AUCKLAND ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 6

AUCKLAND ITEMS.

. 4 MOUNT EDEN GAOL: AN INQUIRY. (By Tdcßrapli.—Siwcial CorroEDondonU Auckland, August 2. It is rumoured Unit a good deal of friction has arisen between some members of Iho staff of warders at Die Mount Eden Gaol, and as a result of certain charges and connlor-eharges of a Departmental character, an inquiry lias been "11 • „ lor ,J - V ~ut' l fillo;: ' i"»l granted. aim) that a commission will in all probability Ido appointed, perhaps from the magisterial bench, at mi early date. BIG "KAI" ACCOUNT. The settlement at Waahi is almost deserted, and will remain comparatively ompry until (he Maoris begin to assemble about the 18t.li instant, when the business connected with the partition of the lauds listed will bo completed. The followin" list furnished by Mr. George Paki, who is at the head of the Commissariat Department, will furnish some idea of the cost of fhoso meetings, and although such list is by no means complete, it gives tho figures from the beginning of the meeting proper up to Saturday "lnst-3523 loaves ,of bread, 215 cases of cabin bread. 21281b. of butter, 112 bags of sugar, ICIO tins of jam, one large cheese, 57 bullocks 51 pigs, 35G sacks of potatoes, 274 sacks of kumaras, four bags of rice, 1200 pigeons, 471 sacks of pipis, 70 boxes of tohoroas, 102 sacks of mussels, 83 sacks of tuna (eels), 35 sacks of hanukn, 80 boxes manga (barraconta), 8 cases cocoa, 2001b. of,tea, 12 bottles tomato sauce, 218 tons firewood, 89 sacks of coal. G cases of soap. Tho cost of groceries alone, and of foodstuffs purchased, totals ,£052 17s. 41d., a sum which dees not include the fish, shellfish, pigs, etc.,. brought or sent gratuitously by the members of tho various hapus interested. A ' Government subsidy is expected, the remainder being made up by the Natives themselves, whose first duly when thev enter the settlement, is to hand over to the treasurer (To Morae, the wife of Mahutal the donations in cash sent by those thev represent. A quaint ceremony accompanies the presentation. ' Forming single file, they march to the spot selected, carrying in their hands branches of willow or tea-tree, to which notes are fixed, and there forming up in lino to await the arrival of the treasurer, who soon np' rroaches. and after expressions of acknowledgment accepts the offerings, and bears them away to tho treasury. The office is no sinecure, largo sums passing through the hands of that official. BANKRUPTCY CASE. A bankruptcy case of interest to the mercantile community was heard at the Supremo Court yesterdav. before the Registrar (Mr. R. G. ThomasV when Messrs. ITrntlier. Robertson, and Co. petitioned to have William Edward Giek, of Auckland, grocer, adjudged a bankrupt. The facts were that in April last an assignment: for the benefit of creditors was accepted by the debtor, and by practically all Hie creditors (including the petitioning creditors). This would, under ordinary circumstances, have nrevented Die petitioners from making the debtor a bankrunfl The deed, however, contained a proviso that in the event of it. being pmv»d dm)-, )■])(, debtor has done any act: which would have led to a suspension of his discharge had he been an adjudicated bankrupt applying for a discftnrrc. then the release granted by the deed shall bo null and void. The trustee under tho deed (Mr. Ernest Gerard) made an investigation into the affairs of tho debtor, and reported to (he. creditors that in his opinion the conduct of the debtor had been such that in the public interests ho should be made a bankrupt, and the creditors resolved accordingly. The petition charged the debtor with having incurred numerous debts without having reasonable or probable oxpeet-ilion of being able to pav the same as well as his other debts. The debtor did not appear, and after hearing argument an order was made adjudging him a bankrupt.