O10 Bees 
388 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1900. 
Prane Creek Centrau Mint Company.—This mill began crushing on 17th ‘ 
July, and worked with a single shift until the 25th July, when a double shi 
worked till 4th October, and the crushing ended on 6th November. Doe | 
this period 18,184 tons of cane were crushed for an output of 2,048°6 tons ? 
88 per cent. N.T. sugar (including sugar in tanks, &c.). Frosted cane was P% 
for under analysis, the basis being 10s. per ton for cane containing 12 per oR. 
of N.T. sugar. The first instalment of the bonus on sugar sold to the CS. f 
Company last season has been paid, equal to 10s. per ton. When the whole & 
the bonus has been received, £1,000 will be paid to Government for interest 
loan. he directors note with satisfaction that the results of the yea!® 
working are far superior to previous years, attributable to judicious and care 
management. 
Average cost of cane at rollers, 12s. 8d. fee 
Value of sugar sold as per return from C.S.R. Company, £8 11s. 0°7 7d. 
Average quantity of firewood to 1 ton of 88 N.T. sugar, 17 ewt. 1% 
16°80 lb. 
Average net titre, 94°05 per cent. 
Average quantity of cane to 1 ton of 88 N.T. sugar, 8 tons 16 ewt. 
Sugar produced, 2,048°6 tons. 
Ists Centran Miri Company.—Numerous important improyements an 
additions have been made to the mill and tram line, and a locomotive has beé 
ordered. Seventy-seven acres of land were purchased for general ™ 
purposes. Crushing was begun on 11th July, 1899, and finished on Bf 
December, 1899. During this term 35,819 tons 10 ewt. of cane were crushe 
for a yield of 3,716 tons 6 cwt. of Ist, 2nd, and 8rd sugars. mn 
The average N.T. of all sugars was 94°63, and that reduced to 88 N+ 
amounted to 3,980 tons. 
Tons of cane to 1 ton of sugar ea occ ... 9 tons. 
Tons of wood to 1 ton of sugar... as reome a LOE 
Cost of cane per ton at rollers ae oy ... LOs. 53d. 
The operation for the season shows a gross profit of £11,949 Os. Ze 
Allowing for depreciation, £2,793 14s. 2d., and Government interest, £17 
Os. 9d., the net profit amounted to £7,445 5s. 3d. 
Proserrrne, Cevrrat Mitt Comvany.—The results of the season’s Wo 
at this mill are not so satisfactory as it was hoped they would be. The. ante 
report says :—Up to the time of the severe frosts during the first week in J a 
the cane crops, although backward, were growing vigorously and gave pros 
of from 18,000 to 20,000 tons of cane, but, immediately after being froste® 
growth stopped and decay commenced. Unfortunately, alterations and reP 
to the mill machinery prevented the commencement of crushing until 1st Augt** 
which ended on the 8th November. During this period 13,056 tons of oe 
were crushed, yielding 984 tons of sugar. After crushing commenced, the ee 
operated on was found to be inimature and of low density ; it deteriorated ee 
fast, a large percentage was rejected in the fields and at the mill, and oY 
2,000 tons were left uncut, being unfit for crushing. yl 
Had we been spared this frost and our reasonable expectations realise 
we should have had 2,250 tons of sugar, and been able to pay 12s. per to 
cane, together with the Government interest for this year. : 
During the year we have done all that we could to encourage cane planting 
having made small advances to those who required it in order to plant new ae d 
and in consequence the area under cane has been considerably increased # 
the crops generally look promising. oth 
An extraordinary meeting of shareholders having been held on the A 
December to take under consideration the present position and future prospe y 
of the company, and certain resolutions passed, Mr. McCulloch was se? 
the Department to make full inquiries and to report to the Government ; 1¢ 
are to-day (February 15th) in receipt of a telegram from the Under Secret 
stating that the Government are agreeable to take over the mill accordiD8 
the resolutions of shareholders passed on the 9th December, 1899. 
fala 
