March  i,  1897.]  TH£  I'ROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
641 
THE  MAZAWATTE  TEA  COMPANY. 
The  first  general  meeting  of  Mazawatte  Tea  Com- 
pany, Limited,  was  held  on  Friday,  at  the  Gaimon- 
stieet  Hotel.  Mr.  John  Lane  Deusham  (one  of  the 
managing  directors)  presided. — Tiie  Chairman.,  in 
moving  the  adoption  of  the  report,  expressed  his 
great  pleasure  at  seeing  so  large  a gathering.  The 
first  thing  he  should  like  to  mention  was  the  pleasing 
duty  the  directors  had  in  reporting  the  continued 
progress  of  the  business.  The  expansion  of  the 
trade  had  been  evidenced  in  all  parts  of  the 
United  Kingdom.  Their  tea  was  not  only  drunk  in 
every  part  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  but  he  might 
say  it  was  taken  from  Norway  and  Sweden  to  South 
Africa  and  to  Australia  and  West  Indies.  That  year 
they  had  been  able  to  pay  £15,000  to  the  vendors, 
at  the  rate  of  5 per  cent  on  the  capital  up  to 
Borne  time  in  July.  They  had  also  been  to  wipe 
out  all  expenses  for  extra  advertising.  Tea  was  taken 
more  in  agricultural  districts  than  in  other  places. 
He  looked  forward  to  a very  profitable  year — Mr. 
B.  Densham  (the  other  managing  director)  seconded 
the  report. — Mr.  Vickery  (a  shareholder)  suggested 
that  as  they  were  in  such  a flourishing  condition 
they  should  send  £200  to  the  Lord  Mayor  for  the 
Indian  Famine  Fund.  (Hear,  liear.)  He  thought 
they  could  afford  to  be  generous.  The  Chairman 
mentioned  that,  owing  to  there  having  been  a 
collection  in  the  tea  trade,  this  question  had  been 
considered,  and  it  was  thought  that  it  woirld  not  be 
a right  thing  for  a company  so  subscribe.  He  and 
his  brother  had  sent  a cheque  privately  from  their 
own  pockets,  but  he  would  oppose  a company  like 
that  giving  a donation,  no  matter  how  good  the  ob- 
ject. He  felt  very  strongly  on  the  subject. — Mr. 
Vickery  intimated  his  intention  of  moving  a reso- 
lution on  the  subject,  but  it  seemed  to  be  the  general 
wish  of  the  meeting  that  he  should  not  do  so,  and 
he  resumed  his  seat. — On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Vane, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Duke  Dyke,  it  was  agreed  that  a 
dividend  on  the  preference  shares  at  the  rate  of  £5 
per  cent,  per  annum,  and  a dividend  upon  the  ordi- 
nary shares  at  the  rate  of  £8  per  cent,  per  annum 
for  the  half-year  ended  December  21  last,  be  declared. 
— Other  business  was  transacted,  and  after  a vote  of 
thanks  to  the  chairman  the  meeting  terminated. 
NEW  COMPANIES  REGISTERED. 
CEYLON  PKOPRIF.TARY  TEA  ESTATES  COMPANY  LIMITED. 
Registered  January  20,  by  Murray,  Hitchins,  Stirl. 
ing,  and  Murray,  11,  Birchin-laue,  E.C.,  with  a capital 
of  £160,000  in  £l  shares.  Object,  to  purchase,  take  on 
lease,  hire,  or  otherwise  acquire  any  tea  or  other  estates 
or  lands  or  hereditaments  of  any  kind  in  Ceylon  or 
elsewhere,  and  any  machinery,  works,  stock,  and  plant, 
and  real  or  personal,  immoveable  or  moveable  estate 
or  property  of  any  kind  and  wheresoever  situ- 
ate, including  concessions  or  easements  of  any 
kind ; to  hold,  use,  cultivate,  work,  manage  im- 
prove, carry  on,  and  develop  the  undertaking,  lands, 
and  real  and  personal  estate,  or  property  and  assets 
of  any  kind  of  the  company,  or  a-  y part  thereof ; 
to  plant)  grow,  produce,  and  deal  in  tea,  coffee,  cin- 
chona, cocoa,  cardamoms,  and  other  plants,  trees, 
and  natural  products  of  any  kind  in  Ceylon  or 
elsewhere  ; to  work  mines  or  quarries  and  to  find, 
win,  get,  work,  crush,  smelt  manufacturer,  and  deal 
with  ores,  meials,  minerals,  oils,  precious  stones,  itc. 
The  signatories  are  : — 
Shares. 
H.  K.  Huthorford,  21,  Miucing-lano,  E.C.  i 
R.  A.  Cameron,  11,  Eastcheap,  E.C.  ..  l 
W.  dohubou,  Bart.,  21,  Miucing-lane,  E.C.  l 
D.  Reid,  Shootfield,  Sevenoaks  . . i 
H.  Tod,  21,  Mincing-lane,  E.C.  ..  i 
D.  R.  Smith,  41,  Eastcheap,  E.C.  ..  i 
G.  T.  White,  31,  Fenchurch-street,  E.C.  . . i 
The  directors  are  G.  A.  Talbot,  R.  A.  Cameron, 
H.  K.  Rutherford,  and  F.  H.  Wiggin.  Qualification’ 
£250.  Remuneration  as  fixed  by  the  company 
Registered  office:  21,  Mincing-lane,  E.C. 
