THE COLOUR LINE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 127, 29 May 1913, Page 4

THE COLOUR LINE

DRAWN AT KGABVAWARXA. SEQUEL IN BANKRUPTCY COURT. A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt : estate of William A. Oldham, diningroom proprietor, at Ngaruawahia, wu held at the office of the Official Assignee i this morning. Mr. A, Atowlem appearedfor the bankrupt. In his statement, bankrupt eaid that when he started his capital amounted to £5, and he -srae then, owing about £100. He had had his nose to the grindstone all the time,'and had paid off most of the £100 originally owing; but a judgment summons against him bad forced him to the Bankruptcy Court. "I niade arrangements with the lessee of a vacant railway section which adjoins my premises," continued 'bankrupt in iis statement, " and when tae Land Court started I erected a marquee to act as diningroom. I did not want the natives in the regular dining-rooms, because it would have spoilt the white trade. The chairman of the Town Board repeatedly ; interfered with anything I wished to do. - In this instance he objected to the Maoris having their meals in the town, : He desired them to go nearly naif a■" -i mile away, and summoned mc to the J ' court for erecting the marquee. I won the 1 case, but it cost money. Not content with 'his defeat, the chairman wrote an<|> complained of my marquee to the Railr 1 way Department. I also wrote, explain- '" ing my side of the case. The Depart- '."■' ment was quite willing to give mc a trans- , fer of the lease, providing the" Town .-''' Board approved, but the chairman seems - to have pretty well his own -way in all : things, so that was tie end of my-reajj-ing any benefit from the Maoris at ] Native L/and Court time. In «rasequenee I consider my business has been greatly 5 interfered with, and spoilt, to a very ,'ff i large extent." Mr. Donald: Why did yon not tell ,Wsur creditors that you were in debt!—- m I was paying cash for everything.'Mr. Donald: You didnt pay cash fdr ;y ,£ 19 worth of goods from ■Qβ. Ton.'asked I for credit when you were already deeply ' in debt. The Official Assignee: You should naye '• filed when you first got into trouble. ■ f ' Mr. Donald: He should have filed be- m fore he ever started "this business, v: -. - i>: Bankrupt: I looked forward to making money and honourably paying my debts. ' I honestly did mv best. The Official Assignee stated that Aβ V unsecured creditors' claims amounted to 9 £199. The assets were estimated ij- .' bankrupt to be worth £120, but a sept-.'.- -1 rate valuation estimated the assets at £57. . j, . Mr. Donald: At thai rate we wiE be lucky to get 5/ in the £. ' ; -.- 7 In discussing -what could be done wftk ; the assets, the Assignee said that if tbeW chairman of the Town Board, intended, to ■ pursue the same high-handed tactics in . the future, there woiild apparently bt'il •little inducement to cater for tliev; - natives. ' Bankrupt seemed to have beefjgl opposed all along by the Town Board. ..F' Mγ. G. Andrews: The Town Boardiii¥ been against him ail along. One nwfciv her of the Board in particular has hai him down. The Official Assignee: WHI this piijidice apply to anyone buying the lei- I .', ness? Mr. Andrews: There seems to heCi strong feeling against allowing tta natives to have their meals in the tow*; ; Mr. Donald: The question is whethe the Town Board has the right to do if* thing. .. Bankrupt: It's a burning question.afr^ 1 Ngaruawahia. The Official Assignee: The objection may be to the use of a marquee; perhaps ■ an iron or wooden building could be Snffli up. Mr. Andrews: I doubt -whether the Board' would issue a building ; a Mr. Mowlem: Get a permit without letting on what the building i 3 to fc»~ used for.

Mr. Andrew-? added that bankrupt w«i a man of excellent character, and moni that the Assignee be asked to do all ia his power to facilitate his discharge. w Mr. Donald: I hope it win be a lewon to him. I second the motion.

The motion was carried, and it war further derided that it should "be left to the Official Assignee to <Espose of 4ie' business to the beet advantage. --■'