MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 91, 19 April 1871, Page 2

MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

OF THE WAIMEA QUARTZ-CRUSHING COMPANY. A well-attended meeting of the above company was held in the Lower Wakefield schoolroom, on Friday evening last, for the purpose of extending the capital by the issue of 800 more £1 shares. Mr. G-illow having been appointed chairman, Mr. Luckie rose and informed the meeting that the directors had met that eveoing, and had determined to proceed with the object of the meeting, namely, to obtain the sanction of the shareholders to the proposed increase of capital. At the same time he (Mr. Luckie) wished to inform them that it was not the intention of the directors to raise the said capital at present, as they thought it desirable to await the result of the first crushing of the Culliford Company. Mr. Dick proposed that the capital of the company be increased to the extent of £800, by the issue of new shares. After a pause, Mr. Baigent said it appeared to him that unless the resolution was seconded the business of the meeting would lapse altogether, and, therefore, he rose to second the resolution, but he did so as a mere matter of form, in order that persons present might express their opinions and say what they had to say. Mr. William Pearce said the shareholders wanted a more detailed account of the expenditure of the directors, as it was not at all satisfactory to them to have the items all set down in a lot as had been done. He said he should like the receipts for money paid for machinery produced. It was stated in the report that the cost of the machinery was trifling, and yet it, and " expenses attending purchase," amounted to three hundred add fifty odd pounds. Mr. Luckie read over the items and stated that the books were exact, and correct, and every item was attested by a voucher, and he invited Mr. Pearce to come and look through the books for himself. Mr. W. Pearce declined to do this, but pointed but to Mr. Luckie that the total of the items for machinery as read over by him did not agree with the total stated in the report. Mr. Luckie said there must be a mistake somewhere, to which Mr. Pearce replied that such mistakes were very dangerous, and then went on to ask for an explanation of the large sum of ninety pounds odd set down as miscellaneous expenses. He thought this far too large a sum to be set down under such a bead for a company such as theirs, the capital of which had been found by working men who had wives and families to keep. Mr. Luckie read over a long list of items in which "trap hire," "directors' meeting," "directors' expenses," "manager's salary," " repairing carriages broken by manager," and so forth, were conspicuous, and this did not at all tend to allay the ruffled feelings of the shareholders. Mr. Pearce coming up again to the attack, said, Mr. Shephard has backed out has he not ? Mr. Luckie : Will you ask one question at time ? Mr, Thomas : Is Mr. Shephard a shareholder now, or is he not ? Mr. Luckie replied that he was not ; for seeing the position he was in it was not desirable that he should be on the Directory. Some person then asked Mr. Luekie if Mr. Shephard_had ever paid his deposit. . . Mr. Luckie replied, " Eeally gentlemen you don't seem to understand at all the principle of floating and disposing of shares, Mr. Shephard's shares have simply been allocated to some one else." Mr. Luckie, then read a long letter of Mr. Shephard's, explaining hla reasons for withdrawing; and contended that itis was highly important that Mr. Shephard, in his capacity as One -of the Executive, should be entirely free from any pecuniary interest in the Company, so that his motives might be pure and spotless in anything he might do as a member of the Government, to forward the interests of the Company. Mr. Shephard had (continued Mr. Luckie) offered to make the company a present of his deposit money, but the Directors could not think of accepting it, and at once returned him his money, and thanked him for his valuable .'Serviced.- " * Mr. Samuel Baigent said he would feel greatly obliged if he could 1 have his money back, as well as Mr. Shephard. A resolution adjourning the meeting until May 19th, and another thanking the Chairman, 1 ' terminated the proceedings? l

property in New Zealand, and was part proprietor of a suburban hotel, but he left his partner to conduct the business, and he took up his residence with certain of the demimonde, and from day to day got drunk until at last he lost all control over himself, and put an end to his life with poison. Had this man in the first paroxysm of drunkenness been rescued from his degradation and placed for a time in an asylum for dipsomaniacs, he might have been restored to health, and awakened to a consciousness of his infamous position. As it was, he proceeded step by step in debauchery, no one interfering so long as he had money to squander upon the wretched women he was surrounded with, until at last madness drove him out of the world, to which he leaves as a shameful legacy a dishonored name and reputation. What is all the sentimental nonsense worth about interfering with the liberty of the subject in face of a death like this in the midst of a Christian community ? — Melbourne Leader. Dangerous Shell Practice. — We clip the following from the Wellington Evening Post.—T he family of John Astill, butcher, residing at Pipitea Point, consisting of Mrs. Astill and five children, had a narrow escape from death or serious accident this afternoou. A shell thrown • from one of the boats of the Virago, which were at practice in the bay, struck the£ house, going through among the piles onlß which it stands, and carrying $,way some * of the framework. About four pounds weight of the debris of the shell was picked up at the house. The gallant tars ought to be a little more cautious as to the direction in which they point their pieces. Referring to the above, the commander of the Virago addressed the following letter to the Post on the next day ; — Sir — I deem it my duty to communicate to the Wellington Press the circumstances under which the accident of yesterday occurred, and to express my regret at its having taken place, together with my deep thankfulness that the consequences were not worse. A shell was fired from one of the boats of this ship, the officer in charge of the said boat being aware that from the then direction of the target (the boats being drifted by the wind, the target stationary), the projectile must pass too near the shore, but the shell, having beea fitted for the shortest distances, he considered that it would burst long before reaching the shore, and directed that the shell should be fired. A sudden yaw of the boat at the moment of firing must have thrown the projectile much to the left of the intended direction, thus landing the shell, but I am entirely at a loss to account for the late action of the barge. I have severely censured the officer, through whose neglect of all rules the accident occured. Trusting that you will kindly make this public. I am, &c, H. Stair Sandys, Commander, R.N., H.M.S. Virago, Friday, 7th April. The Russian Corvette at Melbourne. — "iEgles," in the Australasian, writes as follows : — "Bearing in mind the sinister aspect of affairs between England and Russia a few mails back, is it not rather suggestive that the Haydamack should have been so near at hand ? This war ship drops in promiscuously, apropos of nothing, and on her way to nowhere particular. Of course her somewhat in-definitely-explained errand is now pacific, but had the Black Sea treaty difficulty not been promptly accommodated, her presence off Sandridge would have fceen much less agreeable. I don't think that she would, under these circumstances, have waited to be boarded by the health officer. It is remembered as highly con-j solatory that an English Minister hat^ promised to defend the Colonies with Great Britain's last soldier, last ship, and last shilling. Would it not be more to the purpose if, in case of war, we could rely upon the first soldier, ship, and shilling ? The last might come just a day or two too late." s~

