FIGHT AT A CITY MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3046, 23 January 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

FIGHT AT A CI TY MEETING.

The shareholders in the Idaho Mining Company (Limited) held their first ordinary general meeting on Thursday afternoon, at Winchester-house, Old Broad-street, London, under the presi* deney of Mr George H. Perks, the chairman of the company. There was a good Attendance. Iu proposing the usual resolution for the adoption of the report and accounts, the chairman expressed his regret that the balance-sheet was not at all a bright one. The board sent out Captain Hanley in M&y, 1890, and he proaeeJed, with the assistance of a lawyer in Salt Lake city, to test tho claims against the company, and did his best to settle them. Some claims were compromised, while others were repudiated altogether- The authorised share capital of the company was £250,000, of which £-218,936 had been subscribed. On the other hand, £180,000 represented the the nominal value the property taken over by this company from the old company. Cautain Hanley had,however resigned his position as consulting engineer to the company. As far as he (the chairman) oould judge,they had received very favourable reports from the mine. Everyone who bad looked the property had given hopeful report*. The ore had left the character of appearing in email veins, and wus now becoming diffused throughout the length of the property. That be« ing so, there was a prospect of a very valuable and lasting mine. One report which had been sent in relative to the value of the ore ihowed an average yield of 9dwts. per ton. Colonel \V. H. Mott'att seconded the motion, and a long discussion followed, in the course of which shareholders oompUined that they hai been kept in the dark with the regard to the position of the affaire of the company, and urged that if there was really no gold in the mine the sooner the company was reconstructed the better, The motion for the adoption of the report was eventually •irried, and the auditors re-elected. About a score of shareholders had left the room when an altercation sprung up between Mr Uranton and Mr Marden. Both gentlemen indulged in strong language, the former observing that Mr Marden wus a pretty sort of man to come there and insult the board and some of the shareholders when he had not absolutely paid the calls on his shares. This statement met with the evident approval of several ef tho shareholders who were gathered round Mr Granton and Mr Maiden. Strong words continued to pass between those two gentlemen, who in turn called each other "a liar." One word led to another, and after Mr Marden had called Mr Granton *• a fool," the latter replying, "And you are au a«s," Mr Mardon was advised to leave the room. The passage of words continued to pass, however, between them until Mr <8 ran ton, who was by this time very excited, aud appeared to have lost all control over his temper, told Mr Marden that he was "a liar." Upon this Mr Mardon immediately rushed at Mr Gianton, and having pushed him against the chairs, struck him several violent blows in the faee, which caused blood to flow freely from his nose and mouth, Mr Granton did not return the blows, but merely called ou those present to take his assailant away. In the noulHo which ensued chairs were scattered in all directions, and both gentlemen fell.. Mr Marden. who was uppermost, being dragged away eventually by Col, Moffatt and a veteterau reporter. In the confusion, which lasted somo minutes, direc* tors, shareholders, and the representatives of the press were all thrown together in ooneequonoe of the chairs being strewn about the room. Finally Mr Marden whs got outside, while Mr Granton remained engaged in wiping the blood from his nose. Upon being asked by a fellow shareholder what had given rise to tho disturbance, Mr Granton, amid much laughter, replied, " Only because I called him a liar." Before leaving Mr Granton intimated his intention of applying at the Mansion house for a summons for assault against Mr Marden. Mr Grautou left tho building, accompanied by Colonel Mofiat and several of bis fellow' shareholders, and thus teriuiuated. a scene which is, probably, unparalleled iu the proceedings of commercial meetings in the City.