MELHOSE V. SLATOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 167, 17 July 1888, Page 5

MELHOSE V. SLATOR.

(To the Editor.)

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Sir, —In reference to your report of this case in Friday's issue, which1 was the hearing of a judgment summons, in summing up the magistrate admitted that no evidence had been adduced as to my ability to pay this claim (a state of thing 3 which is not unusual with quite a number of people ab the present time), which amounts to over £22 —this should sufficiently absolve me in the eyes of the public. In my evidence I stated that I had borrowed from a friend sufficient money to satisfy so much of the claim as I had, agreed to do. This surely is evidence that J was willing to put myself about to do the right thing. The magistrate made the order on the following grounds, which J submit he should not have done merely oh; the evidence before him:—"That he was; not satisfied that the furniture bona fide, belonged to my family, and thought that1 the transfer of Cambria shares was done in1 order to defeat this claim." As to the latter ground the facts were as sworn to by me, that the shares were purchased with ; nay wife's money, and put with some others ■ in my name for convenience, and after-! wards transferred to her (this was done before completion of judgment), she having, a separate estate entirely outside my control. As to the former ground, the magisj: trate made a point of the statement, in my particulars of demand against Melhose that the furniture belonged to me. This was! done merely for convenience, and to avoid j the unpleasantness of dragging females into Court on what was in reality merely a sideissue, and not of the gist of the action at) all. Dr. Giles also appeared to make a great dqal of my statement that the word: 5s was not in the agreement at the time of; my signing it, whereas whab I really! should ha\e said was that it was explained that 4s would be the amount which I should have to pay, and relying on Mr Cousins aaj an old friend, signed without reading the document, so that what might appear to, be a contradiction was not so in reality. My desire is to set myself right in the eyes of those who have not had dealings'with me. lam not afraid of the opinion of those who have.— Yours, &c,

J. Slatoe.