428 
THE  TROPICA! 
AGRICULTURIST, 
[Dec.  I,  1896. 
Natal  Estates. — 'I’he  first  annual  f'enoral  meeting 
was  held  yesterday  at  the  offices,  3 Fenchureh-street. 
E.C.,  Mr.  Thomas  Bell  presiding.  The  Chairman,  in 
moving  the  adoption  of  the  report,  said  the  transfer 
of  the  property  had  been  comp  eted,  and  that  the  trust 
deed  securing  the  debenture  holder.s  had  been  dnlv  re- 
gistered in  Natal.  The  profit  on  the  operations  of  fbe 
company  amoujited  to  £,10,483  Kir  Cd.  Fr  «m  ;...s 
amount  £l,0'!0had  been  written  if  or  depr,  ■.na''.cn,  r.s 
well  as  £1,.')3S  the  whole  cost  of  the  crau.'for  i • 
perty,  .Vc.,  and  after  allow iiJS;  for  the  pa- oo.i’.t  ■ ‘ ii<- 
henture  intere.st  &r.,  there  was  an  av.iil  tl'i-j  ind  n>.o 
of  £4,830  IGs.  6d.  Out  of  this  the  director.s  pr  .p  'Sou  to 
pay  a dividend  of  5 per  cent,  for  the  past  year  which 
would  absorb  £3,750,  leaving  a balance  of  £1,08G  IGs. 
6d.  to  be  carried  forward.  In  conclusion  the  Chairman 
said  that  good  progress  was  being  made  with  the  orectiv.  u 
of  the  building  for  the  sugar  machinery.  Captain  G.  A. 
K.  Wisely  seconded  the  motion,  which  was  eavriocl. — 
Doihi  Vh-onide. 
OOKFI'.l-:  IN  NVAS.SAL.tND. 
Ghambiu's'  Journal  for  November  has  an  article 
on  cort'ee  planting  in  Nyassaland  worth  giving 
in  the  Tropical  A(jrioulturist  ; also  a good  deal 
of  information  about  India-rubber  which  must, 
undoubtedly,  be  cultivated  in  Ceylon  much  more 
widely  than  it  i.s  so  far.  Orange-growing  in 
Jaffa,  Syria,  is  the  subject  of  another  paper. 
AT  THE  NATAL  TEA  GAliUENS. 
HOW  A BIG  INDUSTKY  HAS  GROWN— A VI.81T  TO 
KEARSNEY  — RE-OPENING  OF  THE  NEW  FACTORY. 
“ air.  and  Mrs.  J.  Liege  Hulett  at  Home,  Octo- 
ber 14th,  189G,  at  ‘2  30  p.  m.,  ou  the  occasion  of  the 
opening  of  the  restored  Kearsney  Tea  Factory, , by 
his  Excellency  the  Governor.”  Thus  ran  the  invita- 
tion received,  aud  which  was  readily  accepted,  for 
several  reasons.  To  begin  with,  I the  first  person 
is  adopted  for  the  sake  of  convenience— had  never, 
despite  a long  residence  in  the  Colony,  seen  a 
Natal  tea  estate,  and,  in  addition,  I had  so  often 
had  to  decline  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hulett’s  kindly  in- 
vitations, that  I could  not  allow  such  a special  op- 
portunity to  pass.  Well,  then,  after  much  pre- 
paration, such  are  the  exigencies  of  the  jourua- 
list’e  daily  vouud,  Tuesday  saw  me  rushing  madly 
along,  so  far  as  N.G.R.  conditions  (with  allowances 
for  long  rests  at  the  various  stations,  almost  as 
marked  as  the  long  waits  at  theatrical  perfoiiuaiice.s) 
and  post-cait  anangeinents  would  _ permit.  The 
roads  were  in  oseellent  condition-;  indeed,  as  one 
of  the  members  for  Maritzbuvg  remarked  (little 
thinking  of  tlie  compliment  ho  was  p-tying  to  the 
Qovernriiont),  von  could  get  along  well  on  them  by 
bicycle.  I has't-on  to  say  that  the  member  in  ques- 
tion was  Mr.  Tatham,  who  was  in  a most  ompla- 
c*nt  mood,  and  w.is  not  heard  to  hinl  y.  singio 
epithet  at  the  ‘ terrible”  Ministry  by  whieh  Ndt  .l 
is  at  present  governed.  This,  by  the  w.iy.  There 
was  a race,  en  route,  between  the  post-cart  and  a 
