The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-01-13 00:00:00

COUNTY EXPREiS AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, TUESDAY. JANUARY 13. 1880

IET

Lot not the shareholders run away with the notion they
wire a limited liability company ; he told them that U
this company were wound up, there may be liabilities.
they may be made contributories and may hare to pay so
much per share,
Mr. I should think not.
Mr. Buttons repeated, the directors are liablo, sad
should_te called to account.

-
11..WIFIRLD : How do you know?
Mr. SYMONDS returned. oommon-sense taught him so.
Mr. *infield may be very learned and ingenious ; but with
powers to make a railway from A. to B. you oannot make
one from X. to Z. It had been attempted to mislead the
shiTthAdon•

Mr. iiANTI-ILD (loudly): No, no.
Mr. SYMONDS: Mr. Mantleld's no, no" will not alter
It. lam not • shareholder.
Mr. ii•NFIZI.D: It is something to know that ; thie lithe
drat time we have heard it.
Mr. Sligo:um wits thankful he wee not. (Hear, hem.) It
was evident from the very first the whole thing was a
bubble. Let them nod the names at the top of the report;
nobody knew them.
Mr Buitegrr : Was Lord Ilchester's a bubble name I

itiic—x;7ll;es
Mr. Cots: His name la not at the top of the report.
Mr. SYMONDS continued: Everybody who reed the Het
must have thought it a bubble scheme; its character was
evidenced by the printed names at the top of the report.
Now Lord Ilchester's name had been brought in with very
bed taste by Mr. Burnett—Mr Bourn : By Mr.
SyraoselM—he would say Lord Ilchester was a director
last year. Was it too much to suppose that he was
ashamed of his company and had gone out I If be were
not ashamed, he might very well be ; perhaps that
accounted for Lord Ilebeeter, whose name he -as sorry to
have mentioned. Of the shareholders about ten were
distinguished by stare—they were qualified to be directors.
Mr. Symonds then went through the names, showing
several of the first to hail from London. Then Mr. Edwin
Burnett, how much had he *AI? /
Mr. MAXFIELD: More than
Mr. Braman : In hard cash, or by a bill of costs I
Mr. Mairrtatn : In cash.
Mr. Snowsuit: I was going to say it quite affected my
opinion of him. He then went on to the engineer, to Mr.
Hanson, who has been appointed director.
Mr. : Who. at Lord Ilchester's request,
resumes his seat.
Mr. SYMONDS went on: There was • string of Menfields,
some of whom could not be in • position to have a call
enforced against them, not being of sge Going through
some non-local names, Mr. Symonds said there were 13
and Mr. Burnett, and a pretty go 4 sample there was of
the interest in the company. He repeated his advice—
laeist the payment of calla, wind up the company. Land.
it had been said, was represented, which accounted for
going to Abbotsbury ; but there was nothing except from
Porteshem to Weymouth: ClO,OOO had been pretty well
sweated, money bed been borrowed on deposit. and .C 464
interest bad to be paid. Unless people are found fat
enough to carry out the line, they would never be able to
pay for its construction.
The resolution was carried newt eon.
Mr. G J. G. Gagooar proposed the next resolution.
They would sot find hie name with a star against it but
large or small shareholders, all should take interest in the
undertaking. It was stated, when subscriptions were
canvassed for, that the work would cot be commenced
until the capital was subscribed; but now they had com-
menced with only one-fourth of the cap!taL He moved
that the meeting pledgee itself to resist any further call
on the shares subscribed for, and in case the threat con-
tained In Mr. Burnett's circular be attempted to be put in
force, proceedings be at once instituted against the
directors for an account of their expenditure eif the share
holders' money already called up and paid, it being clear
that such expenditure has been inconsistent with the
powers of the directors.
Mr. J. B. Ceti seconded, and this also wee carried. .
. .

