Page images
PDF
EPUB

11. The Company shall to the best of its ability discourage and, so far as may be practicable, abolish by degrees any system of slave trade or domestic servitude in the territories aforesaid.

12. The Company shall regulate the traffic in spirits and other intoxicating liquors within the territories aforesaid, so as, as far as practicable, to prevent the sale of any spirits or other intoxicating liquor to any natives.

13. The Company as such, or its officers as such, shall not in any way interfere with the religion of any class or tribe of the peoples of the territories aforesaid or of any of the inhabitants thereof, except so far as may be necessary in the interests of humanity, and all forms of religious worship or religious ordinances may be exercised within the said territories, and no hindrance shall be offered thereto except as aforesaid.

14. In the administration of justice to the said peoples or inhabitants, careful regard shall always be had to the customs and laws of the class, or tribe, or nation to which the parties respectively belong, especially with respect to the holding, possession, transfer, and disposition of lands and goods, and testate or intestate succession thereto, and marriage, divorce, and legitimacy, and other rights of property and personal rights, but subject to any British laws which may be in force in any of the territories aforesaid, and applicable to the peoples or inhabitants thereof.

15. If at any time our Secretary of State thinks fit to dissent from or object to any part of the proceedings or system of the Company relative to the peoples of the territories aforesaid, or to any of the inhabitants thereof, in respect of slavery or religion or the administration of justice, or any other matter, he shall make known to the Company his dissent or objection, and the Company shall act in accordance with his directions duly signified.

16. In the event of the Company acquiring any harbour or harbours, the Company shall freely afford all facilities for or to our ships therein without payment except reasonable charges for work done or services rendered or materials or things supplied.

17. The Company shall furnish annually to our Secretary of State, as soon as conveniently may be after the close of the

financial year, accounts of its expenditure for administrative purposes, and of all sums received by it by way of public revenue, as distinguished from its commercial profits, during the financial year, together with a report as to its public proceedings, and the condition of the territories within the sphere of its operations. The Company shall also, on or before the commencement of each financial year, furnish to our Secretary of State an estimate of its expenditure for administrative purposes, and of its public revenue (as above defined) for the ensuing year. The Company shall, in addition, from time to time, furnish to our Secretary of State any reports, accounts, or information with which he may require to be furnished.

18. The several officers of the Company shall, subject to the rules of official subordination and to any regulations that may be agreed upon, communicate freely with our High Commissioner in South Africa, and any others our officers, who may be stationed within any of the territories aforesaid, and shall pay due regard to any requirements, suggestions, or requests which the said High Commissioner or other officers shall make to them or any of them, and the Company shall be bound to enforce the observance of this Article.

19. The Company may hoist and use on its buildings and elsewhere in the territories aforesaid, and on its vessels, such distinctive flag indicating the British character of the Company as our Secretary of State and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty shall from time to time approve.

20. Nothing in this our Charter shall be deemed to authorise the Company to set up or grant any monopoly of trade, provided that the establishment of or the grant of concessions for banks, railways, tramways, docks, telegraphs, waterworks, or other similar undertakings or the establishment of any system of patent or copyright approved by our Secretary of State, shall not be deemed monopolies for this purpose. The Company shall not, either directly or indirectly, hinder any Company or persons who now are, or hereafter may be, lawfully and peaceably carrying on any business concern or venture within the said district of the Tati hereinbefore described, but shall, by permitting and facilitating transit by every lawful means to and from the district of the Tati, across its own territories, or

where it has jurisdiction in that behalf, and by all other reasonable and lawful means, encourage, assist, and protect all British subjects who now are, or hereafter may be, lawfully and peaceably engaged in the prosecution of a lawful enterprise within the said district of the Tati.

21. For the preservation of elephants and other game, the Company may make such other regulations and (notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained) may impose such licence duties on the killing or taking of elephants or other game as they may think fit; provided that nothing in such regulations shall extend to diminish or interfere with any hunting rights which may have been, or may hereafter be, reserved to any native chiefs or tribes by treaty, save so far as any such regulations may relate to the establishment and enforcement of a close season.

