The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-22 00:00:00

NEW ZEALAND COMPANY.

Yesterday the meeting of the shareholders of this
Company, adjourned from the 7th instant, was held at
New Zealand House, Broad-street-buildings ; Mr'
Aglionby, M.P., in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN, upon taking his seat, said that as he
had taken an active snare in all the acts of the directors,
he thought it duo to them to bo there to take his share of
blame, if any existed, and expressed his readiness to
meet the shareholders heart and soul, and fully satisfy
them in any explanation they might demand.
Mr. HARRINGTON read the notice of the adjournment,
which was in order to admit of time to receive such in-
formation with respect to the accounts of the company,
as the shareholders might think necessary, before any
further call be made upon them
The minutes of the last meeting having been con-
firmed,
General BRIGGS, in quoting the New Zealand Bill of
last session, inquired if the functions of the company
had ceased on the sth of July last.
have, except in some reserved The CHAIRMAN—They
points necessary to adjust and close accounts.
Gen. BRIGGS then complained of the manner in which
the company's accounts with the Canterbury Association
had
been kept. He had, however, dissected them, and
found that, at different times, no less than 26,615/. 1 Is.
Bd. of the moneys of the company had been advanced to
the association, of which 10,6251.
16s. 4d. had been re-
ceived back; so that there was still owing 15,989/. 15s.
4d. 1:13 had also found that, of the hum so lent, the com-
pany had itself, on the faith of the unpaid-up calls, bor-
rowed 10,0001. from one of its directors. The Canter-
bury Association had, in fact, been supported by the
borrowed capital of the compan—.
In reviewine• the
several reports of the company, he had also found ' that
sums owing, which had been at one time set down us
cash balances, had been afterwards classed as as-
sets, and so confounded with each other that their
identity
was lost, while, in the last report, no men-
tion was at all made of them, as it was as-
serted that they had, by the provisions of the Act
of last session, devolved upon the Chief Secretary for the
Colonies. Now, as the words of the Act were " lands,
tenements, and hereditaments," he could not think the
Government entitled to the assets he had described.
They amounted to 29,0001, and, if recovered, would free
the shareholders from the liability of a call. In con-
clusion, ho would move that a committee of shareholders
be appointed to examine this accounts and transactions
of the company, and to report thereon, and that they be
furnished with all necessary papers and persons.
Mr. BucKLE seconded the naotioe, and, in doing so,
vindicated the company from the charges of fraud and
misrepresentation brought against it by Sir Wm.
Molesworth. He next explained the grounds on which
the Canterbury Association repudiate the debt, alleging
that the New Zealand Directors had misappro-
priated the public money. That might be
a question
between the directors and shareholders of the com-
pany ; but, in
his opinion, had nothing to do with the
money lent, which was,
in fact, not public money at all.
The repudiation was the doing of Mr. Edward Gibbon
Wakefield. He would, however, suggest for the com-
mittee an inquiry into the sums received by Mr. Wake-
field and the Wakefield family, the surns due to the
shareholders by their own company, and into the history
of that debt which had suddenly disappeared from their
accounts.
having put the resolution, it was
the ertasnmaN
unanimously carried.
The committee was then appointed.
Some explanation with respect to a proposal of the
Canterbury Association, to refer the matters in dispute.
to an arbitration, but which was refused by the company,
followed.
was then adjourned until the committee
meeting The
should be ready to report, and a vote of thanks was given
to the chairman.

TDB DUXE'S FUNEItAL.---The shopkeepers of the
speculating
Strand and other large streets through which the funeral
procession of the late Luke will pass, are already
sight-seersp.
upon the chances of making a rich harvest, by fitting up
their shops and rooms for the accommodation of
A. tradesman near the Adel Phi Theatre is preparing to fur-
nish his shop with four rows of seats, similar to those in a
theatre, asking no less a sum than five guineas for one seat
in the first row, three for the next, two for the third, and
one guinea and a half for the last. Besides this ha is fitting
up his first and second floors. At nearly every other shop
the same exorbitant price is demanded.,
TILE DUKE OF WE DUNG TON.—PROPOSED PUBLIC
INSTITUTION.—Last evening a preliminary meeting was held
at the Freemasons"ravern, for the purpose, as expressed in
the advertisement, of taking into consideration the propriety
of erecting a permanent memorial of the nation's gratitude
in honour of the Duke of Wellington. Only about half a
dozen persons, besides the reporters, were present. s.
F.
Bilton, Esq., Barrister, presided, and Mr. Tommey, who
acted as hon. secretary, read a prospectus of a proposed insti-
tution for the relief f non-commissioned officers, soldiers,
sailors, and marines, and their widows and orphans; and a
series of resolutions, expressive of the desirability of such an
institution, were proposed and carried. It was also resolved
to hold a public meeting in promotion of this object.
MIDDLESEX REG DIEN T OF MlLlTlA.—Yesterday a
notice was issued from the Middlesex Militia-office, Palace-
yard, Westminster, calling upon all persons who had volun-
teered, or who bad received the bounty-money, to take notice
that its first meeting for the purpose of being drilled and
trained of the East Middlesex Regiment of Militia, was fixed
to take place on Tuesday next, the 26th inst., at Hampstead
Heath. The notice further states that all persons who have
received the bounty-money and who fail to attend on the
day above-mentioned (except through illness), will subject
themselves to a fine of 201., and in default of payment to six
calendar months' imprisonment with hard labour in the
House of Correction. It is understood that in most of the
parishes of the metropolis a sufficient number of volunteers
have been raised, thus rendering recourse to the ballot highly
improbable.

THE ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER AT BETHNAL.
GEEEN.—Yesterday afternoon Mr. W. Baker, the coroner
resumed and concluded an inquiry at the Bloomer beer-shop,
Abbey-street, Bethnal-green-road, respecting the death of
Ann Yates, aged 40 years, who, it was alleged, had died
from the ill-usage and violence of a brickmaker, named Chas.
Stretton. The jury returned a verdict of—...4rolud dead in
bed, haying Mid cu di:3eme of tht ing=3,".