Government  official- but  that  is  another  srory, 
which  shall  be  duly  related  and  embollished  at 
another  time.  On  we  bowled,  arriving  at  St.mgor 
just  AS  a rinderpest  meeting  was  ovr-r.  Twelve  to 
fourteen  years  ha>o  rolled  by  since  lust  I was 
at  this  village,  and,  while  it  did  not  se-m 
much  altered,  there  wore  notable  suivounding 
additions.  Our  host’s  stalwart  sons  and  his 
son-in-law  (Mr.  Clayton,  met  us,  aud  diove 
us  at  an  enjoyable  and  inspiriting  pace  the  five 
miles  to  Kearsney,  which  estate  soon  burst  into  view, 
with  the  palatiaf  residence  of  the  founder  of  the 
tea  industry,  comm  Hiding  an  extensive  and  charm- 
ing view  from  the  eminence  on  which  it  is  situated. 
1 should  say  it  is  one  of  the  finest  residences  in 
the  Colony,  and  its  respected  occupants  are  m we 
than  proportionately  hospitable,  fdome  of  thegno.-ta 
invited  for  the  occasion  had  arrived  in  the  morning, 
and  the  remainder  arrived  during  the  evening.  His 
KXcelleHcy  the  Governor,  the  Hon.  Mr.  Murray, 
C..M.O.,  aud  Capt.  Marshall  travelled  leisurely  in  the 
Government  mule-wagon,  breaking  the  journey  at 
the  large  new  Tongaat  Sugar  Mill,  which  they  spent 
some  time  in  inspecting,  and  also  lunched  with  Mr. 
Saunders.  Ain  'Ugst  ochevs  were  Colonel  Gough,  Mr. 
G.  UayU'3  (Moyor  of  Du.lian).  Mr.  1’.  S.  T..\.tham, 
M.T  A . ..Ir.  r.  G mm,  m t.  a..  Mr.  M Tshall  Campbell 
(of  .'J  "I'U  E ,-f;a  Humb'y,  e -a  umr 
of  1 N'orr.l-.  C'-a»t  Lint.  ' ho ''nil'ank.nent  for  WAich, 
by  :.o  .1  t J - o-in'r  s-nactiy  pi’-;'.,  I on,  wo-k 
i.  I'  i--..  o- e.'i  toA;  . . -.4  rbo  w'ay  to  .Stanger. 
['  n s a Avi  p;.- , a . ilinner  p rty  that  as- 
.lembleJ,  and  afterwards  t.ne  niaj*rity  slept  so  soundly 
that  uhev  were  up  by  3 o’clock  next  morning — at 
least  some  of  tlic-m — enjoying  the  fresh  air  and  ex- 
ploring the  estate.  The  scope  there  is  for  this  may 
be  gathered  when  it  is  stated  that  you  oan  walk 
for  10  miles  aud  yet  keep  ^vithiu  the  bounds  of 
Messrs.  Plulett  A Sons’  estate.  And  such  an 
estate  ! Row  upon  row,  almost  as  far  as  the 
eye  can  roaoli,  are  to  be  seen  the  verdant-look- 
ing tea  plants,  all  well  tended  and  in  order.  It  is, 
in  fact,  a huge,  well-kept  garden,  and  g.rzing  upon 
it  one.  can  realise  the  mmense  amount  of  labour 
necessary  to  keep  it  in  order  and  carry  out  the  work, 
and  also  why  planters  and  farmers  are  such  con- 
sistent advocates  for  the  employment  of  Indian 
labour.  Mr.  Hulett  will  tell  you,  for  instance,  that 
tliere  are  not  kafirs  enough  in  the  Colony  able  to 
work  to  supply  its  needs;  that  if  there  were  they 
are  not  compirahle  with  tlio  coolie,  who  gives  twice 
as  much  work ; that  although  in  the  old  days  native 
labourers,  to  a limited  extent,  were  employed  at  an 
average  wage  of  lOs,  the  coolie  is  much  more  satis- 
factory at  the  increased  cost.  But  this  is  a question 
about  which,  amongst  other.s,  a great  deal  was  said, 
aud  much  that  is  useful  during  discussion  at  Kearsney, 
and  which  scarcely  come  within  the  scope  of  this 
article,  which  is  to  describe  an  industry  and  a pleasant 
function  in  connection  with  it. 
