Original Correspondence.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2082, 28 August 1896, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

We are at nil times reddi/to give expression to ever}/ shade of opinion but injno case do tne hold ourselves responsible for the view* advocated by our correspondents.

LR BON'S B[TTTBK FACTORY. To the Editor Birt.~ Your, issue of llth inst has just been placed in our hands, and contains a report of the Le Bon's Bay Dairy Factory signed by W. Harnett.

With your permission we shall pmce before your numerous readers some facts in connection therewith. As tho report is worded any reader would infer tbat this Company were unreasonably pressing the Directors, of the factory for payment of onr advances, and we now propose to giveymur readers an opportunity to form their -own opinions. We may say that from "the initiation of the factory we took a lively interest in its welfare, and expended no small amount of time and work, for which no charge was made. Should any of your readers desire to know what these services were, we beg to refer them to the original Secretary Mr T. 'H. 01-ridge. On the factory commencing operations, we were appointed agents, and they finding themselves short of » oney in consequence of paying a higher rate for prtilfc to the suppliers and their heavy iniatory expenses, applied to us lor assistance. We strongly advised them to get what they required from the Bank, but were inlormed that the Bank would not increase their overdraft, as they had drawn all they could expect against the security held (deeds of the factory). We then suggested that they should get a mortgage on theirfreebold to pay off the Bank. This, eventually, we were asked to effect, and had arranged the loan on a satisfactory basis when a hitch occurred, whioh Mj Barnett might explain to your readers. The Company was then thrown on its own resources, and having milk suppliers' and contractors' accounts to pay without any available funds, their Direct irs appealed to ns to assist them, which we did to a very considerable amouat without security. Th* amount waj subsequently reduced to £200, and a joint and several guarantee from the Directors siven us. This was in March, 1894, and shortly after Mr Barnett was elected on the directorate. For reasons of his own, > c wished to supsrsede us, and give the agency to a firm of Christchurch merchants,' with whom be was in close tonch. A meeting of directors was called and our agency ctincelled, but it was arranged that we were not to be informed until we had committed ourselves to an extension ot time fpr the £200 loan, and when the company, considered itself safe for the extension, a demand was made for the return of the guarantee, as the promissory note was sufficient security. This wil! convince your readers of tbe business capacity of thecomiany's responsible head. We, however, were not disposed '.o : be hostile, and consented to extend the term of t'"* loan indefinite!}, conditional on our agency running concurrently with the loan. This led on to another year, dnr ing which we handled the butter output, which we sold at '81 and although authorised to sell at 7^d. The report goes on to state that, having to pay Geo" King & Co, £40 for supposed losses the company were unable to pay the expected bonus at the end of the year. The actual loss made on shipment of damaged butter through E. Steeds & Co. was £20 5s 6d, which amount we refunded Steeds & Co., and then charged the Dairy Company, and the directors immediately employed their solicitors to obtain from us a refund of this 6um, without even having the courtesy to communicate with us on the 1 subject. Why does Mr Barnett not pla«e these facts on record ? Now, with regard to Mr Barnett's statement that the advance of £200 was "demanded under threat of a writ," we are given to understand that Mr Barnett's profession is that of a teacher of morals, and if this b« so, he ought to know the old adage, that <•:a half truth i* worse than a lie," and this is specially applicable in the prc-ent .instance*' , We did threaten lnw before we got onr money, but distinctly informed the directors that ihey must thank themselves for it in the following words, .extracted from our letter, to the Chairman of 23rd May (the cheque for £200 being received on 7th July) :—" In the meantime seeing you have thrown down the gauntlet and declared war, me must ask you to provide for tbe payment of your promissory note for £200, falling due on 25 h inst., failing which we shall immediately hand it over to our solicitors to get payjnent from the company or guarantors. We wish particularly to "joint out to you that this apparent hostility is not of our choice, but has been forced on us by We challenge Mr Barnett to publish the correspondence. There are several other matters which might be aired, bnt we most not encroach further on your goodnature for the present. No doubt Mr Barnett will give us another opportunity. Thanking you in anticipation for publishing this lengthy letter.— Yours, &c,

GEORGE KING, Managing Director G. King & Co.

J. S. Dodds, Chemist, Agent Loasby's " Wahoo." Positive Cure for flatulence} heartburn, acidity, pains after eating. •■-■ - 1 '- Important NoTic_ii-It will pay you' "t<f buy your Boots and Shoes'at the ;* Phteni* JBoot and Shoe Depot,' for there .•ftjll b- found :the Largest and only.. if <Botts and Shoes to choose from cv« in*. 'ported into Akaroat Try his men's ' shWi,* atio/4, men's watertrjhts at i4/o,'lj»dice' tan canvas shoes from 4'i I ao_ every line io st a :k I will be sold equally, eg. heap for cash at A. R. Munro's. *