[May  1, 
766 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
1896. 
THE  EMPIRE  OF  INDIA  AND  CEYLON 
EXHIBITION. 
The  followinjf  is  tlie  correspoiulence  on  tliis 
subject  referred  to  in  tlife  minutes  of  tlie  “ Tliirty 
Committee”  : — 
4th  Mincing  Lane,  London,  28th  Feb.  1896. 
A Philip  Esq.,  Secretary  Thirty  Committee 
Kandy,  Ceylon. 
Dear  Sir, — I beg  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your 
telegram  of  26  inst.  “ Please  advice  Tetley  & Co., 
Mackenzie’s  application  of  £200  granted  for  Geneva 
Exhibition”  I at  once  advised  Messrs.  J.  Tetley  & 
Co.  and  I enclose  copy  of  their  reply,  I also  enclose 
copy  of  letter  from  Mr.  E.  E.  Green  and  of  my  reply 
thereto  in  regard  to  a proposed  Ceylon  Tea  House  at 
the  Empire  of  India  and  Ceylon  Exhibition  1896  the 
Earl’s  Court. 
I apprehend  that  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  grant- 
ing moral  support  to  an  old  planter  like  Mr. 
Green.  The  Indian  Tea  House  conduced  last  year 
by  Mr.  Langdale,  with  whom  Mr.  Green  is  now 
associated,  was  a great  success  on  the  occasion  of 
my  only  visit  to  the  Exhibition,  the  door  of  the 
Indian  Tea  House  was  besieged  by  a crow'd  strug- 
gling to  get  in,  myself  I had  to  give  it  up  and  go 
elsewhere.  . 
I have  today  from  Mr.  Rogivue  a long  and  interest- 
ing report  on  his  doings  in  Russia,  the  original  of 
which  has  I understand  has  gone  to  you.— I am,  yours 
faithfully,  (Signed).— W.  Martin  Le.akk. 
Copy.  Customs  Chambers,  14th  St  Dunstan’s 
Hill,  London,  27th  February  1896. 
’ W-  Martin  Leake,  Esq.,  4,  Mincing  Lane,  E.C. 
Dear  Sir, — With  reference  to  our  interview  this 
afternoon,  as  I then  explained  to  you  we  are  in 
treaty  with  the  Exhibition  Directors  for  the  conduct 
of  a Ceylon  Tea  House  at  the  coming  Empire  of 
ludia  and  Ceylon  Exhibition  1896.  At  present  affairs 
are  at  a stand-still  owing  to  opposition  from  the 
refreshment  coniractors,  Messrs.  Spiers  & Pond,  who 
wish  to  run  the  house  on  their  own  account. 
The  Directors  are,  however,  I believe  anxious  that 
the  Ceylon  Tea  House  should  be  conducted  by  some 
representative  of  Ceylon,  and  on  this  account  are 
willing . to  give  us  the  concession  on  condition  that 
we  can  obtain  the  moral  support  of  the  Planters’ 
Association  of  Ceylon.  The  matter  having  to  be 
definitely  settled  at  once,  there  is  no  time  to  com- 
municate direct  with  Ceylon.  But  we  think  that  a 
letter  from  you  in  our  favour  would  carry  great 
weight  with  the  Directors  of  the  Exhibitions. 
I may  mention  that  I am  myself  a tea  planter 
of  15  years’  standing  in  Ceylon  and  am  a member 
of  the  Pundaluoya  branch  of  the  Association. 
Mr.  E.  F.  Langdale,  one  of  our  partners  in  this 
concern,  as  you  are  doubtless  aware,  very  success- 
fully conducted  the  Indian  Tea  House  at  the  last 
Exhibition. 
It  seems  to  us  a great  pity  that  the  repre- 
sentation of  Ceylon  should  be  left  to  the  care 
of  mere  refreshment  contractors,  as  we  are  in- 
formed would  be  the  case  failing  the  acceptance 
of  our  offer.  , , , 
You  will  understand  that  we  ask  merely  for  the 
moral  support  of  the  Association  towarls  the 
Tea-house.  But  at  the  same  time  we  should  be  very 
glad  to  arrange  and  conduct  an  Exhibition  staff  of 
Teas,  and  other  Ceylon  Produce  if  the  Planters’ 
Association  would  vote  us  some  pecuniary  assistance 
for  this  latter  purpose,  and  senO  us  Exhibits. 
With  this  view  I am  by  this  mail  writing  to  the 
‘•Committee  of  Thirty  ” and  I should  feel  greatly 
obliged  if  you  would  also  send  them  your  views  on 
the  subject,  and  kindly  ask  for  a “ wire  ” in  reply 
to  our  request  for  support. 
to  the  Tea-house,  wc  are  prepaied 
■ to  submit  to  you  for  your  approval  samples  of  the 
Tea  that  wc  propose  to  supply  to  the  public. 
Kindly  address  your  reply  to  me  as  above.— 
Believe  me,  dear  sir,  yours  truly, 
(^Signed)  tE.  -Ernebt  Greek. 
Copy. 
The  Ceylon  Association  in  London,  4 Mincing 
Lane  E.C.  28th  February,  1896. 
