CO882-(3-4) — Page 696

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

TPERNICO. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH——NOT TO

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If the railway was open to Haputale, and the rate was Rs. 18. 10, we should get up twice as much, while if we manured systematically, which we should if prices went up, get 20 or 50 times as much. If we got large crops and better prices we should manure (artificially) very largely.

I do not think the railway need fear any competition from cart traffic. This as regards Haputale,

If the cart transport was 10 per cent. less than the railway, I should still use the railway. That is the general opinion among the planters, Haputale side.

Mr. WESTLAND, Golconda, Kelburn, Dambakelle, St. Catharine, Rosbury, Navalah, Wehiratenne, Talapatenne (not now cultivated) grow chiefly coffee. I have 16 years experience.

There can be no doubt about all these estates using the railway, at the rates laid down by the Government. Even though the cart rates went 10 per cent. below the railway rates, I believe that we should still use the railway, because coffee is very apt to deteriorate by lying in the stores after it is ready for dispatch. I have been recom- mended now to pay half as much again to ensure quick despatch. This as regards good coffee.

I have had coffee kept three months in store owing to murrain, scarcity of carts, and slips on the road.

The safety of the railway is an important element, especially in the dispatch of coffee.

Last year there was a murrain; I could not get carts at any price. The delay was two-and-a-half months. This generally affected the district. There was no great difficulty about rice for the coolies, but the price went up about 14, 8d.

We have a considerable quantity of cinchona, one a year old, up to seven or eight years old.

I consider that to get the cinchona safely_down, the rate (34. 40) is one we should pay on account of safety. I pay Rs. 40. The margin between railway and cart rate would scarcely pay for some estates, but we should get safety.

Coffee. We are maintaining coffee. The prospects of the coming season are more favourable than anything we have had for the last five years. For the next three years I expect that the average of produce will be exceeded. The diminished acreage of There is less leaf disease at coffee is only as regards bad coffee that is being taken out. present for the past year, and the coffee generally is very healthy.

The bad seasons 1881-82, 1882–83, 1883-84, were owing to the wet weather, and not to the deterioration of coffee.

There are not signs to the same extent of coffee going down as on the Kandy side. I have seen black bug in patches, but where I have known it in eight or ten years it has entirely left.

Cinchona.-I am not extending cinchons; I have not ground.

Looking at the returns of the past five years, I consider that as regards Haputale the produce Will go on increasing for the next three years. There will be no falling off, I consider it a permanent cultivation generally in Haputale, say for 10 or 15 years."

I get all my rice viâ Ratnapura. Years ago I got some from Hambantota. Manure.—If the railway was open I should certainly advise getting up manure; the amount would depend on the profits. I get more now. If the railway brought it up at Rs. 18. 10, manuring would be adopted systematically, and coffee would be certainly improved.

Tea. (1.) 16 years' knowledge.

(2.) From 1,100 feet to 6,200 feet.

(3.) I consider Uva very favourable for tea, and as regarda rainfall generally, but in

a few places not so favourable. As regards soil, it appears also very favourable.

I have visited as a visitor through some of the principal tea estates in the Island, and comparing Uva, I consider it better than Manewatte. I have seen better tea as regards growth on an average on Uva estates than at Manawatte. There it is very highly manured.

(4.) I gather that we shall on the average make 500 lbs. tea on our estates.

The climate of Haputale is very favourable for the growth of leaf.

(5.) The quality of tea grown in Uva is very good.

(6.) From hearsay two coolies required per acre of tea, which is fully three times as many as are required for coffee,

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(7.) I have planted on Patana land in Uva. I tried coffee and cinchona, and it failed. I put in tea. It is growing now, and growing well. It is an ordinary piece of Patana. The tea is 1 years old. I am extending cultivation of tea in that place, which is the best proof that I believe in it there.

(8.) Not absolutely necessary, but it would be a great benefit, and enable us to compete more favourably with other districts. But if we do not get the railway we shall still continue to grow tea. The proprietors are committed to it. About half the cultivated acreage of Haputale will remain in coffee notwitstanding the introduction of tea and cinchona.

Croton. I have 150 acres of croton. I sent off 95 cwts. last year. It is only just in bearing. I expect 700 cwt. will be exported in the second and third

year. 70s. a cwt.

Nuwara Eliya, April 1, 1886. Present:-All the Commission.

A. RETTIE, Esq., Secretary, Badulla Planters' Association. Spring Valley and St. Mary's are under my charge. Products chiefly coffee and cinchona.

Price

Coffee.-My experience extends over 13 years. The present prospects of coffee are better than they have been for some years. The coffee is looking better and is more free from disease. Every attack of late has been shorter than its predecessor. We have removed 500 acres of the most unproductive coffee, and planted in its place tea. We still keep up 1,000 acres of coffee, and propose to do so, and to manure heavily. Everywhere else in the district where coffee has had attention paid to it, it is doing well. I do not consider that the cultivation is going out; certainly not. Taking the last year I see no reason why the same out-turn may not be maintained with a fair season. It is only the weak coffee that has been cut out.

When there have been bad crops it is to be attributed to unfavourable seasons and not to the deterioration of the coffee.

Cinchona.-Regarding cinchona, there is more going out of the district than in any previous year, or that there will be in the next. In the coining season a good deal will be planted. There will be double the quantity sent out this year as compared with the past year. We expect prices to go up.

During the next five years I anticipate that there will be an average equal to that of last year (157 tons).

Whether my estates use the railway or not would depend on the rates. Looking at the proposed rates I have no doubt whatever that we should use the railway, not only as regards expense, but in the saving of time, which results in the coffee getting to its destination in better condition and fetching higher prices. This last represent about 7 per cent. Safety at the present time would not form an element for consideration, for the Registration Ordinance works satisfactorily.

I do not think that the carts could compete with the railway at the rates suggested.

If the railway was opened we would cart our produce ourselves. We should serve very probably other estates in the district.

Last year, through murrain and owing to there being larger crops, cart hire went up 15 cents upon 54 cents per bushel. We paid as much as 70 cents. From Badulla town we can get coffee carried for 44 cents, an exceptionally low rate. The carts make their money by bringing up rice. If the up traffic is brought by railway the carts could not

work.

A cart now gets Rs. 92 a cart, Colombo to Badulla. The contractor pays actually to the cartman Rs. 65, the contractor pocketing the balance. Carts are mainly in the hands of contractors.

Rice is now, as an exception, being carried up at Rs. 1 per bushel from Colombo to Badulla.

I consider that our state, looking at the matter all round, would be pecuniarily benefited by the railway.

Manure. I pay for manure Rs. 57.50 a ton. I have got a good deal, but the cart bire is prohibitory. It is equal to the value of manure in Colombo. If I can get it at Haputale at Rs. 18.10, I should get a large quantity. I think it would be generally the case in the district. The estates could easily stand Rs. 18.10 a ton.

25221.

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