Mr. JACIUO2I moved that the Chairman be requested to
communicate the resolutions of this meeting to the Board
of Directors. Seconded by Mr. Seward, and carried.
Mr. Smut, as event legal gentlemen were present,
asked if it was legal for the secretary and members of the
Board to collect &sires, and ia order to induce esoole to
subscribe, to take them out in goods at their shops I Hs
was told the bargain was illegal.
Mr. Pore said there was no objection to Mr. Manfield
paying LIO for anybody else.
Mr. Magnum only came to the meeting as a share-
holder, not as secretary ; and he believed he held 'sore
shares than all the rest ot the shareholders put together,
certainly more than any in Dorchester, and he had paid
for them. They had heard about legal opinions, but he
asked.—Had they paid for those opinions! Because his
father always told him—depend upon it if the opinion was
sot paid for, it was worth nothing.
(A :Vet= We have got a better man than your father
now, air)
Maninnix : His father used to say it was just Moths
spider spinning his web, and calling "Just walk into my
parlour, just be tied up with red tam and you will en
where you are." If this had been • shareholders' meeting,
be should have been better pleased, but he would now
be very pleased to answer anything as secretary to the
company. A. great deal said to-day had been totally
uncalled for and untrue, and certainly had not been
carried into effect by the directors. They had not deviated
one inch from the line, except for the shareholders' benefit,
and then not beyond their Act of Parliament It was not
Intended to turn the points towards l7pwey, because it was
said to be dangerous ; it was intended to turn them the other
way. When the line was started first, many years ago,
the Board cf Trade was not so particular as now; bat the
line is now being constructed with the greatest possible
care that no accident shall happen. As to their not being
In a position to buy the land, It was all moonshine.
Opposition they had met that they never expected; but if
the shareholders had paid up their shares, they would
have had the station now.
. . . . .

..iir."C"7IAILLES"-- —a—si;cll:llad they gone beyond the limits
of
_deriotton / . .

Mr. MANFIRLD : The Act of Parliament &lbws us to
purchase.° many acres outside the 11110 for extraordinary

purpose..MG. CAIaSS: What diateace are you allowed to go
beyotuit
Mr. llagrisho : One field.
. . . .
' ' "

i;: "airii6.l7li.;;; that from a boy: but the limits
must be defined on the plan. Had they gone outside?
Mr. MAXPIILLD We hare gone two acres outside—into
one field.
Mr. COL' asked—Were they liable, say to make their
al) into £5OO to finish the line
Mr. Ilia.Nrigto : You are not liable beyond £lO a share.
The company have power to cancel the shares which are
two months In arrear, and I believe almost everyone here
La that time in. &Freer.. . _

"cSO-Zi 711.;11 -he very pleased If you will cancel my
shares.
Mr. MAXFIELD pointed Out the cancellation will not
&fleet the liability of the registered owner within a certain
time, to pay all the arrears of the calla He guaranteed
there was no liability to pay beyond £lO share ;he him-
self would reimburse every penny anyone mid beyond.
Mr. SYMONDS still said—at present they were only liable
to tho extent of their ibexes; but U the director., on
behalf of the company. incur a lot of debts, the share-
holders might, by an order in the Court of Chancery, be
made contributories.. . . .

—Mr. MANYIICLD: They have not does it.
Mr. fignoirn• pointed out circumstances under which •
creditor-,(111r. : We hays not got one)—Mr.
ST/110e1D3 showed how a creditor—now in perepective—
might take proceedings and make the shareholders liable
beyond the amount of throe shares. The company is not •
limited liability company, railway companies are not so,
even if Mr. Mardield were to say that till he is whiter in
the face than now.

—iiir7l;ol4—apP;ided to Mr. Elwin Barnett as solicitor to
the company.
Mr. Boaarrr said he wee inclined to carry out what Mr.
Symonds raid ; but the company has assets enough, and
be might go so far as to say the directors would reimWrse
any one who had to pay more than the amount of his
share. Mr. Symonds had made use of his name very
freely; but he contended the wording of the report was—
As the land I. obtained, so something will be done. Then
as to the directors remuner•uon, what was L3OOl He did
not say they'd get It; but it was not much among the
directors for what they had done. Mr. Symonds did not
work for nothing—if he did, it was come in with the new
year—(laughter)—and these genUemen had devoted the
whole of their time, bad sometimes three or four meeting.,
and what arts £4OO among four? Who would reap the
benefit of the line! Why I Weymouth would reap the
greatest benefit When • railway is brie( made, they
always knew what was the cry— "Oh you are going
through the best of my land. Mr. Goodden would, he
believed, give his land willingly at • fair price. Every
speculation has its drawbacks,' but let them give this a
fair trial and see what the result will be in • year or two's
time. (Hem, hear.)
dr. MiNIFIELD said as to the meeting being held at
Abbotebury, it was to gain certain reaults, and one had
been obtained—that they should see how difficult it was
to get there. They all thought • railway was not wanted
to Abbotabury ; but all wanted to go, and could not get
there. (Laughter.) Another reason was—the capital in the
line represented at Abbotsbnry and its neighbourhood was
at least three times as much as in Dorchester. When the
meeting was held at DR.:beater only about a dozen or
twenty people attended; but they bad divided the meet-
ings; three or four had been held at Dorchester, three or
four at Weymouth. and three at Abbotabury. Then, by
going to Abbotsbnry, they could see bow the money wee
spent, and everything could be explained totally different
from what it could when sitting round • mahogany table.
Mr. &twain asked—Had they not spent money at
Mined wey . _