CENTRAL  PROVINCE  CEYLON  TEA  COMPANY,  LIMITED. 
Registered  January  20,  by  Budd  & Co.,  24,  Aus^in- 
friars,  E.C.,  with  a capital  of  £100,000  in  £10  shares. 
Object,  to  adopt  and  carry  into  effect  four  agreements 
made  respectively  between  H.  P.  Powell,  S.  R.  Pryor, 
and  F.  M.  Mackwood,  and  the  Company  ; with  H.  E. 
Miliar  and  the  Company;  with  E.  M.  Smith  and  tie 
Company  ; and  withT.  M.  Mackwood ; and  to  establish 
and  maintain  any  mills,  factories,  or  works,  or  any  in- 
terest therein,  and  in  particular  tea,  coffee,  and  cocoa 
factories  for  treating  any  produce  of  Ceylon  or  the 
East  Indies,  or  any  other  part  of  the  world  ; for  manu- 
facturing and  dealing  with  the  same  ; as  merchants, 
storekeepers,  planters,  commission  or  other  agents, 
manufacturers,  shipowners,  carriers,  warehousemen, 
wharfingers,  underwriters,  contractors,  and  engineers; 
to  acquire  and  turn  to  account  any  oil  wells  ; as 
miners  and  smelters,  &c.  The  signatories  are  ; — 
Shares. 
H.  P.  Powell,  10,  Herbert-crescent,  S.  W.  . . 1 
A.  G.  Kendall,  26,  Palace-terrace,  VV-  ..  1 
F.  W.  Selfe,  6,  Trinity-road,  Wimbledon  ..  1 
C.  B.  Hervey,  88,  Cazenove-road,  Stoke  Newington  1 
T.  L.  Franck,  Tecoma,  Acton,  W.  , . 1 
S.  B.  Topham,  94,  Constantine-road,  Hampstead  . . 1 
F.  O’Connor,  Stoke  Villa,  Forest-gate,  E.  ..  1 
The  directors  are  H.  P Powell,  S.  R.  Pryor,  and 
F.  M.  Mackwood.  Qualification,  £500.  Registered 
office:  148,  Leadenhall-street,  E.C. — U.  <£•  C,  Mail, 
February  5. 
^ 
THE  DUTY  ON  TEA  AND  WAREHOUSE 
ABUSES. 
To  the  Editor  of  The  Home-  and  Colonial  Mail. 
Sir, — I understand  the  Indian  Tea  Association  of 
Calcutta  have  passed  a resolution  in  favour  of  the 
reduction  or  abolition  of  the  import  duty  on  tea,  and 
have  forwarded  an  earnest  appeal  to  the  Association 
in  London  to  use  their  best  efforts  towards  the 
attainment  of  this  end.  It  is  to  be  hoped  the  council 
of  our  Association  may  give  the  matter  that  inde- 
pendent and  through  investigation  and  consideration 
to  which  it  is  entitled,  and  act  for  the  best  interests 
of  the  producer  and  consumer. 
Let  us  consider  this  important  question  in  some 
of  its  bearings.  It  is  sometimes  urged  that  the 
duty  properly  acts  as  a premium  on  qualiti/ 
and  that  its  abolition  or  further  reduction 
would  unduly  encourage  the  production  of  com- 
mon and  low-class  teas.  But  the  changes  under 
discussion  could  never  unfairly  discourage  the  manu- 
facture of  the  fine  teas,  because  it  never  can  be 
otherwise  than  for  the  benefit  of  gardens,  with  the 
soil  and  conditions  favourable  to  their  production, 
to  aim  at  the  highest  quality , On  the  other  hand, 
abolition  or  reduction  can  be  no  more  than  fair  to 
gardens  wanting  in  the  natural  advantages  for  the 
growth  of  prime  quality  teas,  which  all  over  India 
must  always  constitute  the  vast  majority.  The 
duty  undoubtedly  favours  the  minority  with  na- 
ture on  the  side  of  quality,  and  unfairly  handi- 
caps the  great  majority  of  concerns  only  capable, 
with  the  utmost  skill  and  care,  of  turning  out  teas 
exquisite  make,  it  may  be,  Lut  withal  of  medium 
quality.  This  is  beyond  dispute.  To  put  it  plainly, 
“ stand-out  ” and  higd-class  teas  can  afford  to  be 
watered  by  dutjq  so  to  speak,  to  an  e.xtent  that 
common  and  medium  teas  cannot.  This  is  demons- 
trated by  a very  simple  formula  as  given  below. 
Doubtless,  abolition  or  material  reduction  of  duty 
would  unjustly  favour  the  poorer  teas  from  China  or 
Japan.  This  may  not  be  viewed  with  apprehension 
just  at  present.  It  \yould,  however,  if  the  China 
trade  should  revive,  in  which  case  the  equitable  ad- 
justment (though  probably  more  than  need  be 
looked  for  under  our  free  trade  policy)  would  be 
continuance  of  duty  in  case  of  repeal,  or  otherwise 
differential  duty'  on  non-British-grown  imports,  which 
is  required  to  compensate  the  imperial  producer  to 
the  extent  he  is  handicapped  against  free  silver 
countries  through  the  operation  of  existing  Indian 
exchange  and  currency  regulations. 
