176 THE TftOPlOAL AOIRIOULTURI8T. [September i, 1891. 
there mnst be some experiments which were fatile, 
especially in a country like that in which they were 
carryitiff on operations, end iu a class of mining 
never before tried. To show them the great difficulty 
of transport he might mention that one of their largo 
washing machines had cost no less than 21,000 rnpecs 
to bo convoyed CO or 70 miles from the river ip the 
place where it had to be put np. After referring to 
the telegram, dated Kangoon, July 2(id, from The Thnee' 
Correspondent — in which reference was made to the 
present seseon being an unhealthy one throughout 
Burmah— the chairman stated that during the lost few 
months the information which they had received showed 
that the company’s staff were perfectly well, In his 
last latter Major Kuuhardt stated that he woold require 
no money from England this year, and be fcl* quiW 
sure that, unless any unforeseen expondltnre ooourroo, 
this promise of their chief engineer’s would bo fill, 
filled. They had very largely increased the numbst 
of leases which they gave to native miners who did 
not interfere with the company’s work, and the 
amount received under this head alraoat topresonted 
two lakhs of repees per annum. This woulil be suffi- 
cient to carry on their works at Burmah without trench- 
ing on their supplies at home. The only machinery 
now going out to Butmnh was several miles of rope- 
way — iron wire — which wonld be used for oorryiug the 
rnby-bearing earth to their statioua. When the aerial 
rope-way was completed, Major Kuuhardt believed 
that their undertaking wonld be a siiccoes and a 
paying concern. It was hi.s firm belief that the 
corner liad at last been tnriiod, and that an era 
of prosperity would sliortly dawn for the conipsuy. 
Mr. George B. C. Levorson seconded the motion. At 
the request of the chairman, Mr. Kirby afterwards 
addressed the meeting, and spoke highly of the work 
which had been dono by Major Kuuhardt, and ex- 
pressed his conviction that, with a littla more pati- 
ence, exploration, and assistauco, the company would 
bo able to produce the finest rubies iu Ilia world. 
Major Joseph thought the directors should do their 
utmost to obtain a modification of the arrangcradbl 
with the Government under wliicli they would have_ 
to pay a smaller amount ior rent, the sum at present 
being, he considered, most oppressive. Mr. E. K. 
Biirslal inquired what experience Major Knnhardt 
had had of miiiicg, and wliethor auv portion of his 
remuneration depended on resnlts. Uewas sure that 
filching occurred if the ruby-bearing earth could be 
touched by the natives. Having regard to the posi- 
tion of Iho oompany, bo considered that the dircotora 
should forego a portion of their fees. Ho iiitiniatod 
his luteutiou oi propoaiDg tho following resolution 
“That, considering the very unsatisfactory ohar^ter 
of the accounts presented to tho meeting, tho shares 
holders ato of opinion that it is advisablo to retlaoe 
the number of directors and tho amount of their 
fees." Tho chairman, in reply, stated that Mr. 
Burstal’s resolution could bo dealt with afterwarjs 
on the propnsal for tho ru-eleotion of tho retired 
directors. Major Knnhardt was certainly not a 
mining engineer in tho toDhiiioal sense of the word, 
but tho company’s mines wore not mines in tho 
technical sense of tho word. Ue was a man of 
all round ability, and those who had botn connected 
with the Government of ludia or public works there 
know Major Knnhardt’a reputation as a most eono- 
mical worker. They woro now iiegolialing with the 
Povornment of India to ruduoo tho rent as much as 
thov pcs iWy could. Tho question of tho term of 
(he lease would he taken up directly tho question of 
the rent was settled. There was no doubt that 
whether tbev had a formal extension of the term or 
not, they bad tho right of continuing work at the 
mines as against ail other flomers, this right 
had been and would bo accepted by tho Cravernment. 
They couUl work tho mioes they likeu lor 
()9 yearfl. With regard to the proposed road to the 
miues, the Oovernment had pot it oil from month to 
month. About a fortnight ago there waa a tolcgram 
in The Times stating that another fivo lakhs had been 
sanotionid for expenditure on tho road. Ho only 
hoped that this money would be spent and not be 
swept lute tho Treasury at the close of the financial 
yesr, as had happened with other sums of money 
which had been sanctioned for the same purpose. 
