April i, 1892.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
ns 
during the last few weeks in reforenoe to Euoalyptus 
Oil— pronounced a sulScient preventive of influenza. 
The demand became bo great that the six- penny 
bottles speedily became a shilling and the article 
even then sold seemed very weak I Now, no 
doubt, there will be a run on “ Salicin ” ; but 
influenza itself is on the wane and there can be 
no doubt that a great many socalled cases are 
only ordinary winter colds, and that of the older 
people who suffer and so many of whom die, 
the larger proportion would have the same experience 
if influenza had never been heard of. Still, of 
course, there is a considerable number of cases of 
undoubted “ influenza ” in its own peculiar form. 
The Eucax-vitub is Sick-Rooms. — At present, when 
everybody is sniflSng eucalyptas oil to ward off the 
influenza, the following from Cassell's Magazine will 
be interesting : — " The custom of placing green boughs 
of the eucalyptus or blue gum tree in sick rooms is 
extending in Australia. It is stated that the volatile 
perfume has a favourable effect on consumptive 
patients, and is also able to promote sleep. Pr. 
Curgevon expresses his opinion that if placed under 
the sick-bed in cases of scarlet fever the boughs will 
disinfect it and every article in tho room." 
THE TALGASWELA TEA COMPANY. 
The annual general meeting of the Talgaswela 
Tea Company, Ltd., was held this afternoon in 
the offices of the Secretaries, Meesrs. Baker & 
Hall, 17 Chatham Street. On the motion of Mr. 
T. \V. Hall seconded by Mr. W. H, Davies Mr. 
H. Van Ouylenburg was called to the chair. The 
other gentlemen present were Messrs. E. Suhron, 
G. C. Walker and W. Baker. Mr. Van Ouylenburg 
in moving the adoption of the report which has 
already been published in our columns said he thought 
those present would agree with him that the report 
on the whole was satisfactory. The larger acreage 
of laud opened |to cultivation had necessitated a 
larger expenditure of money, and but lor that fact 
there would have been a dividend declared for 
the year. However the property had been rendered 
more valuable and hope was bold ont of 
a dividend daring the present year. Mr. Davies 
seconded and the report was adopted. On the 
motion of Mr. Walker, seconded by Mr. Davies, 
Messrs. T. W. Hall and H. Van Cuylenburg, the 
retiring directors were re-elected, and on the 
motion of Mr. Hall, seconded by Mr. Walker, Mr. 
John Guthrie was re-elected auditor. Mr, Hall 
afterwards said that be had been requested by 
a well-known planter to suggest that labour, 
Tamil or Sinhalese be induced to reside on the 
estate as the present mode of obtaining their labour 
was preaarious,in view of future difficulties arising.'' 
He thought perhaps that in the absence of tho 
Ohalrman this suggestion bad better be made to 
the directors. The Chairman, he said, was 
better able to reply to that suggestion than any of 
those present because be was intimately connected 
with the actual working of the estate. In answer 
to Mr. Walker he said they had no lines. Their 
labourers came from the villages every day, and 
chits being given to them every day they were paid 
at the end of the week. They had no resident 
labour whatever. Mr. Walker asked if the gentle- 
man who made that suggestion was a low country 
planter, and Mr. Hall replied that ho was a Badulla 
planter, well and favourably known, who 
had been down to the place and knew it. 
Ihat gentleman also stated that cattle were 
cheap down at Talgaswella, buffaloes being to 
he had for their keep, and suggesting whether 
would not be a good thing to have kraals 
^hd the manure accumulated. That was a 
matvet that was brought up by the same gentle- 
man before and he (Mr. Hall) thought it was 
decided that the tea was very young and would 
not require manure for a long time. Whenever 
they did require it a large quantity could be 
procured at a small cost indeed. The meeting 
agreed that the matter should be brought before 
the directors. The proceedings then terminated 
with a vote of thanks to the chair. 
Later an extraordinary general meeting was held 
to confirm the following special resolution passed 
at the meeting held lot that purpose on Tuesday, 
29th December last:—" That the sum of BSO.OOO 
be raised by an issue of 300 preference shares of 
RlOO each, to carry a fixed interest of 7 per cent 
per annum, and that such shares be offered to the 
existing Shareholders of the Company pro-rata." 
In addition to those already mentioned 
Mr. George Armitage was present. Mr. Van 
Cuylenburg again presided and said that 
he saw by tho Ordinance that unless a poll was 
demanded by five of the shareholders he would 
be entitled simply to put the resolution and 
declare it confirmed. Mr, Hall was understood to 
say that they must have a poll, but Mr. Van 
Cuylenburg said that was not necessary, and as 
be took it that there was no desire for a poll 
he declared tbs resolution duly confirmed. Some 
conversation took place as to the position of pre- 
ference shareholders, Mr. Van Cuylenburg mentioned 
that some shareholders or directors wished to be 
satisfied on certain points, and the opinion of 
counsel had been obtained and was laid on table. 
The first question put was as to whether pre- 
lerenca shareholders would be entitled to vote in 
common with ordinary shareholders. Well, the 
Ordinance made no exception, and there could be 
no question that every shareholder ordinary or 
preference was entitled to vote. The second point 
was as to whether in the event of the Company's 
going into liquidation the preference shareholders 
would be entitled to priority of payment. He 
did not think it was necessary to go into that 
question because by the terms of the resolution 
that had been passed it was clearly set forth that 
the preference shareholders should be ontited to 
7 per cent of interest which must be paid pre- 
ferentially. Replying to Mr. Subren he said that 
in the articles of association there were two 
questions as regarded preference shares, the first 
being in reference to dividends, and the second, 
distribution of assets. Well, if they considered it 
necessary to go into that question it would be 
necessary before issuing the shares to pass a 
general meeting declaring that the preference 
shareholders should have a preferential right in 
the distribution of assets. Of course that raised the 
question but he understood that the preference share- 
holders would be satisfied with their 7 per cent of divi- 
dend. This however did not strictly form part of their 
business that day. Mr. Walker asked if they could 
not pass the resolution with regard to assets after 
the issue of the shares, and Mr. Van Ouylenburg 
said it was clearly provided that that should be 
done before the issue. The Chairman suggested 
that it was a matter for their lawyers to decide, 
namely, what should be the conditions upon which 
these shares should be issued, Mr. Armitage said 
it was not simply a question of legal opinion but 
what the shareholders generally thought, Mr. 
Baker said they had good enough security, and 
Mr, Armitage re-echoed that opinion, adding, if 
there was going to be a distribution of assets he 
did not see why the preference shareholders should 
come in before the others. If it were decided 
six years hence to wind up the Company 
the preference shareholders would have bad 7 per 
cent all these years and (he others only perhaps 
