A LIVELY MEETING.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2183, 19 November 1897, Page 3

A LIVELY MEETING.

We have had some "lively" shareholders' meetings in this city, but there is an element of novelty disclosed in the following report from the " Westminster Gazette" of the 31st August : There was considerable excitement at yesterday's Cannon street Hotel meeting: of the African Consolidated Land and Trading Company. The meeting was called by "the Association of Mining! Shareholders," and in response to theiit circular that body had received approval from shareholders representing 54,000 shares. The Chairman said the object of the meeting was to propose the appointment of a committee to inquire into the condition of the company. Mr Duncan proposed that the Attor-ney-General should be informed—cries of "Take in the whole Cabinet"—of the illegal conduct of the Association, Speaking amid great interruptions, he moved that the accountant of the Association should be condemned, and that the whole matter should be Imported to the Attorney-General. Endless noisy incidents followed, until at last Mr Dawson, of Leeds, asked, with many thumps on the table, whether the shares were worth one farthing. The Chairman said the disturbances were caused by an. organised opposition. The shouts and; noise continued, Mr Dawson hammering' on the table. The Chairman took up the reading of the statement, but it was impossible tohear a word. Mr Dennison then claimed that he ha<l been voted into the chair, but Mr Cooper refused to leave, and Mr Dennison took a seat next to him, and asked to know what the shareholders wished. He declared that a motion to dissolve th« meeting was carried. Mr Duncan afterwards moved a vote of censure on the Association of Mining Shareholders for' getting up the meeting. This was also carried. A vote of thanks to Mr Dennison was then passed. Replying to a' question he said he would take care that a committee of consultation was appointed. In the end such a committee was nominated. The Chairman: After you gentlemen have left the room the meeting wiil go on. A Shareholder: You are a humorist.. (Laughter.) Mr Dawson said the whole object of the original meeting had been rendered nugatory. The gathering then broke into song, and some amusing scenes took place, the National Anthem being sung with great enthusiasm. Mr Dennison ordered up a whisky and soda, which he drank, with the remark. "What is one among so many?" Cigars were lit, and the meeting was transformed into a kind of! smoking concert. Throughout it all Mr Cooper went on reading his statement. Mr Dennison said the committee appointed had decided to meet the directors on the morrow. Mr Cooper still went on reading, but what he said it was impossible to hear, owing to the snatches of songs, the choruses. and general disorder which prevailed. Finally, he announced that he adjourned the meeting to a date not fixed, but of which the shareholders would have notice. This announcement was received with cheers and laughter. Mr Dennison offered to stand Mr Cooper a drink, but the latter said he only drank tea and began to gather up his papers. In the end thf meeting broke up with a proposal to ■ adjourn to the smoke-room.