sequently to the judges' chambers, to be there administered in a way analogous to the mode of administering the estates of deceased persons by their personal representatives. Although the contrivance was simple in principle, and apparently calculated to work well in practice, numerous new and serious evils arose out of the new jurisdiction, which is sufficiently apparent from the extent of litigation upon this subject, and which rendered the further interference of the legislature expedient. The object of the winding-up acts was in no respect to alter the legal rights or liabilities of any one, but to facilitate the process of liquidation, and not to add to or detract from any existing rights. Re Great North of England Railway Company, Ex parte Carrech, 20 L. J., Ch. 670. The object of the winding-up acts was to enable the managers of joint-stock companies to wind up the affairs of the company and to compel the shareholders to contribute, but they were not intended in any way to affect the rights of the creditors of such companies. Beardshaw v. Lord Londesborough, 21 L. J., C. P. 17. The inherent jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery is not taken away by acts giving further remedies without express words for that purpose. The legislature in providing a remedy under the windingup acts has not excluded the remedy by bill for an account of money received by individuals in respect of shares (after allowing all costs, charges and expenses), and for the distribution of the surplus funds of the company amongst all the shareholders rateably, according to the number of their shares. Clements v. Bowes, 21 L. J., Ch. 306, pp. 309, 310. The purpose of the winding-up acts was not to make it a matter of course that contributories showing a case to be within the classes of cases enumerated in the 5th section of the act 11 & 12 Vict. c. 45 (see sect. 79 of this act, post), may ask as of right for a winding-up order, without showing that some benefit will accrue to the company from it. A judge's discretion is to be exercised on the question, whether under the peculiar circumstances of the case it is necessary or expedient to make a winding-up order. Where a company was insolvent but an arrangement was pending, by which the admitted debts could be cleared by a subscription among the shareholders, and there were no other questions except equities between the shareholders, the court refused a winding-up order on the petition of a few shareholders holding very few shares, but left the parties to seek justice in the ordinary course of the court. Ex parte Wise, 1 Drew. 465. A bill was filed to wind up the affairs of a banking company, on the ground of the personal misconduct of the directors. The defendants then obtained a winding-up order, although such order was opposed by the plaintiffs in the suit. The plaintiffs then moved to stay the proceedings in the suit until the company should have been wound up under the order for that purpose. The court refused the motion, because the bill sought relief which could not be obtained under the winding-up order and on account of the delay which had occurred in applying to stay the proceedings in the suit. Deeks v. Stanhope, 20 L. J., Ch. 485; see Parbury v. Chadwick, Jones v. Lord Charlemont, 16 Sim. 271. If the tests which are directed by the acts to be applied to try the solvency of a company, strictly and literally apply to a particular company, but the presumption arising therefrom is rebutted by the evidence offered in opposition to the petition, so that there is no reason to believe that the company is insolvent, the court will refuse to interfere. A dispute having arisen between a mining company and one of the shareholders respecting his liability to pay calls, the company procured one of their creditors to bring an action against him. He served notice of the action on the company, but they took no steps to stay the action or to indemnify the shareholders. There were no circumstances to satisfy the court that the company was not in a solvent condition: it was held, that, although the case came within the letter of the 5th article of the 5th section of the act 11 & 12 Vict. c. 45, yet as the action arose out of the dispute between the shareholder and the company and not from their inability to pay, he was not entitled, under the circumstances, to an order for winding up the concern. the Wheal Lovell Mining Company, Ex parte Wyld, 1 H. & Tw. 125; 1 Mac. & G. 1. Re A company, established in 1858, had carried on its business at a loss in every year, amounting in the whole to 6,5071. There were irregularities in the management; the directors had not paid for shares subscribed for by them, interest had been paid out of capital, and the balance at the bankers had been reduced to 300l. On the other hand, the calls on the shares had hitherto been one-fifth only: it was held, that there was no case for winding it up. Re National Live Stock Company, 26 Beav. 153. One object of the Winding-up Act, 1848, and of the former act, 7 & 8 Vict. c. 111, was to afford some test by which it should be ascertained whether the company did or did not fall within the description of a company unable to meet their pecuniary engagements, in short a sort of act of bankruptcy of the company. The former act, 7 & 8 Vict. c. 111, dealt with it as an act of bankruptcy, called it an act of bankruptcy and provided certain tests. The same identical tests that are applied to traders as evidence of their insolvency are applied as tests to the companies: and in the event of the test being applied and the company not being able to remove that test, the act considers that as an act of bankruptcy in effect, and therefore subjects the company to the operation of the pro But all those tests are visions for winding up the concern. If however these circumstances occur where the tests do not at all prove the point under investigation, if these facts occur, but afford no proof of the insolvency of the company or their being unable to meet their pecuniary engagements, why the act loses the test which was intended to be applied; and then the question is, whether the court exercising a discretion, for so ample a discretion is given to the court when all these facts occur, would be right in exercising its discretion and putting the act in operation upon such a test, the circumstances not coming up to that which is required to be proved before the company ought to be subjected to the operation of the act. Re Wheal Lovell Mining