Dec.  27th  last,  during  the  hours  of  the  night, 
the  industrious  family  at  Kearsney  were  roused  by 
the  dreaded  cry  of  “ fire,”  and  hastily  running  to 
their  windows  they  beheld  the  factory  on  fire.  It 
was  completely  within  the  pow'er  of  the  flames,  aud 
practically  everything,  except  the  engines  and  boiler, 
was  lo.st.  It  was  about  4 o’clock  in  the  morning 
before  Mr.  Hulett,  senr  , was  made  acquainted  with  the 
oalaniit^'',  and  in  his  practical  way  he  set  about  con- 
sidering the  xiosition.  Before  G o’clock  he  had  written 
out  telegrams  to  Durban,  aud  cables  to  England,  order- 
ing new  machinery.  Next  day  clearing  the  debris, 
was  commenced,  aud  soon  Mr.  Hulett  an  ! his  sous 
along  with  all  labour  that  could  be  commended,  were 
busily  engaged  in  brick-making  and  other  w'ork,  and, 
a plan  having  been  decided  upon,  the  small  sections 
— i.e.,  small  in  comparison  with  the  main  building, 
though  large  iii  themselves — were  commenced,  and 
were  rc.ady  to  recei  ve  the  new  machinery,  whi  di 
anivsd  fiom  England  vvithin  two  months  of  the 
fire,  and  wiiiiin  two  and-a-half  months  were  in 
po.'ition  an-1  wo'.k  coiniaenood.  As  a specimen  of 
colonial  eut,elpll^J  aud  dcterininatian  after  disar.ter 
it  is  s,ucly  worth}'  of  the  highest  admiration.  Th.e 
main  faot-:>iy.  built  ou  the  foundations  of  the  old, 
but  a story  higiier,  was  quick  to  follow,  .and  it  was 
the  opeuiug  of  the  completed  f.rctory  that  prompted 
t'.ia  visit  t'1  Rears  my.  The  nr  in  (mikiing  is  150  ft. 
long  b>  73  r . wide,  and  contiins  in  .ad-lition  to 
t.)--.  gv..;iii;t  11. or.  four  I rgH  \.'iiho:’iig  fi 'o'  > ;in  full 
B.Z6  of  toe  ouiidirg,  aiul  two,  150  ft.  by  23  ft.,  in 
toe  lantern  which  surmounts  it.  W'ith  the  lavge 
box-room,  le.id  rooin,,  workshop,  the  large  rooms  con- 
t.aining  the  machinery,  Ac.,  the  whole  length  of  the 
building  is  about  1.50  ft.,  and  is  Imilt  of  brick,  with 
Huhstaiuial  wood  and  concrete  floor. 
A brief  du.scription  of  the  processes  within  these 
premises  may  lie  interesting  aud  instructive.  As 
th-i  coolies  come  iu  from  the  gardens  with  their 
ha.skets,  the  pickle. 1 leaves  from  the  tea  plants  ate 
spread  on  the  floors  iu  a thin  layer,  to  wither,  the 
idea  being  that  the  loaf  should  then  be  to  the  touch 
something  like  a soft  silk  handerkerchief.  Becau-se 
