584 
Supylemerd to the Tropical Agriculturist.” [Feb 1, 1898. 
Kewnliam of another clime. But, visions apart, 
what benefits has this new development of this 
site to recommend it ? I will briefly enumerate 
them: — (1) The University will provide lectures 
in Letters — Litt : Hum: inlaw: in Medicine, in 
the applied Sciences : Engineering, Surveying, 
Electrical Engineering, Forestry, Agricultural 
Science. (2) All the teaching strength of Colombo 
— which is dreadfully wasted as it is, — would be 
concentrated for the benefit of all — and there 
would not only be a great addition to the strength 
of the tutorial staff, but there would be a great 
economy in the cost. Yon would have a better 
service cheaper. Think how strong the tutorial 
staff -would be with the pick of "Wesley, tlie Eoyal, 
St. Joseph’s and St. Thomas’, this school and St. 
Benedict’s combined. Jlany others of us would 
be glad to offer our services : imagine how much 
more efficient would be the exercises of Mr. Broun, 
Mr. Human, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Templeton and 
many others, who now have to work with what 
material they can pick up. Many others of us 
would help. I for one would gladly serve under 
the classical tutor as a lecture in my hobby — 
English literature. Then, again, there is the 
social side. The old schools would still be 
gathered in friendly rivalry, with better know- 
ledge of each other, more chance of mutual 
improvement, with far finer pla^’ing- fields, and 
without the ragtails and bobtails, wlio now spend 
years at the schools without learning anything. 
Think of the advantage to the law students and 
medical students to be kep)t in hand and nursed 
in the tradition of a University, instead of being 
.scattered about without cohesion or a local 
habitation. This too would be a solution of the 
problem which the Government has to meet in 
regard to appointments. When the class lists 
come out every year, the prize to the wdnners 
in the classical and mathematical sides would 
be University scholarships of £100 a year for 
three years at Cambridge, with the option of a 
local cadetship on taking at least a second class at 
Cambridge. Another English scholarship of £100 
would go to the first in the Science Schools, for a 
three years’ course at Cooper’s Hill to be followed 
— after a satisfactory final examinatin at Cooper’s 
Hill, — by a nomination into the Public Works 
Department. Other -w^ell placed lads in the 
Science side would get posted to vacancies in 
the Survey Department, in the Railw'aj- Work- 
shops ; in the Municipal Electrical Department. 
The first in class should have a scholarship of £50 
a year to help him on at the Bar Examinations in 
England. Similarly, those in the Forestry and 
Agricultural Schools at Dehradun would earn 
scholarships to be follow’cd and supported on good 
reports. There would be a regular e.xamination 
held at stated intervals — once a year — just such 
a central test as should satisfy the Government : 
and we w'ould all — I mean all of us who have 
thrown in our lives with Ceylon, whether we 
are born here, or who merely come to live and 
die here, or -wdio totter home to rest a few years 
in England — w'e would all be proud of our 
University at a city wdiere alone throughout the 
East I believe such a University 1 o be possible ; 
and my friend, the Superintendent of the School 
of Agriculture, would make a first-rate Bursar, 
as well as lecturer, and he and I would put 
our heads together and see liow we could manage 
to run it at a cost to the Government, and to- 
the Government Educational Societies, at not 
more than they sirend now to less purpose- 
Thus and thus, Indies and gentlemen, would I 
do were I Eiug cf Utopia. 
Mr. S. C. Obe-yesekeba was the next speaker. 
He thought Agriculture was one of the most 
honorable industries that a man could occupy 
himself with. He condemned the captious critics 
who ran down the Agricultural School, which 
was one of the best things that Government 
had given to the people. It was one -whicli the 
Government had given for the greatest good of 
the greatest number. If the .'speaker had been 
able to avail himself of the agricultural training 
that was imparted in this school, he would 
have been much better able to di.scharge tlie 
functions of a landlord, than at present, and with 
more satisfaction to himself and the labourers 
under him. Ceylon possessed in an eminent 
degree, land, labour, and the capital for agricul- 
ture, but the only -want for the improvement 
of this industry -was scientific knowledge on the 
subject. This was a subject necessary to be 
seriously considered for the improvement and 
advancement of the masses of the population. 
Criticising the School on a commercial basis was 
an act of suicide and deserved tlie greatest cen- 
sure- The Government which -urns a paternal one 
did not require profits as in a commercial under- 
taking, The profits and returns of the expenditure 
incurred, would be the amelioration of the people. 
The amelioration of the people and the improve- 
ment of the industry should be carried on 
through the medium of the school, and it vi'as 
no matter whether there was an annual loss of 
£600, or even a thousand or two. This educa- 
tion shoidd be supported by the Government 
for the good of the people. It was a recognized 
policy with the Eastern Kings, to devote funds 
for the improvement of agriculture without con- 
sideiing its returms. Why was it? Simply for 
the amelioration of the condition of the people. 
He then touched on the works done by King 
Pauduw'asa in Pihitirata, followed by Kings 
Dhatusena and Prakramabahu. Visitors to the 
parts of the Island where irrigation works had 
been carried on by Sinhalese Kings, would be 
surprised to see what amounts must have been 
spent on tnem, for the improvement of agri- 
culture. Were they reproductive w'orks on a 
commercial basis ? The same wms the case during 
the Dutch Government under Governors Flack, 
Vandergraes and Van Eyck. As an instance he 
pointed to the Mulleriyaw'a tank, a few miles from 
Colombo. He was sure that all would agree with 
him that the Agricultural School needed only 
encouragement, and he maintained that its exis- 
tence should be hailed by everyone. 
Mr. Advocate James Pebis was the next 
speaker. He said he had been asked to move 
a vote of thanks to the Chairman. He was sure 
that every one would agree, that the selection 
made by Mr-. Drieberg for the Chairman was 
an excellent one. The Chairman had taken a 
great interest in the people of Ceylon, since the 
day he liad landed in the Island. He had taken a 
great deal of interest in his official and private 
capacities, in agriculture and education in the 
Island, and his interest in these subjects was 
evident from the educational scheme given by him 
