THE PULPIT. MOTTO COMPANIES ACT, 1872.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 4

THE PULPIT.

MOTTO COMPANIES ACT, 1872.

The Rev. A. Robertson deserves credit for stepping beyond pulpit routine, and undertaking to discuss before his congregation the important subject of national education in lieu of delivering the ordinary Sunday evening sermon. It is difficult for ordinary men of the world to understand the clerical feelings which make preachers shrink from touching any subject unless it is at least 1,800 years old. There may be matters occupying the daily attention of all the intelligent members of their church, matters of the greatest moment to the intellectual, and moral, and spiritual well-being of the people, but the average preacher feels in some way, and possibly he is right, that they have no concern with him or his vocation. He prefers to fill up his due half hour's delivery with retailing again some much-worn platitudes in connexion with some such subject as the theological deviations of the Israelites, or the moral irregularities of their kings. However, if preachers like to take this course, and disregarded the life of the world around them, they are hardly justified in complaining, as they sotnetimas do, that they are also disregarded by the world. It is evident enough that when they take up subjects in which people feel any interest, they receive their fair share of attention. The public press may in this way be taken as a fair indication of the general public, and we see that the daily newspapers have been quite ready to report, and to comment on what Mr Robertson had to say on a subject of such general interest as education. There is, of course, a temptation to the preacher to treat questions of all kinds ex cathedra, and to settle them in an authoritative manner that leaves the other side no chance at all. But, certainly, there is less likelihood that this tendency would be indulged in with regard to secular subjects that men are known to differ about, that must be decided by argument, and by the view of the greater number, and where an opinion can claim uo authority beyond that which it can establish for itself of the conviction of men in general. The habit- of occasionally discussing matters of this nature, limited by these conditions, would exercise a very healthy effect on pulpit rhetoric and logic, that might ultimately be exhibited even when dealing with subjects of a different kind. — •' Australasian."

,;A "first-class clerk in one of her Majesty's departments," who signs himself "A Rank Tory," writes a smart little note to the " Standard " complaining of his allowance of stationary for the current quarter. This he gives, in all the prominence of a line for each item, as follows : — " 12 re-made quill pens, 1 box steel do, six sheets blotting paper, and £ quire note ditto." And then he adds in a triumphant tone, ' ; if this is not the last straw of economy, I know not what it is." Well, we don't know either so well about that. It is to be presumed the re-made quills are good, otherwise the " Rank Tory " would have said so, and consequently he has, say, 156 pens, including the steel ones — of which there are probably a gross to a box — for his use during three months, or about one and two-thirds a-day. Judging from our own experience, we should say half a dozen sheets of blotting paper would last an ordinary man who has . not as many hands as Briareus the time mentioned. As to- the note paper, that must of course be for the " Sank Tory's private purposes, and he ought hardly to devote any portion of his six hours a day to love, or dinner, drball, or tailoring correspondence. But apart from that, we cannot judge whether the Government allowance is or is not a last straw sufficient tp break the Conservative camel's back unless he tells us the amount of work he goes through. The vulgar notion of a clerk in a " crack " offico at all events is that he spends most of the in reading the "Times," eating lunch, talking of a night's hop, and putting down any stranger who comes to ask for information. Let the "Bank Tory " tell us how many columns of an ordinary newspaper be writes in a quarter, and we shall be abje to judge whether the materials supplied him for the pnrpose are sufficient. "A bad shearer," says the old proverb, " never gets a good hook." Perhaps quantity might be as well included as quality .-rr" Sportsman, 1 *

Thisis)the:titl6'bf a billnoWhefbre the Assembly*' fo* the incorporation and winding'up'bf mining companies. We take the following-synopsis of i the measure, which Jaitoo lengthy for pubhli<?4tiou; frqm; the "Herald": — .^The Mining. Companies Act, 1872, is., divided into sevejn parts, and has one ■hundred,, and forty",twb clauses. It makes certain important alterations in the.faw^. as Well as consolidates previous legislation on the subject of incbrpdrationi and windiiig-up gold mining companies^ and its provisions are strictly confined to such companies. It may first be noticed that the interpretation g^ven to the word " court" in the Bill, is that it shall in the first instance-mean, the district Court, and if there be no such court in the mining district where a mining company exists, then such expression shall mean the Supreme Court, holding its sittings in the jndicial district within which the operations of the company are being carried on. The liability of the shareholders will ordinarily be limited to the amount unpaid of their shares, but it is also provided that the capital of the company may be increased on the Vote of two-thirds of the shareholders at an extraordinary meeting of present either in person or by proxy. This increase may either be in the shape of increasing the amount payable in respect of each share, or by the issue of new Bhares. Notice of proposed increase of capital must bo given in the " Gazette," as well as in one or more newspapers, and also to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the latter signed by the manager and at least two of the directors of the company. A similar extraordinary meeting may sanction the borrowing of money on the security of the company's ' property. With respect to dividends and calls there are some new features in the Bill before us. Any director of a company being a party to the payment of any dividends, except out of profits, shall be liable to a penalty of not Jless than one hundred pounds, and not exceeding five hundred pounds, or in default thereof imprisonment for less than three, and not exceeding twelve months. He shall also be liable to the creditors of the company for all the debts due by the company, to the extent that the dividends paid shall exceed the profits, and such amount may be recovered by the creditors, or the liquidator suing on behalf of the creditors. The calls are to be payable on the second Wednesday in the month, and on that day only, such day not be less than seven days from the time when the call is made. A notice must be printed on the face of each company's scrip, stating that to be the day on which calls are payable. The resolution of the directors in the minute book making a call, or a certified copy of is to be proof that the call has been made. Clause fifty-four is a most important one, and will doubtless attract some attention. It provides that any share, upon which a call due thereon shall, at the expiration of fourteen days after the day upon which it shall be due, be unpaid, shall thereupon be absolutely forfeited, without any resolution of "directors or other proceeding, provided that no proceeding for the recovery of the call shall during fourteen days have been commenced.

Forfeited shares are to be sold by auction, of which not less than seven, nor more than fourteen days' notice by advertisement must be giyen. But any person whose shares shall be forfeited shall be entitled to redeem them any time up to and on the day of the sale, upon paying all calls and expenses in respect of such shares. With respect to winding up companies, also, important alterations are made. The creditors, for instance, have power to appoint a liquidator of the estate of the company at such remuneration as they shall agree upon; but the sanction of the court must be had and the liquidator must accept the office before he will be allowed to act.

The liquidajor once appointed, he cannot resign the office without the sanction of the court j but the creditors may remove him. A clerk employed by a liquidator must also be sanctioned by the court; and both liquidator and. clerk are then officers of the court.

Provision is also made in the act for prepayment companies, that is, at the beginning of each month an estimate of the sum required to carry on operations for that month shall be made, and a call shall be made for the payment thereof, if the company have not profits to carry on operations. The directors of such companies will be personally liable for any extra unauthorised expenditure. There are also clauses providing for no liability companies, in which shareholders will not be liable to calls or contributions.

A characteristic advertisement appears in an Irish newspaper, as follows : — " Whereas Patrick Maloney has fradulenfcly taken away several articles ef wearing apparel without my knowledge, this is to inform him that if he does not forthwith return 1 the same, his name- shall be made public" \ , An aspirant. after British Parl|mentary honors in one of the Highland burghs was thus interrogated by iHrilted elector : " Whether or not are yon prepVeS to bring in- a Bill into Parliarnenf^wheiryou go there, obliging every man or woman who keeps a public-house to sell the gill of the best whiskey, new measure^ at the old price 1"