  Mr 
Waring.  This  is  very  important ; for,  we  believe 
the  Indian  Engineer  must  have  consulted  the 
Marine  Surveys  and  based  his  Report  on  the  in- 
formation therein  contained.  A breakwater,  we 
need  scarcely  say,  depends  chiefly  on  local  labour 
and  material  and  every  year  should  see  it  grow 
more  stable,  requiring  nothing  in  upkeep  if  the 
surmise  be  correct  as  to  the  reef  rising  and  being 
added  to  steadily.  Here  is  Mr.  Shadbolt’s  letter  : — 
'To  the  Editor,  “ Ceylon  Obsemer” 
Coonoor,  25th  June,  1895. 
DkakSiI!, — I h.ave  to  thank  you  for  copies  of 
the  Ceylon  Ohserrer  of  8tli  ami  18th  June.  I see 
in  the  latter  a reference  to  my  Report,  so  I 
su)q)ose  you  have  seen  it.  It  has  ajiparently 
been  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Press  on  this 
side,  so  tlicre  is  no  impropriety  in  my  now  send- 
ing you  a copy. 
So  far  as  you  have  referred  to  the  matter,  your 
views  on  the  sul'jcct  ai»[iear  to  be  in  sympathy 
witli  my  own.  The  following  seem  to  me  the 
most  imiiortant  points  : — 
(I.)  The  line  must  be  on  the  metre-gauge; 
The  whole  of  Southern  India  is  occupieil  by  tins 
gauge. 
(2.)  The  line  must  run  direct  to  Colombo  and 
not  be  hampered  and  depreciated  by  trying  to 
work  it  in  witli  existing  lines. 
(3.)  With  regard  to  Adam’s  Bridge  the  shoals 
have  a tendency  to  increase  and  liecome  more 
stable  ami  a form  of  construction  should  bo 
ailojitcd  whicli  would  encourage  this.  See  “ Re- 
port ” for  views  on  the  water  currents. 
These  are  three  points  in  wliich  I fancy  j 
dill'er  es.sentially  from  Mr.  Waring. 
Tlie  following  are  matters  of  speculation  rather 
than  observ.ation  : — 
(4.)  1 believe  the  natural  iiosifion  of  Colombo 
ensures  it  a future  of  immense  importance.  Its 
situation  will  make  it  for  Asia  what  London  is 
to  Euro))e. 
(5.)  The  political  value  of  the  railway  would 
be  enormous  with  regard  to  the  Ear  East  in 
allowing  the  military  resources  of  Iinlia  to  be 
concentrated  at  such  a commanding  point. 
(6.)  The  fear  of  Ceylon  being  merged  in  India  is 
absolutely  puerile  ami  rests  on  nothing.  The  idea 
of  Madras  aniie.'ving  anything  is  Hlmo.st  uu- 
thinkable, 
