NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 3, 28 September 1907, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

BANKRUPTCY ACT. CHARGE AGAINST A DRAPER. Auckland, September 26. Several charges under tho Bankruptcy Act, 1902, were laid against Alexander Patterson at tho Police Court to-day before Mr Dyer, S.M. Tho accused, who bad lately been trading in Hawora under the name of Patterson Bros./drapers, wns adjudged a bankrupt in September of last year. His liabilities totalled £18,GS8 15s. 3d. arid assets £7345 JjTb id., leaving a deficiency of) £11,342 17s. lid. Mr. Fallon, instructed by the Crown Solicitor (the Hon. J. A. Tolo, K.C.), appeared for tho Official Assignee (Mr. E. Gerard), and.Mr. J. R. Reed appeared for accused. Mr. Fallon, in ,opening tho caso, said tho proceedings were taken under section 137 of .the Bankruptcy Act, 1892, subsections •i, 4, 9, and 11. Three of the charges were laid uuder subsection 2. Accused was charged with contracting debts without any reasonable or 'proper expectation, of being nblo to pay the same. It was alleged that there was rash. and hazardous speculation, and accused was further charged with failing to keep proper books and failing to discover property to tho extent of £53 12s lOd. '. Ernest Gerard, Official Assignee, said he examined tho books after tho .bankruptcy, but found them to be ui inch a state that ho could-.not make anything of them. At. the time, of tho bankruptcy the creditors desired to make a privato assignment of the istate to witness, but ho .objected. it, was then suggested that bankrupt should file, and lie. at first re-, fused, but was afterwards persuaded to do so. Mr Reed: Do you . suggest v that bankrupt in any way misappropriated moneys to his own use KWitness: No, not to my knowledge ? ' . William M'Clutcheon, a public accountant, at present accountant for Uowron Bros',, Christcliu'rch, said he went to Hawnr.i and : found the books produced, but . could-, not- make : an v.ccurato statement as to : 'Peterson's position. He considered the accused a man; capable of carrying on-' the liiisiness, and one who should .know his position. In a conversation'with flie accused witness' said it .was a pity he did not make known his position some two or three years before, arid, the-reply was that, he was "hoping against hope" to recover himself. To Mr Reed-: Having gono fully into this matter and "inquired into nil circumstances, 'ho had no .reason to believe that accused-had misappropriated cither .money or- foods. Tho personal expenditure] on. accused and family for , their: .upkeep did not exceed £300 per year. ' Accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. 'Ho was committed for trial. ...Bail was allowed, accused in his own recognisanco' of £200 arid two sureties . of £100 each. ~ • THE IRON INDUSTRY.'' ' iNew Plymouth, September 27. With reforenco to a telegram .from Wellington fopardirig Parapara,' Mr. Borry informed a. "Daily News" reporter that the-telegram 'was substantially correct.'. Tho amount floated in New Zealand was £100,000, was raised in record ■ time, .£37,000 being', subscribed in.; ouo afternoon. The English capital is alb guaranteed and. lloation will bo put in hiind almost immediately. The modus operandi, of tho company has .yot'bcen settled, but Mr. Berry says no doubt works, will bo established ben> as.well, as at Parapara, although the latter , will probably get-earlier attention;. It is nqw-nearly seven'years' since the lato Sir Alfred Cadman'ahd; 'Mr. Berry took this matter, in hand; and since that time have spent thoussands upon ■ the ' venture with ,until recently, very little bopo of "success'. It is regretted that tho,lato;Sir A.'Cadmanand'Mr E. M. Smith did not live to see the fruits of their labours to which tho latter devoted tho best years of his life.. '.' ... , CHARGE OF ARSON. Christchurcli, September 26. ' . Man named - Robert O'Callaghan, timber ' and ' coal merchant, was arrested to-night on a chargo of arson. Accused rented a small.- cottage in Linwood, -which'- ho furnishehd, and he is alleged t havo attempted to fire the building yesterday afternoon by placing a lighted ■ candlo 'surrounded by paper and dry' bhips in a cupboard. Tho cand|e, however, was uiscovored and extinguished before it had burned down! to the heap of inflammabl'o material. O'Callaghan's . furniture was insured for £100. . MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Cisborne,. September 27. Mr. Walter Grace left Gisborno this afternoon overland for Wairoa by motor. As tho road is' at present impassablo for motors with the usual equipment,. Mr. Graco has adopted a device which ho feels certain will enable him to overcome the difficulties to be encountered. Ho has had attached to the car on oither .side a pair of 10ft planks .hinged together. They'are doubled up inV shape, and ordinarily' serve as mudguards. Whon a bad bit of road has to be' ored. the guards are unshipped and used as a bridge for tho motor car wheels to run on.' Beyond -Waerengaokuri thero is ono lenght of "porridgy" road extending for two and a half miles, and another length further on oxtending forV one mile and a half, making four miles of stick mud that cannot bo avoided. Two gontlemen concerned in the recent hospital , social havo been summoned to appear at tho Police Court on charges of selling liquor without a .license There 'was a booth at'tho social; but no chargo was made for drinks. A box for contributions towards the funds was;' howover, in a prominent position.. FOR GALLANTRY.' Auckland, September' 26. At the municipal chambers to-night tho Mayor' of Auckland presented. Mr. Lawrenco Frost, chief engineer of the Kapanui, with a Royal Humano Society's medal and certificate for gallantry in 'connection with, tho collision .between tho Kapuni and Claymoro in Auckland Harbour- on Christmas Eve, 1905. Mr Frost was off duty at tho time of the collision, but at considerable peril rushed from tho deck to the boiler room, which be entered in total darkness, crawled alon" tho top of the boiler, turned off the stop valuo, and returned to the deck. Ho only had time to grasp a iifo buoy when the vessel made a plungo and disappeared drawing him down -in tbo suction. When lie camo up ho found Captain Southgate in difficulties and handed liim his life-buoy. Ho helped him into the boat, and turned back from tho boat, himself on hearing a'desparing cry for help, swimming about about in the water for 20 minutes bofore being picked up by another boat. FIRE. Palmrston North, Sept. 2G. A fire broko out to-night in the residence of .Mr. 11. Haiicnck', painter, living in Edgewarc Road. The building, a wooden one, wan completely gutted, and most of the furniture 'destroyed. Fortunately , the inmates escaped unhurt. The house was Insured lor £250, and tho furniture for £150.