- i
Mr. Por saked—Flad they power to go over or tinder
the W.eymouth turnpike road I
Mr. MAIWIRLD replied they had power to MOON it they
were owners of the land on both sides.
Yr. SYMONDS denied they had power, to go under or
over the rosd.

-.111r:-deisiii- proposed • vote of thanks to the Mayor.
which Mr. Murriztri seconded. and the Chairman having
acknowledged. the meeting dispersed.

To the Miter.
THE ABROTSBURY RAILWAY.

As I only attended the meeting held at the King's
Arms Hotel on Monday last as one tntersewd to the
above railway, I think it only fair, not only to the
shareholders but also to Mr. Pope, to reply to his
question as the solicitor to the company. It is a well.
known and settled rule in law thaton• of the insidente
belonging to members of a body corporated by Act of
Parliament is that they are each and all cxesapt from
personal and individual liability, beyond the amount
of shares for which they subscribe, and, therefore, I
take it that the shareholders of the Abbotabury
Railway are liable to the extent of £lO for every share
they hold, and not one penny mote.
EDWIN Bogirirrr.
Dorchester, January 6111, 1880.

Thourh only • small shareholder in the above under-
taking. I do protest against the way in which the meeting
held last evening at the Hinge Arms Hotel, Dorchester,
was called. Nvidently the ides originated amongst an
Interested few at Dorchester, hence the invitations to some
of the Weymouth shareholdin• to attend • but I would
ask why were not all the shareholders invited! True, there
was an 11110117MOtle notice: but I think it very possible
that not one.half of the shareholders knew of the meeting:
this may account then for there being less than one-fourth
of them present. Mr. )(infield was certainly to the point
when he looked round the room and said—" Why, I have
more shares in the railway than all here put together."
It cannot be considered a representative meeting of the
shareholders, and had It not been that I accidentally heard
notices had been seat through the post, I myself should
not have attended. The meeting certainly should have
been confined to shareholders—who so interested in the
undertaking as they I Many of us know that the interest
manifested by Symonds for some time past has been
antagonistic the railway, and whys Because he repre-
sents some landed proprietors who would rather keep
their land as it is than part with any portion of it
for the railway for any money ; and I am told one of
them was just as much against the making of the
Wilts, Somerset, and Weymouth tins. as be is at preempt
against the Abbotabury railway. It cannot be that his
clients •re afraid of not being paid for their land ; no,
thirst, something more at the bottom of hls and their
opposition than that. It has also been stated that the
company were never in • position to pay for the land.
Certainly enough and to spare to pay, for all the hind
required of Mr. idymonde silents has been subscribed, and
I would ask why is it necessary to subscribe the whole of
the capital authorised (the whole of which will not be
required) before this land can be purchased / It can only
be factious opposition that suggests such an idea.
The directors are blamed for having expended money in
lands and works outside their Parliamentary powers. Now
ph six of the Abbotsbury Railway Act is as
Clltrwr::—" The Great Western &Sway Company may at
any time or times hereafter, should It be necessary for
them to do so, alter or remove such junction, and tubed-
tute a new junction thereof."
Now I have been given to understand that the Great
Western Railway Company
uisu iruta iand for nothing
did objecttothe junction as
gaeakll.di sad .m 0
the inaction when ills. Parsgran rot the
ems Ad le as follows r-mille qualities at Lad be be

