DALMATIANS' DIFFICULTIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1917, Page 2

DALMATIANS' DIFFICULTIES.

BANKRUPT WITH NO ASSETS.

Luigi Mateljan. gumdigger, of Awnnui. in a schedule submitted to the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy, gave the unsecured creditors at £15- IR/. and there are no assets shown. In his statement the bankrupt states he arrived in Auckland from Dalmatia in .March, 1014. •He agreed to buy land at Hairy Flat, Silvcrdale, in conjunction with a brother in-law. the latter finding the money. Bankrupt was to do the labour on the land. Another brother-in law refused to join the partnership. Witness went north and got the other brother-in-law to come tn town, but they were told the land had been sold. They, however, wont to Dairy Flat, and dug gum for three months, just nbont making their keep. Bankrupt then went with two other Dalmatians on to tbe land of Mr. F. S. Petrie (a brother inlaw) at Waitakere. Ivater they signed an agreement which bankrupt alleged he did not understand. They worked on tlie land for three months, understanding the fourth part--1 ncr would pay the bill at the store. He | said he had no money at that time, and bankrupt asked "What about tbe 70 or 80 .tons of titreo firewood we cut and sent to you at Auckland?" They were I told that no money had been received for that wood. They then left the land ■at Waitakere nnd went north, gumdigging. F. S. I'etrie obtained a judg- , tnent summons in Auckland against the ' bankrupt, who was not represented in ' Court. Bankrupt was now earning one shilling per hour for digging gum for a j fellow countryman. Bankrupt added | that neither liis partner nor himself bad I any claims upon the land at Waitakere. Tetrie sued him for his share in the j farm, aful for expenses incurred.