New South Wales papers notice the 'sohiewhat remarkable fact that pleuro is jplaying sad havoc with the kangaroos and ' other wild animals in that Colony. Regrets are expressed that it does not seem to -. attack the wild dogs. ' ! With reference to the story about the ;^American filibusters, a correspondent in '/.the '.Melbourne Leader says: — "I have ...very, little doubt of it, as I recollect an American speak of the ease with which ■ 7 stich a'thiog could be done, and saying that three gold-ships could he taken without any risk. This was a man perfectly capable of doing it himself — bold, resolute; and unscrupulous. Many of our readers will recollect him about ten. or twelve years since. He afterwards turned slavedealer, in conjunction with a Dutch merchant in the Brazils as another. ; tie commanded the ship. The partner who went with him was lost ; he sold the^^p and defrauded the merchant.;; He had -aljso been a gambler in Texas and California. Should this man be amongst these filibusters, with a few kindred souls — men ■whose belief, is that dead men tell no tales —several ' of our gold-ships may be missing and all traces of them lost.; aud as to British cruisers punishing them, they would have to catch them first." '.-.'.." The Wellington Superintendentg-t. . . *~Mr. Fitzberbert, in addressing the electors, of Wellington on the nomination day said that he had not come prepared to .make. a speech. He came to. offer no pledges, to make no promises, nor to say one word why he should be elected in preference to the thiee other candidates, and certainly that was not a vejry inviting programme. They could elect him or if not the other alternative was open. Jf there were more who sympathised with Messrs. Anderson aud Finnimore, by all means let them bej returned ; the same applied to.Mr. Masters. . As, for himself, with their knowledge of " him, if they chose to elect him he was willing to do his, best to serve them. He saw before him difficulties which appalled him, and he was not easily appalled. The office of Superintendent was the most thankless one in the gift of the people. No one could say that the Province, was in a flourishing condition. One proposed one nostrum, another proposed another, but he believed none of them had yet fathomed the extent of the difficulty. He had great diffidence, as well as reluctance, in accepting the office many people had asked him to take ; - he would take no active steps to secure His election; he would attend no meetings, - nor incur any expense" - ; he would reiterate . what he said before, that it was not. his intention to hold the office longer than the end of the next session of Parliament, possibly six months from this time^ a'nd'he j should then,, if elected, advise a dissolution of , the Provincial Government, when the people would have time to consider what they meant to do — in fact, to. learn their own minds. ' He was pleased to see the interest displayed in this election,.- and trusted the interest would be maintained. ! - As for holding up t"b ridicule those who take part iv public affajis, no country ever' flourished except the keenest competition was manifested among those who r took ' part in those affairs. So far from complaining .that there were four or , five candidates, he should have liked to have seen more. It was from no disrespect to the Prbvince 'that he would refuse to - attend any public meetings, but, if.el.ected, he would do the . best he could for their: interests. The: Melbourne Leader -writes of the filibustering expedition : — lf the Imperial authorities desired these Colonies to be placed in an" efficient state of: defence, they could not have hit upon a more ingenious than the telegram in reference to the American filibusters. It is true that public equanimity has not been greatly disturbed in this -Colony,' but- our neighbours in New South Wales seems to hav,e been panic stricken; by the news, audi to' have made extraordinary, exertions to fortify the Heads, and work up their . . martial :, ardor, uptil ,it may ;be supposed ( . their. pugnacity jWjill be disappointed if no ' enemy should appear to be captured, or blown out of the waters of Port Jacksou. It wduld, <jf bourse, be rank- treasou to suppose that ''Rogers-could be guilty pf so practical a joke .at , the expense of the Colonies as to warn them against an_eneiny.hav.ing.-ttO-existence,-but- it is .'[•pptoa little; .strange !at the- same time', that A-np.thiijg .i\s mentioned; 'jinvthp American papers of* an expedition fitting out for any .part .of, the .wprl(i r w,ith -apparent hostile 'Intentions.' It' is not to be expected that iheTboM buccßneeralwould advertise their destination, but it has q neyerj; we' believe, iJ: ' JescapeiJ obsetyatfbx^^ i" 1 v - y^nWc^whe^an eip* ettitio'n W ajus£isqus character has b.ee»_fitting out for a Vfujse to parts ( u,nknpwn,,; and «,y&;Mfh therefore foyced O tQ toi^clusio^n that "iT "Mr. Rogers, in' the%ai#y of Yankee^ ijias •^ifi^Hiriio^aflSg^the colonists, some dn'e haif certainly had the audacity to hoax ; Mr. Rogers,