taken by the company by agreement for the extraordinary
mentioned in the ' U'we, Lliattove Con"iia-
Cnstect of 1815' shall not exceed ;we acres,' Now lam
no lawyer or acquainted with the Act of ; but common
11111111111 tele one the two acres must certainly be outside the
limits of deviation marked on the plan, because all within
those limits there is power to take and construct the line
thereon. If Yr. Symonds will show in what way the
directors have expended money in w4rks and land ,utside
thelearliamentery power% I sad many other shareholders
will be thankful to him.
There was a short discussion in the room last evening
alter the meeting, when I heard a Dorchester share.
bolder stoutly maintaining that the report was quite
correct. It oertat.!y is
°not misleading to any one who can
understand plain
A great deal was said at the meeting last evening
as to the hall-yeasty meeting being held at Abbotabury„
' and the Imputes towards the directors was not very
courteous: but it struck me on looking round the room
there were a great mini present posweehig conveyances
and time at their disposal, who could have attendrd the
Abbotsbury meeting withoutany inconvenience if they had
felt one half the interest in the raileray they oug,it to as
shareholders, and should the undertaking not be completed
the directors will certainly have done their duty, which I
am sorry to say has not been the PIO with many of the
shareholders.

CUAROL
In charging the Grand Jury, Mr. FLOTIR said
The calendar captain's the names of 13 prisoners for
trial at these seatiolia, and that is eemt the average
number. We had 12 cases, I think, at the Kpiphany
Sessions last year to deal with, and at the previous
year we had 17 to diet, so of; thereto..., I think we
may fairy look npou 13 as about the average
amount of crime requiring investigation at your bands
at this court. The rep ,rt of the chief constable
yesterday bad pretty much the same aspect, a-id
spoke of •so all increase of crime—viz ,14 more
persons apprehende I as offenders against the law
during the last piarter of the year, than in the corre-
sponding period f the previous yeAr. That it little
more than an indication of the ordinary fluctuation of
crime, and I don't thick it in anything to lead to any
conclusion one way or the other, of any c isisiderable
increase or iliminivion of the offences agnioat the law.
Dealing with it from one paint of view. I think the
criminal slate of the county is satisfactory, for when
we look back upon the past year and consider, a. I
think all of Us must consid. r, -how it we one of the
most trying to all industrial occupatiosui of the country
we have passed through in the lifetime of many of ue,
I think the fact that reline has not materially increased,
if increased at All in the county, is a matter rather for
congrAtulation than otherwise. As reg ad; vagrancy(
jam irony t ray the view we must take. f the soma!
state of the c 'may is not very setWactory.
We have ha I I .rg collative of vagrant be-king food
and shelter in our union-11..11-es, although I may say
during the lest few week-, there has been a consider-
able tendency towards a ibutinut!on in that class of
persone. But complaint.; have come in from different
parts of the county, th it tilers vagrants go a`a,ut in
rather 'aro number.; I might i.ot be wrong in calling
them gangs. I have heard as many its ten as misted
together, going about asking alms; and of course from
their numbers aid from the way in which in .ome
Met .nce, thee* alms have been detnamied, they have
occa-ioned a certain amount f Akita. Of
course one is led to look at the system
which was adopted in this c anty a few years
ago at the suggestion of our Chief C amiable, and up
to this time hos worked reluarkably well ; but I think,
notwithstanding this increase th.re is no rcsoin, so
fa- as we Can judge at present, that we should bear the
confidence that we have bad in that mode of dealing
with mendicity which has been adoi tedin this county.
Looking at the increase of vagrancy and at the want of
employment, I think the state of the calendar is a
satisfactory one on the whole, in regard to the numbers
for trial and especially in regard to the quality of the
crimes. Amongst the prieo• ers whose cases will be
brought before you to-day there are eight who are
charged with ordinary caws of larceny or stealing. I
don't think in any one case there in any ev-dance of
psraonal violence. There is only one case of offence
against the person, and I am happy to say this,
because offences against the person are to be visit-
with • more severe kind of punishment. Having
referred to the ease of Alfred Shave, as one of
an unusual character, and open to some que•tion on
account of the peculiar circumstances, Mr. Floyer
dismissed the Grand Jury.