Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1889-06-15 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THE BRITISH IN EAST AFRICA.  At the first general meeting of the founders of the Imperial British East African Company (which was. incorporated by Royal Charter in 1888), Sir W. Mackinnon presided. In their report the directors gave an account of the inauguration of the company in Africa, when the present Sultan of Zanzibar not oely ratified the original concession, but, by another 4opument, granted further and important facilities to the company for carrying out the privileges accorded by his predecessor. Accompanied by General Mathews, commander-in-chief of the Sultan's forces, Mr. Mackenzie, one of the directors, arrived at Mombasa in October. Shortly before his arrival hostilities had broken out between the German East African Company and the natives at Pangani and Bagamoyo in the German sphere of influence. In addition to the disquiet arising from the foregoing cause, Mr. Mackenzie found himself called upon to deal promptly with questions arising out of the difficult problem of domestic slavery. Mr. Mackenzie, by a judicioue arrangement, was successful not only in bringing the matter to a peaceful and amicable solution, but was enabled to obtain the freedom of 1,422 men, women, and children, slaves who had left their masters or owners, and had taken refuge at the mission stations. This arrangement involved the payment of a considerable sum of money. One effect of the settlemer.t of the Arab claims had been to inspire the natives with confidence in the principles a justice e.vinced by the oompany.—The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the founders on the success which had attended the efforts of the directors. The company might have many difficulties to face in the future, but the directors believed that by patience, perseverance and conciliation they might carry out the purposes for which the company was formed. The company was only on the threshold tof an important undertaking. It was too soon for him to foreshadow the various ciperatioiui in which the directors might have to engage for the promotion of the well-being of the natives and the development of British commerce. It was not, at present, contemplated to enter into extensive mercantile operations. First, the country must be settled and the natives fully convinced of the sincerity of the company's desire to enhance their permanent well-being. Two or three caravans were proceeding in different directions through that part of the territory assigned to the company. It was intended to make each station permanent and to put it into a comparative defensive condition, so as to be able to resist any sudden attack of marauding tribes. He thought the time had now come for inviting the general public to participate in, the company's enterprise. The directors contemplated that the additional amount, £750,000, to be subscribed by the- public, would make the capital altogether £1,000,000. If they found that the natives were taking kindly to the company, they would prepare a scheme for laying a line of railway connecting the stations with the sea coast, and opening cora' munications for trade and providing facilities for carrying the' 'company's store& It was gratifying that the Getman company had expressed a desire to work harmoniously with the company, and the directors reciprocated that feeling.—Mr. Mackenzie painted, out-the importance of the company, whether viewed from a political, philanthropic, or commercial aspect. He expressed his firm belief that the enterprise would yield a good return for investment; and, therefore, he urged the directors to increase the capital, in order to widen the basis of operations. With regard to the slave question, the company had practically solved it. The Arabs entered into the slave trade purely for commercial purpose/4, and, with a view to divert them from the traffic in slaves, he had made an arrangement 'at Mombasa, under which the leading Arab traders found it to their interest to support the company, who would furnish the geode for trading opbrations.—The report was a4opted.  I The wedding of the Hon. Armine Wbdehotise, I second son of the Earl of Kimberley, of Lcnvndes: tequare, and Mies Eleanor Arnold, daughter of the late Mr. Matthew Arnold, was celebrated at St. ; Peter's Church, Eaton-square,on Thursday afternoon; Iby Canon Holland. The bride was attended by • oily one bridesmaid. Her dress consisted of a train, corsage, and petticoat of rich ivory duchess. satia draped with Brussels lace and mousseline de chiffon. Suspended from the right shoulder was similar lake fastened on the left side with • diarnond spray. She also wore a veil of tulle. A brilliant and aristocratic company was present. The wedding preserate were numerous and costly. A retired farmer named Richard Davies has committed suicide by jumping from It railway bridge span n:ng the Ogmore Valley, South Wales. He lost heavily on the turf, itnd this fact is supposed to have led to the act.  • 'A New York detective* who came to Berlin after a risit_te the Pars Exhibition, has had a rather usPkeiisant,proof pf the skill of the Berlin pickpockets, wile. have relieved him of, his pocketbook, containing afl lit; money and a number of important papers. •-,The Cunard steamer Aurania, which has arrived at Queenstown from New York, brings intelligence that a steerage passenger named Patrick Shea, a native of county Cork, who embarked at Queenstown in the White Star steamer Adriatic, for New York, committed suicide by jumping overboard, the vessel being about 44/0 miles west of Fastness at the time. Efforts to rescue the man proved unsuccessful.  Messrs. Lewis have proceeded in the Chancel"; Division against a company called "Lewis, Limited, carrying on business at Stockton and Middlesbrough, to restrain them from so doing, as being calculated to deceive. After a long hearing, at the suggestion of Mr. Justice Chitty the defendants undertook, until the trial of the action, not to open any further branches, and not to trade beyond the business of high-class bespoke tailors and hairdressers, their memorandum of association shewing an intention to enter into other businesses similar to those eerril4 on by Lewis's, of Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham. Mr. Justice Chitty frequently asked the learned counsel representing the defendants why the company do not maintain the name of the person whose liminess they purchased—namely, J. Lewis, formerly De Meta. The great ocean racing yacht Paredes, built et Eastbourne, has been successfully launched at the Crumb/es Beiti, with the aid of the Lady Brasier "Gathwstliebt over the beach into the *tool „The Parades. is watered tor the 00 ioteriastional ioese mow.