METING OF CREDITORS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7964, 11 September 1891, Page 3

METING OF CREDITORS.

RE JOE DICKS. The first meeting of creditors in the estate of Joe Dicks, hotelkeeper, late of Sydenham, was held at 11 a-m. yesterday morning, at the office of the Official Assignee. There were present Messrs Shand, Humphreys, Bullick, and Corlett.

Mr Hoban appeared for the bankrupt, and Mr Bruges for the petitioning creditors. The bankrupt's statement, which has already been published, showed unsecured creditors £208 5s sd. Assets—Cub in hands of Official Assignee, £97Q ; jewellery, £50; total, 11020. Surplus, .£Bll 14a 74. The Official Assignee said be had no statement from Mr Dicks, bat he was present, and 'would, no doubt, be able to state wby he took the steps he did, and brought his creditors down upon him. The bankrupt was then sworn, and, in reply to the Official Assignee, he said he was late landlord of the Waltham Arms.

Mr Hoban said he did not see any necessity for the bankrupt's going into the reasons for his leaving Christchurch. He took it that the creditors would be satisfied to receive payment in full without taking any further steps. He would explain the reason why Mr Dicks had left Christchurch.

The bankrupt said it was for him to make the explanation. He had a brother in the South, a landed proprietor, who had been fifteen years in the colony, whom he was going to see. He t^the bankrupt) owned a lot of houses in London, in connection with which he had got Mr Hoban to make out a power of attorney to enable a man to collect the rents, and the document had been witnessed by the Mayor of Christchurch. It was therefore not likely that he was going to leave the colony without paying hie creditors. He had called at Ashburton to see about buying a house, and entered his name as " Joe Dicks." While there he sold some cases of whiskey at a less rate than Fletcher, Humphreys and Co. were selling it, and that firm's traveller met him in Ashburton. The proceedings were taken against him through jealousy over that transaction.

Mr Humphreys objected to that statement being made. The bankrupt eaid it was the truth, and the truth was always unpleasant. He had paid £120 for goods to Messrs Wood, Shand and Co. since the licensing election, and all he now owed them was i>lß. If they had trusted him for £120 they would have trusted him again for j>2oo. He had no intention of leaving the colony, but if he had he would have got more than £18 worth of goods from them. He would also have changed the bank notes for a draft or taken passage direct by steamer. He was not disguised in any way. When he got out of the train at Oamaru a policeman asked him his name, and he replied "Joe Dicks." He was going to Dunedin to find out at what rate goods could be bought at in Dunedin as compared with Christchurch prices. He intended to telegraph to his brother and have a day or two together at the races. Mr Bullick said it looked suspicious when he and his wife went away simultaneously. The bankrupt said the fact was he and his wife did not get along well together in the colony, and she had several times packed up with the intention of leaving him, but Mr Louisson persuaded her to remain. She had left him, and it was an unfortunate " leave" for him— a very unfortunate " lea?e." He had bought nearly all Mr Green's diamonds, and they were all gone. He had not got them. Mr Bullick asked the bankrupt if he had left any property behind in Christchurch when he went away. The bankrupt gave a hesitating reply, but was understood to say he had not. Mr Bruges asked if his wife had taken away any of his clothes. The bankrupt said he believed so. He had heard some very funny rumors about her. He did not know she was leaving. Mr Bruges—Although she took away your clothes. You missed a lot of them ? The bankrupt—l missed my wife. Mr Bullick asked the bankrupt if he took any clothes with him. The bankrupt said he was wearing his clothes. He never had many of them. To Mr Bruges—The bankrupt said he had i never promised to pay Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co.'s account on the Ist inst. He had no intention of paying them on the Ist. Mr Bruges—Or Messrs Sclaaders and Co. ? You know Messrs Sclanders and Co.'s traveller? The bankrupt—Wait a bit and I will tell you.—He then proceeded to say that Mr Kenans came to the Waltham Arms on Monday night, and he (the bankrupt) told him that he had sold the business, and as soon as he got the money he would go and see them. Mr Humphreys—When you got the money why did you not pay your creditors? The bankrupt—Well, I did not know thai the merchants in Christchurch were so short of cash that they wanted their money in five minutes. The Official Assignee asked why the bankrupt carried his money about with him. The bankrupt said he heard some funny things about New Zealand and the Banks, and he believed in keeping the money in his pocket where he knew it was safe. He had no faith in New Zealand. He had been seven months in the colony, and came out in the Kaiser Wilhelm 11., via Melbourne. The German line was cheaper than the English. Mr Humphreys said that to show they had not pressed Mr Dicks he would like him to say when the goods were got from them. The bankrupt said the invoice would show. He did not carry an almanac about with him. The Official Assignee, referring to the firm's account, said they were booked on the Ist July. Mr Humphreys said they were obtained at the end of June, and booked on the first of tho next month. Mr Bruges said it was only right to state that the affidavits filed in the Supreme ! Court contradicted what Mr Dick had stated there about his going away. Mr Hoban said that when the bankrupt came to him about the matter he made the same statement as he had made that day. He advised him to consent to the order, as j he wanted to get away from the country as soon as possible. Aβ far as he (Mr Hoban) could judge the bankrupt's statement was correct, and also what he had said concerninghis wife. The Official Assignee said the thing looked very suspicious from the affidavits filed. He bad seen Mrs Dicks at Lvttelton when she was going away, and sHe denied having any property except what was her own Mr Bruges said! the letter given by Mrs Dicks to the servant girl stated they were leaving the colony. He might say that the Judge had no hesitation in granting the order. The creditors were satisfied to get their money, and would take no further proceedings. Mr Hoban explained that Mr Dicks knew nothing about the letter. Mr Bullick asked if the barman was in the confidence of Mr Dicks. The bankrupt said the man had been in his employ about three months, but as he found things were not going on satisfactorily he discharged him. Mr Hoban said Mr Dicks was anxious to leave on Saturday, and he hoped they would facilitate hie getting away. The Official Assignee said that four months were allowed for creditors to send in proofs of debt. Mr Hoban said all the accounts were in. Mr Shand moved—"That the creditors present recommend that on payment of all claims against the establishment the bankrupt receive his release with as little delay as possible." Mr C. F. Corlett seconded the motion. Mr Hoban suggested that the bankruptcy should be annulled. The Official Assignee pointed out that that could only be done by the Court. The motion was then agreed to. Mr Bullick said that if in order he would like to say on behalf of the mercantile community that Inspector Pender and the Police Department deserved, credit for the expeditious manner in which they had carried out the order of the Court. The bankrupt said one would think that he had gone away disguised, and that the police had done something wonderful in at resting him. i The proceedings then terminated.