The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-16 00:00:00

i!IRECTORS.

Sir John Peter Grant, K.C.8., late Lieutenant-Governor of
Bengal, Willinhall-house, East Barnet.
Colonel WiNam Anderson, C. ct , 19, Gloucester-square.
Arthur Capel, Esq., (Capel, Nor bury, and Hallam), I, Dunster-
court, Mincing-lane.
William Henry Elliott, Esq., late Bengal Civil Service, 42,
Upper Hyde-park-gardens.
William F. Fergusson, Esq., 2', Langham-place.
Richard Rowe, Esq. (Clarke and Rowe), 7, Arthur-street west
James Stuart, Esq. (James Barber and Cu.), 136, Leadenuall-

street.
Alf ed Wilson, Esq. (Wilson, Bowles, and Co.), 9, Mincing.
lane.

BANKERS.
Messrs. Masterman, Peters, and Co., 35, Nicholas-lane,
Lombard-street.
SOLICITORS. _

Messrs. Johnston, Farquhar, and t.eeoh, 65, Moorgate-street,

BROKERS.

Messrs. Hill, Fawcett, and Hill, 29, Threadneedle-street.
AUDITORS.

William Barton Ford, Esq., public accountant, 28, Bing-at.,
Cheapside ; Cornelius Nicholson, Esq., Muswell-hill, N.
AGENTS IN CALCUTTA.
Messrs. Gordon, Stuart, and Co.
SECRETARY PRO TEM.
W. C. Laurie, Esq.
Objects of the Company.—The object of the British Indian
Tea Company (Limited), is to conduct tea planting in India
on an extensive scale, in some of the best localities, on
estates where the success of the tea plant has been already
established, and where a large extent of existing plantation
secures an immediate return, and affords a certain base for
further operations. With this view a provisional purchase
has been made of eight valuable estates in the tea-producing
districts of Assam, Cachar, Sylhet, and Darjeeling.
The estates comprise 2,000 acres now in plant, 750 acres of
which are three years old and upwards. The crop for the
current year. included in the purchase, is guaranteed to be
fully 160,0001b5., and 500 maunds, of 821bs. each, of tea-seed ;
next year the crop 01 tea is guaranteed to be at least 220,0u01b5.
In addition to the 2,000 acres in plant there are 40,000 acres
of uncleared lands, adapted for tea plantations. The lands
are held either in fee simple, or under grants from Govern-
ment under the old rules, for 0 years, at mere nominal rents,
and convertible into freehold tenure on very easy terms. The
price of these estates is £155,000, of which one-half is to be
paid in shares of the Company, the remaining half to be paid
In cash, by instalments spread over one year.
Profits.—The company will commence its operations with
2,000 acres in plant, and a crop as above stated of 160,000.b5.
of tea, besides 500 maunds of tea-seed, which is readily sale-
able at £8 to £lO per maund, if not required for extensions.
The profit on the tea and tea seed produced during the cur-
rent year, calculated at present moderate prices, will suffice
to pay at least an eight per cent. dividend on the paid-up
capital, and as large areas come into bearing the Company's
profits will rapidly increase._

The estates have been selected with care by experienced
parties, and regard has been had not only to the quality of
the soil and its fitness for tea culture, but also to the supply
of labour and facilitiesfor transport. In many cases the lands
have a valuable river frontage.
The average *produce of an acre of tea in India, after five
years, is from 250 lbs. to 300 lbs. and upwards The average
price at which tea of this quality now sells, deductinf freight
and charges, is is. 10d. per lb., while cultivation and manu-
facture cost only 9d. per lb., and even less, leaving a net an-
nual profit of from £l3 to £l6 an acre, when the plantation
comes into full bearing. Where tea of the usual quality of
Indian teas is grown, each acre ofjungle, as it is cleared and
planted, yields after five years a large annual profit; and
whe'e extensions proceed in the neighbourhood of an exist-
ing plantation, the expense for buildings and supervision is
very slightly increased.
The growth of tea will be the chief source of profit. The
Company will prudently extend the cultivation, as these
operations will greatly augment the value of its uncleared
estates. From the letter of the Calcutta correspondent of the
"Times,' which appeared in that journal on the 29th June last,
it will be s en that an immense field presents itself in India
ior the cultivation of tea; and, having regard to the present
and pr ,spective value of the plantations transferred to the
Company, it is confidently believed that the profits to the
shareholders will exceed those realised by the Assam and
other Indian Tea Companies.
Messrs. E. H. Higgs, A. D. Macleod, A. S. Campbell, and
E. Rushton, the superintendents of the estates, are men of
experience in tea planting, and have been selected from per-
sonal knowledge of their character and capabilities. The
plantations are in efficient working order, having coolies
mated on them, and are provided with a full supply of im-
plements for manufacture.
Mes-rs. Gordon, Stuart, and Co., of Calcutta, who have
paid much attention to the cultivation of tea, and have sue-
cesstully managed other prcperties,will be the agents for the
Company in India, under fhe direction of the Board in
London. _ _

The Peculiar features of the British Indian Tea Company
are tnese:— _ _

1. The larg-e extent of tea plantations on its estates, already
in successful operation, placing its results more on past ex-
perience than on prospective estimates.
2. The price paid for the estates, being in like manner not
based on speculative estimates, but on an actual production
of tea adequate to pay at least 8 per cent. from the first, with
the prospect of a rapid increase.

3. The great capa^ity for early and economical extension,
with 41,000 acres of land, most of which is adjacent to the ex-
isting estates and bui.dings.
4. The distribution of these estates over four of the best
tea-growing provinces of India. giving facilities for labour,
and a skcurity against any partial 1 allure in one locality from
unfavourable seasons, or other causes.

The Directors expressly intimate that there is no payment
to be made to promoters.

Prospectuseti and forms of application for shares may be
obtained of Messrs. Hill, Fawcett, and Hill, the brokers of
the Company ; or at tue temporary offices of the Company.
The amount of £1 u on each share applied for must be paid
to the Company's bankers on application ; this sum will be
returned it no allotment is made to tha applicant
temporary offices, 6, Great Winchester-street, E.C.
15th October, 1863.