, 1891-03-28

%
consequent on fire, hurricane &c.
Clause 20 binds the planter to do nothing
whereby he shall be prevented from observing
his obligations.
Clause 81 provides for arbitration in cases
of difference.
Observation-Disclosures been read ,seve-
raj gentlemen spoke-among whom wereMessrs.
Rookie, Shand, White, Nugent, land j. Foote
the general opinion being that the terms of
the agreement were ample to protect the IL
terests of the Company, but with little margin
Of liberty to the other intended parties to the
contract.
Mr.. Lee said it was not expected that the
matter should be definitely settled to-day nor
until it had been fully ventilated and discuss
ed. He thought the most important point to-
be determined was the basis upon which the.
price of the canes should be ascertained and
he trusted that would not be overlooked by
the meeting.
Mr.. Watts, the Government Analyst, said
that since the arrival Of Messrs Lee and Foster
he had literally been living on figures. He
had worked at them during the day and
dreamt of them at night. He had, after
full study Of the subject, and calculations,
come to the conclusion that the rates, pro-
posed by the Draft Agreement would not
pay. He thought that the planters should sell
and the Company should buy the canes at rates;
to be fixed according to the results of analysis
of the juice, and not by the weight OF canes.
After a very lucid description OF a set OF
machinery and plans for working the same,
which he suggested, he said that few mills
give so per cent extraction Of juice; and as
Stunning that the mills Of a Central Factory
will give rs per cent he would propose that
payment for canes should be, as follows BY
a simple calculation it could be- ascertained
within a half pound, the number of tons OF
Crystals to be got from a given quantity OF
Juice testing any certain degree. Let the
planter be given credit for go 75ths OF the
ruling prices, deducting cost of manufacture.
This would leave a margin in favour of the
planter. The factory's gain would then be
the excess of percentage expressed.
Mr.. Foster had listened with deep interest
to Mr.. Watts. He had had large experience in
the working of Central Factories and was.
in a position to say that although Mr.. Watts
suggestions were good in theory they were to
his knowledge quite impracticable.
The Chairman thought the proper and most
important point to be considered was whether
the proposal now made to erect factories, would
if adopted yield better or even as good
profits as the present mode of manufacturing
sugar. 1t was not necessary he thought to-
consider the yield in molasses. All expen-
ses would be the same up to the time the canes
are taken TO Inc hill. IL muSC dlbO VOAOA~
dered that the Factory will be at liberty to re-
iect canes.
Mr.. Nugent would like to ask Mr.. Foster
what he thought of the future for Muscovado
Sngar-whether the demand for it would be-
likely to cease. And also what In Mr.. Fosters
opinion was the probable loss to the planter
by the use Of the present machinery?
Mr.. Foster said that the Factory would
manufacture any class of sugar that might be-
in demand from time to time and only such
as commanded the best prices. At present the
mills in use expressed about 81 per cent Of
Juice and there was a loss by evaporation OF
from l per cent to u per cent. The Fac
tories will express 80 per cent.
The Chairman-fnding that no one else
desired to speak, thereupon nominated the
following gentlemen as a Committee IN the
terms of the Resolution, namely Hon'bles !.
D. Foote, H. O.. Bennett, @. A. Shand, and
Messrs. John Foote, Vim. Goodwin, J"
Sutherland, V. Gufroy, Rev. P Fogarty,
Messrs, John Bell, J.. Burns, Jos. Dew,
Jas. Rookie, Q. Nugent, F. Watts, John
Maginley, w. H. Field, NJ. White.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Bennett the
meeting unanimously requested the Chair
man to add his own name to the list
It was agreed that 9 of their number should
form a quorum. Mr.. Bennett was nomina-
ted as Hon. Secretary.
1roo, enon, H;s E~oa1fancv the Gov.