E.  Ernest  Green  Esq.,  14th  St.  Dunstan  Hill,  E.C. 
Dear  Sir, — I have  your  letter  of  yesterday  in  re- 
ference to  the  proposed  Ceylon  Tea  House  at  the 
coming  Empire  of  India  and  Ceylon  Exhibition 
1896.  I have  been  for  some  time  desirous  of  finding 
some  one  connected  with  Ceylon  who  would  un- 
dertake this  venture ; and  I shall  be  very  glad  to 
hear  that  you  have  obtained  the  concession  of 
which  you  write. 
As  regards,  the  moral  support  of  the  Planters’ 
Association  of  Ceylon,  I have  every  reason  to  think 
that  this  will  be  accorded  you.  I write  today  to  Mr. 
Philip,  the  Secretary  of  the  Association,  in  support 
of  your  application  to  the  Thirty  Committee. 
The  fact  that  you  are  associated  in  the  venture 
with  Mr.  Langdale  who  so  successfully  ran  the  tea 
House  for  India  at  last  yeai’s  Exhibition,  will  no 
doubt  have  great  weight  in  Ceylon ; and  as  an  old 
tea  planter,  connected  with  the  Planters’  Associa- 
tion for  many  years,  you  are  in  a favourable  posi- 
sition  to  obtain  support. — I am,  dear  sir,  yours  faith- 
fully, (sigd.)  Wm.  Martin  Leake,  Secy. 
(Copy)  5 and  7 Ferndale  House  St.  Loudon, 
- 26th  February  1896. 
W.  Martin  Leake,  4 Mincing  Lane  E.C. 
Dear  Sir, — We  are  in  receipt  of  yours  of  today's 
date,  informing  us  that  your  Association  in  Ceylon 
have  granted  Mr.  Mackenzie's  application  for  a sub- 
sidy of  £200  towards  our  expenses  at  the  forth- 
coming Geneva  Exhibition. 
Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  convey  to  your  As- 
sociation our  sincere  thanks  for  this  very  liberal 
assistance  and  our  assurances,  that  wo  shall  use  it 
to  the  best  of  our  ability  in  promoting  the  interests 
of  Ceylon  tea. — We  are  dear  sir,  yours  very  faithfully, 
(Signed).  Joseph  Tetley  A Co. 
Copy.  Bearsted- Maidstone  Kent,  23th  Feb.  1896. 
Alex.  Philip  Esq  , Secretary  Planters’  Association 
of  Ceylon. 
Dear  Sir, — I shall  feel  greatly  obliged  if  you  will 
bring  the  following  communication  before  the  Plan- 
ters’ Association  of  Ceylon. 
I have  today  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  W.  Martin 
■ Leake  in  connection  with  the  representation  of  Ceylon 
at  the  forthcoming  “Empire  of  India  Exhibition  1896.” 
Mr.  Leake  is  I believe  writing  to  you  by  this  mail 
on  the  same  subject. 
I must  inform  you  that  in  Association  with  Mr. 
E.  F.  Langdale  who  so  successfully  conducts  the 
Indian  Tea  House  at  the  Exhibition  of  1895,  and 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Indian  Planters’  Association, 
I am  prepared  to  carry  on  a Tea  House  worked  on 
the  same  lines  in  the  interest  of  Ceylon.  Having 
heard  that  the  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon  had 
not  directly  moved  in  the  matter  and  w'ere  unwilling 
to  take  upon  themselves  the  risk  and  expense  of 
such  a concern,  we  recently'  approached  the  Direc- 
tors of  the  Exhibition  proposing  to  conduct  a Ceylon 
Tea  House  at  our  oini  risk  and  expense.  This 
proposal  they  seem  inclined  to  entertain  if  it  is 
backed,  as  we  hope  it  may  be  by  the  support  and 
approval  of  the  Ceylon  Planters’  Association.  Other- 
wise the  concession  is  I believe  to  be  given  to  the 
Refreshment  contractors  Messrs.  Spiers  & Pond  who 
could  scarcely  be  expected  to  pay  much  attention  to 
the  interests  of  Ceylon. 
As  the  time  at  our  disposal  was  so  short  wc 
thought  it  best  to  apply  to  Mi'.  J.  L.  Shand,  who 
referred  us  on  to  Mr.  Leake  for  permission  to  work 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Planters'  Association. 
This  Mr.  Leake  informs  us,  he  is  not  exactly  in  a 
position  to  give  without  previous  reference  to  the 
Parent  Association  in  Ceylon.  But  he  expresses 
himself  as  strongly  in  favour  of  our  scheme,  and  pro- 
mised to  write  you  to  ihat  effect,  and  ask  for  the 
nominal  support  of  the  Association. 
As  wc  are  gieatly  pressed  for  time,  we  should  be 
greatly  obliged  if  you  would  telegraph  to  (Mr.  Leake) 
the  assent  or  dissent  of  the  Planters’  Association  to 
our  proposals.  We  have  no  wish  or  intention  to 
move  in  the  matter  contrary  to  the  approval  of  ex- 
preset)  wishes  of  the  Associatiou. 