With reference to tho disposal of tho rubies, the 
directors would be pleased to receive any suggestions 
from experts. It was a mitteir of great importance, 
but at present ho was in favour of their being sold by 
public auction. It was not reasonable for the share- 
holders to expect the directors to work for nothing, 
but if they were dissatisfied they could at auy time 
get rid of the directors. A shareholder observed thit 
there were too u any diteolors, Tho ohairman, rosn- 
ming, said that this was a point which was about to 
come before them. The number of the directors and 
tbeir remuneration wore set out iu the articlea of 
association. So far as they now understood from 
Major Kuuhardt, all washing was done under the 
direct supervision of Eoglishmeu. Mr. Bookhart, the 
jate chief engioecr, said ho could not share altogether 
in tho view which bad been expressed by the chairman 
that the prospects of the company were satiafactory 
and reassuring. The question of oeutralization was 
this— the difference between working huge machinery 
at centres and small machinery distributed. He main- 
tained that the batter plan was to have amalUr 
machines, and that had -ucU m^cUiiics been rent out 
they could have been at wurk Kiig ago, and ns ills 
might have boon obtain' d from all of them. He did 
not thiuk that a dividend con'd be lookeil for 
within a reasonable aud abort time, Ue did not 
desire to say aiiylhiug hostile to the directors, 
but ho did net think they understood the position, 
and ho thought they should ask a sma'l eommi'lee, 
chiofly composed of tachuical nion, shsreholders in tho 
oumpauy, to confer with them in reg.ird to tho method 
of working. 'The chairman, in further leply, stated 
that the object of the oeotralisatiou of the wo k, of 
bringing all tho earth to Urge washers at central 
stations, was really to do away with minute supervi.-ion 
at a great number of dol.iohed and soparato plaoe.s, nn 1 
tu allow tho supervision to be exercised nt main pi ices, 
where it could ba more prec'se and cerlain. 'I'ho 
resolution was then c.iriiod. On the motion for the 
re-clectiou of tho retiring direolors — Sir J. II. Mo:ri( 
and Mr. F. A. Gillam— oonsiderabla disoussioii ens.ied, 
it b.ing contended that the number of directors w.is 
too large and that their foes were too heavy. Tlio 
re-eleotion of Sir J. II. Morris was also objected to 
on tho ground that he is a director of tcnovhor com- 
panies. Tho solicitor read ths clauses in thearlioles 
ot aasociatioD relating to tho number and election of 
directors — one clause stating that they should ba not 
Ie«8 than three nor more than ten— and pointed out 
that if tho directors ware not re-rdaclod, and no ouo 
else was appointed in their stead, tho retiring 
directors would remain iu office for a year ; while, 
as regarded tho olectiou of uow directors, seven days 
notice ought to bo given by tho shareholders. Tliis 
view was dissented from by ilajor Josaph and other 
speakers. Tho Chairmau aaid he could not put a reso- 
lution which was illegal, but ho would take an 
expression of opinion from the shareholders as to tho 
re-election of the retiring ducctorii. Ho then put 
tho motion, which was lost on the shov of hands by 
an overwhelming majority. — London Tiittss, July 11th. 
I LUMirAOO Mining in tor Bentota District. — bVe 
woro shown on Saturday a magnificent piece of plum- 
b-igo found in the newly sunk mines of the Ct ylon 
Gemming and Mining jn the Bentota 
dietrict. The specimen in it.s entirety scaled sonie 
fifteen pounds, and was discovered at a depth of ten 
fathoms, tho vein giving promise of jicldiug an 
abundant supply of the mineral. Mr. H. Betlison, tho 
ougincor of the minoj, 1 aves for England on Monday, 
and on his return will bring with him sovoral Uoruish 
miners, who will take up positions as overseers. Tho 
local agents of the Syndicate are Messrs E. G. Harding 
and Co,— Local “ Independent,” 