Company, Ex parte Wylde, 1 H. & Tw. 136, 137; 1 Mac. & G. 22; see sect. 79, post, n. Shareholders in a company who have either sold or forfeited their shares may apply for a winding-up order against the company when it has ceased to carry on business, and is winding up its affairs privately, if they claim to be contributories and have been sued and made liable as such. Re the Times Fire Assurance Company, 31 L. J., Ch. 478. (b) See 19 & 20 Vict. c. 47, s. 65; 20 & 21 Vict. c. 78, s. 15. (c) The word "contributory" was a new term in legal Definition of phraseology, and adopted in the first instance in the joint stock contributory. Liability of present share holders in respect of debts. Liability of former share holders in a company limited winding-up acts. The attempt to give that word a precise and definite meaning has been hitherto unsuccessful, as will appear by the numerous decisions which have occurred upon the question as to who is or who is not to be deemed a contributory. The definition of contributory in the winding-up acts, 1848, 1849, 11 & 12 Vict. c. 45, s. 3, and 12 & 13 Vict. c. 108, s. 9, was: I. Every member of a company; II. Every other person liable to contribute to the payment of any of the debts, losses or liabilities thereof. 1. As heir, devisee, executor or administrator of a deceased member. 2. As a former member. 3. As heir, &c. of a former member deceased. 4. Otherwise howsoever. By 20 & 21 Vict. c. 78, s. 15, it was declared, that the words, shareholder, member, contributory and alleged contributory, should be nominally taken to include all contributories or alleged contributories within the meaning of the Joint Stock Companies Winding-up Acts, 1848, 1849, and also all persons who might apprehend or desire to be discharged from responsibility in respect of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the company. As to contributories under Joint Stock Companies Acts, 1848, 1849, 1856, 1857, see sect. 99, post, n. The provisions of 19 & 20 Vict. c. 47, relating to the winding-up of companies, shall apply to all companies registered under that act, and to all companies registered under the act 7 & 8 Vict. c. 110, from and after the date at which they have obtained registration under the act 19 & 20 Vict. c. 47, in manner thereinafter mentioned, but not any other companies. In the event of any company being wound up by the court or voluntarily, the existing shareholders shall be liable to contribute to the assets of the company to an amount sufficient to pay the debts of the company, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding-up the same, with this qualification, that if the company is limited no contribution shall be required from any shareholder exceeding the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares held by him. 19 & 20 Vict. c. 47, s. 61. In the event of any company other than a limited company being wound up by the court or voluntarily, any person who has ceased to be a shareholder within the period of three years prior to the commencement of the winding-up shall be other than a deemed, for the purposes of contribution towards payment of the debts of the company, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding-up the same, to be an existing shareholder, and shall have in all respects the same rights, and be subject to the same liabilities to creditors, as if had not so ceased to be a shareholder, with this exception, that he shall not be liable in respect of any debt of the company contracted after the time at which he ceased to be a shareholder. Ib. s. 62. company with respect to debts. Liability of former share holders in a In the event of any limited company being wound up by the court or voluntarily, any person who has ceased to be a holder of any share or shares within the period of one year to debts. prior to the commencement of the winding-up shall be deemed, limited for the purposes of contribution towards payment of the debts company with respect of the company, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding-up the same, to be an existing holder of such share or shares, and shall have in all respects the same rights, and be subject to the same liabilities to creditors, as if he had not so ceased to be a shareholder. Ib. s. 63. of company The winding-up shall, if the company is wound up by the Commencecourt, be deemed to commence at the time of the presentation ment of of such petition as thereinafter required to be presented to winding-up the court, and if the company is wound up voluntarily, be defined." deemed to commence at the time of the passing the resolution authorizing such winding-up. Ib. s. 64. "contribu Any existing or former shareholder upon whom calls are Definition of authorized to be made by the third part of that act is thereintory," and after called a "contributory," and the representatives of any legal chadeceased contributory shall be liable in a due course of ad- racter of his ministration to the same extent as such contributory would be liability. liable under the third part of that act, if alive. Ib. s. 65. As to the person to be deemed a contributory in the event of an unregistered company being wound up, see post, sect. 200. contribu 75. The liability of any person to contribute to Nature of the assets of a company under this act in the event liability of of the same being wound up, shall be deemed to tory (a). create a debt (in England and Ireland of the nature of a specialty (b)) accruing due from such person at the time when his liability commenced, but payable at the time or respective times when calls are made as hereinafter mentioned for enforcing such liability (c); and it shall be lawful in the case of the bankruptcy (d) of any contributory to prove against his estate the estimated value of his liability to future calls, as well as calls already made. (a) See 20 & 21 Vict. c. 14, s. 13. debts. (b) It was decided that a call, under the winding-up acts, Calls under 11 & 12 Vict. c. 45, and 12 & 13 Vict. c. 108, was not a spe- acts specialty cialty debt, although the shareholder had executed the deed of settlement. Re Royal Bank of Australia, 3 Sm. & G. 272; 2 Jur. N. S. 11; Ex parte Robinson's Executors, 6 De G., M. & G. 572; 3 Jur. N. S. 1173; 26 L. J., Ch. 95. But by stat. 20 & 21 Vict. c. 14, s. 13, all calls which were authorized by part 3 of the act 19 & 20 Vict. c. 47, to be made on a contributory in the event of the company being wound up by the court or voluntarily shall be deemed, in England and Ire |