“I made enquiries as to the condition in which Tea packed in Messrs. Harvey Brothers and Tyler’s lacquered tin boxes is turned out in London. I found that the Tea was not at all injured by this method of packing, but that its condition is quite as good as that of Tea packed in chests. Messrs. W. J. and H. Thompson assured me that you were entirely mistaken in your remarks as to the contamination, but they thought that an objection to the packing in the lacquered tin boxes was the labour of putting up in these boxes. Catalogues were shown me in which I saw that the Teas in the lacquered tin boxes fetched higher rates than the same Teas packed in chests, the difference being in one case 3d. per lb.”
This is certainly a most favourable testimony, and coming as it does from a disinterested party, who writes simply in defence of what he considers the right, we cannot but accept of his statement in its entirety.
Another correspondent writes:—
“I now give you a few of the sales of these boxes made at public auction during the last month, shewing the preference of the trade for Tea so packed, and the higher prices realised.
| Public Sale 3rd November. | s. | d. | ||
| Koliabar. | 28 chests Pekoe | 1 | 10½ | per lb. |
| K. Assam. | 28 cases, each 4 tin boxes | 2 | ¾ | „ |
| Public Sale 16th November. | ||||
| M.L.B.D.S.A. | 30 chests Pekoe | 2 | ¼ | „ |
| 30 cases, each 4 tin boxes | 2 | 2½ | „ | |
| „ | 20 chests Souchong | 1 | 3½ | „ |
| 20 cases, each 4 tin boxes | 1 | 4¾ | „ | |
| Public Sale 23rd November. | ||||
| M.L.B.L.P. | 20 chests Pekoe | 1 | 6¾ | „ |
| 19 cases, each 4 tin boxes | 1 | 9¾ | „ |
“In every case the above Teas were packed out of the same heap in India, and the difference in the selling price arises chiefly from the better condition of the Tea on arrival, and the growing preference of the country trade for Teas so packed.”
The following is worth notice:—
Hoop Iron.
The Ceylon Observer says: “The planters should note the following (writes to us a London firm)—From quotations lying before us the prices of 22 gauge iron hooping are as follows: ½in., 165s. per ton; ⅝in., 110s. per ton; ¾in., 70s.; ⅞in., 60s.; 1in., 50s. Thus by using one inch hooping, less than one-third the price is paid. The narrower the hooping, the more difficult is it to manufacture.”
It is also not so strong.