Vol. XL COLOMBO, MARCH IST, 1892, [No. 9 - 
SKTTLEMEXT OF TIIK TEA SAFES QUESTION. 
B ara sincerely glad to learn, 
as wo do by our London 
Letter last received, that the 
matter of Ceylon tea sales in 
the Mincing Lane rooms has 
been satisfactorily determin- 
ed. Indeed, it seems diffi 
cult to understand why, the Committee of 
those rooms being ready and able on the first 
application to grant every desired facility, that 
we hero and the trade and its brokers in London 
should for so long have had to submit to disabilities 
which we have little doubt have often been the cause 
for low prices having been obtainod for our teas. 
The Committee has readily granted the use of a 
second room ; and it seems to be matter of general 
agreement by the brokers that Ceylon sales shall 
proceed in it throughout the whole of Tuesdays and 
Thursdays, simultaneously with the sale of Indian 
sorts in another room. Whether this present limi- 
tation to the two days will eventually be found to 
Bufiice for the demands of the increasing trade 
in Ceylon teas it is not possible to say ; but 
should it prove to be incommensurate with that 
demand, the Committee, it would appear, 
Vaises no objection, should it be neceasary 
•0 do BO, to Bales being held on every day of 
the week. The determination to follow such a 
course will rest at any time with the brokers 
engaged in the trade. If they find it imperative 
to absorb another day, or even more days, they 
can do so by arrangement among themselves 
without the chance of objection being raised by the 
proprietors of the sale rooms. For the future, 
therefore, we ought to hear of no more complaints 
as to the impossibility of giving a sufficiency of 
time for the exhibition and testing of samples, 
though doubtless it will bo desirable that our 
shippers should bear in mind the necessity lor 
giving to their brokers greater latitude as to time 
than they have hitherto enjoyed, in deciding upon 
placing the shipments entrusted to them upon the 
market. The only difficulty which would seem 
to be apprehended by the wholesale trade is the 
DBcesBity which the concurrent sales of Indian and 
Ceylon teas will place them under of providing 
additional buyers. It is evident one buyer cannot 
bo attending to the sales in both rooms at one 
and the same time ; and doubtless the increase 
of the staff required will be viewed by 
a good many among the dealers with some 
amount of dissatisfaction. Bat this cannot be 
helped, and wo are told that the dealers have 
expressed themselves ready to snbmit to tbs 
necessity involved in the change. To many of 
them the burden must prove to be but a plight 
one, because the largely decreasing volume of the 
China teas dealt in must set free to a very great 
extent the buyers the dealers employ in that 
branch of their trade. We expect, therefore, to 
hear but of little oppoaition to the new arrange- 
ment, which came into operation on the 16 th 
December last. Proof has already been afforded 
to, and before quoted by us, of the serious 
monetary loss to which the system now abandoned 
has Bobjeoted oar planters, and we hope that the 
ooDoessiona now yielded may have a sensible effect 
in maintaining the prioes of our teas at more 
level standards. At the same time, however, as 
we permit onraelvea to express the expectation 
that such a result will follow the new arrange- 
ments, we would ask onr planting brethren not 
to neglect the many warnings they have of 
late received as to other points by which they 
have themselves contributed to the serious fluo- 
tuation which they have had to submit to. 
' NOTES FROM OUR LONDON LETTER. 
London, Jan. Ist. 
! There has for some time been a lull in the 
j announcement of new companies starting in the 
tea enlerprize of Ceylon; but one has just been 
announood which, from the weight of the names 
ooDcerned with it, will probably attract mnch 
support. The following ontting from a financial 
I paper will give you ail the information as yet poss- 
I eesed by me with reference to this new ventare, 
though it may be hoped that by the time of my 
next writing it may be possible tor me to afford 
yon further detailsi respecting it, 
Mr, John Hughes has addressed a very lengthy 
letter to the Qrocer (or it may be to the Spicer, 
if there be such a paper, for the handwriting 
I attached to the extract lent to mo ia so bad that 
I it ia impoBsible to aocurately determine the name 
of the paper) on the eubjoot of ‘‘ the agricnltural 
value of shoddy.” You will recollect that tbia 
subject received much ventilation in your columns 
1 at the time the proprietors of the Mariawatte 
estate decided, on Mr. Hoghea’ recommendation, 