22. The Company shall be subject to and shall perform and undertake all the obligations contained in or undertaken by ourselves under any treaty, agreement, or arrangement between ourselves and any other State or Power, whether already made or hereafter to be made. In all matters relating to the observance of this Article, or to the exercise within the Company's territory for the time being of any jurisdiction exercisable by us under the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts, the Company shall conform to and observe and carry out all such directions as may from time to time be given in that behalf by our Secretary of State, and the Company shall appoint all necessary officers to perform such duties, and shall provide such Courts and other requisites as may from time to time be necessary for the administration of justice.

23. The original share capital of the Company shall be £1,000,000, divided into 1,000,000 shares of £1 each.

24. The Company is hereby further specially authorised and empowered for the purposes of this our Charter from time to time

I. To issue shares of different classes or descriptions, to increase the share capital of the Company, and to borrow moneys by debentures or other obligations.

II. To acquire and hold, and to charter or otherwise deal with, steam vessels and other vessels.

III.—To establish or authorise banking companies and other companies, and undertakings or associations of every description, for purposes consistent with the provisions of this our Charter.

IV. To make and maintain roads, railways, telegraphs, harbours, and any other works which may tend to the development or improvement of the territories of the Company.

V.—To carry on mining and other industries, and to make concessions of mining, forestal, or other rights.

VI. To improve, develope, clear, plant, irrigate, and cultivate any lands included within the territories of the Company.

VII. To settle any such territories and lands as aforesaid, and to aid and promote immigration.

VIII. To grant lands for terms of years or in perpetuity, and either absolutely or by way of mortgage or otherwise.

IX. To make loans or contributions of money or money's worth for promoting any of the objects of the Company. X.-To acquire and hold personal property.

XI.—To acquire and hold (without licence in mortmain or other authority than this our Charter) lands in the United Kingdom, not exceeding five acres in all, at any one time for the purposes of the offices and business of the Company, and (subject to any local law) lands in any of our colonies or possessions and elsewhere, convenient for carrying on the management of the affairs of the Company, and to dispose from time to time of any such lands when not required for that purpose.

XII. To carry on any lawful commerce, trade, pursuit, business operations, or dealing whatsoever in connection with the objects of the Company.

XIII.-To establish and maintain agencies in our colonies and possessions, and elsewhere.

XIV. To sue and be sued by the Company's name of incorporation, as well in our Courts in our United Kingdom, or in our Courts in our colonies or possessions, or in our Courts in foreign countries or elsewhere.

XV. To do all lawful things incidental or conducive to the exercise or enjoyment of the rights, interests, authorities, and

powers of the Company in this, our Charter, expressed or referred to, or any of them.

25. Within one year after the date of this, our Charter, or such extended period as may be certified by our Secretary of State, there shall be executed by the members of the Company for the time being a Deed of Settlement, providing as far as necessary for

I.—The further definition of the objects and purposes of the Company.

II. The classes or descriptions of shares into which the capital of the Company is divided, and the calls to be made in respect thereof, and the terms and conditions of membership of the Company.

III. The division and distribution of profits.

IV. General Meetings of the Company; the appointment by our Secretary of State (if so required by him) of an Official Director, and the number, qualification, appointment, remuneration, rotation, removal, and powers of Directors of the Company, and of other officers of the Company.

V. The registration of members of the Company, and the transfer of shares in the capital of the Company.

VI.—The preparation of annual accounts to be submitted to the members at a General Meeting.

VII. — The audit of those accounts by independent auditors. VIII. The making of bye-laws.

IX.-The making and using of official seals of the Company. X. The constitution and regulation of Committees of Local Boards of Management.

XI.— The making and execution of supplementary Deeds of Settlement.

XII. The winding-up (in case of need) of the Company's affairs.

XIII. The government and regulation of the Company and of its affairs.

XIV. - Any other matters usual or proper to be provided for in respect of a Chartered Company.

26. The Deed of Settlement shall, before the execution thereof, be submitted to and approved by the Lords of our Council, and a certificate of their approval thereof, signed by the Clerk

« PreviousContinue »