The petition for a compulsory order to wind up the
Peruvian Amazon Company presented by four shareholders was granted by Mr. Justice Swinfen Eady in the Chancery Division on Wednesday. Mr. Russell, K.C., on behalf of the company urged that the real grounds were not the benefits to be secured for the contributories, but the indulgence of sentimental motives. Practically the petition was presented by the British Anti-Slavery Society. He pointed out that the preference and ordinary shares of the company amounted to £780,000, and with the exception of five hundred and fifty shares, repre- sented by the petitioners, supported by one thousand nine hundred other shares, no single shareholder desired Senor Arana to cease being liquidator. The judge, in making the order, commented in drastic fashion on the terrible admissions of the Company's report, the culpability of the managers, and the statements made by Arana in his affidavit. It was impossible to acquit all the partners of knowledge. " Zurnaeta (Arana's brother-in-law) certainly knew, and if Arana did not know then he ought to have known. Having regard to this and to his position as vendor, he is the last person in the world to whom the winding up of the company should be entrusted." We offer our heartiest congratulations to the British Anti-Slavery Society on the success of their efforts to secure a complete investigation into the methods by which the business was conducted.
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