DEATH OF MR. JAMES ASHCROFT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1134, 23 May 1911, Page 8

DEATH OF MR. JAMES ASHCROFT.

» AN INTERESTING CAREER. Mr. Jnmes Ashcroft, formerly Official Assignee in Wolliiigton and Dunediu, died at his residence, Hobson .Street at 7.10 a.m. yesterday after n week's prostration caused by a heavy cold. Mr. Ashcroft was born ant! educated in London and commenced his career in the business world.in a large mercantilo house in which lie remained for fourteen years, ile left the firm in 1802 in order to come out to New Zealand, arriving in Lyttelton by the ship Kensington in ISG2. For about twelve monihs he was employed by Messrs. Peacock and Co., of Christchurch, but eventually removed to Oamaru, whero ho carried on a and general merchandise business. Subsequently lie was employed for four or live years with M&ssrs. Cargill and Co., and the National Mortgage Company in Duneclin. Mr. Ashcroft also entered the journalistic field and for a period of five years held the position of editor of the "Otago Daily Times." In ISB4 he was appointed Official Assignee in Bankruptcy for Dunedin and after holding this position for nine years was transferred to "Wellington whero lie held the positions of Official Assigueo and Coroner until three years ago. Mr. Ashcroft was a man of literary taste, his "fugitivo poems" on local topics and short pamphlets on "Ritualism" and sundry other subjects being very familiar at ono time. He also took a keen delight in Sunday School and church work for closo on half a century. An Address. On retiring from tho dual offices he held in Wellington, Mr. Ashcroft was presented tvith tho following address by the business and professional men ot the city

"To James Ashcroft, Esq.—Sir,— Only recently' the principal members of the legal profession in this city have signified their respect for yourself and their appreciation of your puolic services as Official Assignee ill the district of Wellington, from which important office you have now retired. There remains to be recorded a similar expression of opinion, which wo, the subscribers to this address, as merchants and others intimately connected with the commercial aspects of the duties of Official Assignee, now desire to proffer, together with our testimony to tlic just and judicloa* methods which have characterised your labours in connection with tho administration of tho intricate provisions of tho bankruptcy laws of this Dominion, and our satisfaction with your rulings and general dealings thereunder. AYc recognise that, while carefully watching over tho just claims of creditors, you have (tinplayed reasonable allowance and humane consideration for tho errors of really unfortunate debtors, and at tho same time you did not hesitate to censure those traders who, by reckless speculation and loose expenditure, brought trouble on themselves and caused financial losses to their overtrustful creditors. . You carry witli you on your retirement from an ofiiofl you have fo long and worthily filled tho r-cspect and good wishes of tho signatories hereto, and of the much larger public which they may be viewed as representing."

Mr. Ashcroft, in returning thanks on that occasion, said that when he first heard that this presentation was intended lie feared that the public would lie getting tired of the series of compliments paid to him on his retirement. He fibred he might repeat the fate of Arisjides tho first, who was banished because tho people grew sick'of hearing of his merits. During 21 years as Official Assignee, ho had had -to give a great mauy decisions, and very few of them had been reversed by higher authorities. He believed his work had given general satisfaction. He had always been fond of his little'joke, .and perhaps it was largely because ho had been able to keep a cheerful countenance under trying circumstances that' he had lived so long.'

Fond of a-Joke. Mr. Ashcroft loved a joke, and he often cheered both the debtor and brcditors at meetings of bankruptcy with his dignified quips, delivered often in a most serious manner. The writer often had occasion to call at his office in search of news, and in reply to the usual inquiry was not infrequently handed a set of verses which the old journalist-official had penned. He once described his usefulness in tho following lines:— A BANKRUPTCY BALLAD. If troubled sore by debts or law, ( And sleep forsakes your brow, Resolve that you will bear no more, But end your troupes now —Go to tho Assignee. If you're quite sure no fault of yours Has placed you in this fix, And from the bailiff's hungry claws You want to save your sticks, —Go to the Assignee. Or if you know what you owe Dick You'd pay, if Tom paid you, And yet of asking Tom ygu'r® sick, And Dick his worst would do,— —Go to the Assignee. Or if you've got an ugly lease, And your landlord is a screw, And gives you not a moment's peace When his fearful rent comes due, —Go to the Assignee. But if you're up to crooked games, Can pay and won't, why, look, Such things are called by ugly names, You may be brought to book, Avoid the Assignee.