W. J. BARKER'S INSOLVENCY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4182, 16 December 1884, Page 2

W. J. BARKER'S INSOLVENCY.

Tho adjourned meeting of creditors in tlie above insolvent estate was held at the Supreme Court at twenty minutes past two to-day. Mr F. AY. Garner in the chair, Mr McLean appearing for tho Deputy Assignee, Mr Leo for tho insolvent, and Mr Cornford representing the creditors.

The insolvent was again sworn. Mr Garner read a letter from Mr Desmond denying that he owed any money to Mr Harker, aud he had given no 1.0. U. to him, and the one iv existence was a forgery. Mr Desmond had informed him (Air. Garner) that he had received two promissory notes from AY. J. Harker which he was asked to fill up and return. If the one note at maturity (.Tuly 18S5) were paid, the insolvent would cancel the remaining note duo in July, ISB6. At tho request of Mr. Cornford the evidence given by insolvent as to the signing of the 1.0. U. in his presence was read, and the following questions were put: — Mr. Cornford: AVhere was that 1.0. U. signed ? Insolvent: In the back room of my office in Tennyson-street. Mr Cornford : AVas anyone piesont beside yourself and Mr Desmond when it was signed ? Insolvent: No. Mr Cornford: Can you by reference to any book or diary tell this meeting on what date the 1.0. U. was signed? Insolvent: No. Mr Cornford : Can you fix any dates between which the 1.0. U. was signed. Insolvent: No. Mr Cornford : AVas it after the election ? Insolvent: Yes, after my marriage. Mr Cornford : What date did you arrive in Napier from tho South after your marriage ? Insolvent: About the Gth'of September on the Saturday. Mr Cornford : Can you not say how long after your return it was that you saw Mr Desmond and ho signed that 1.0. U. ? Insolvent: I have no date to go upon, I should say within a month. Mr Cornford : Do you mean to say your business was so voluminous that you cannot say on what date it was signed, or did you meet him with any person ? Insolvent: Ho was in the habit of calling in at the office. Mr Cornford : Have you anything to say to t"ho meeting with reference to tho letter the assignee has just read from Mr Desmond ? Insolvent: I havo to say my statement is correct. I paid the money for him shown in my ledger, and he signed the 1.0. U. in my presence and at my request. Ho was sitting in a chair at tho front of my desk, and signed the paper either on his knee or against the upright part of the desk. He asked me not to make use of it or press him as he would pay mo as soon as he could. If he could not pay me tlie whole he would pay me the half. This was I suppose in allusion to AVilliamson's letter to him of the 29th of August which I had not then seen. Mr. Cornford : AVhat has become of your Bank of New Zealand bank book. Insolvent: I don't know. (The Assignee explained lie would get a copy of the book from the bank.) Mr. Cornford: I find a chequo was given for £10 10s to tho Parsonage fund, was it your own money. Insolvent: Yes. Mr Cornford : A subscription by you to the fund r Insolvent: Yes. Mr Cornford : There is a cheque debited to yon on the 9th August for £10 10s to the Liberal Association. "What is that ? Insolvent ? This was my donation to the association. Mr Cornford: Do yo know what that cheque "self" for £25, August 4th, means ? Insolvent: This was a donation by me to Mrs Girdlestonc after her husband's death. Mr Cornford: What was the cheque for £12 to Messrs Nelson Bros, for? Insolvent: Sheep. Mr Cornford : For frozen sheep ? Insolvent: Yes. Mr Cornford : For whom ? Insolvent: Geo. Harker and Co. I intended them for a present, but the letter did not reach till the sheep had been sold on my account. Mr Cornford: Your letter to Messrs Nelson intimate they were for tho Lord Mayor. Insolvent: In those are six others. Mr Cornford: For whom were these for then. Insolvent: For Mr Lowe, tho sole surviving partner of Geo. Harker aud Co. Mr Cornford: Look at tlie letter of 13th August, will you let me know about that ? Docs it explain tho cheque debited to you for £12 on the 15th August last ? Insolvent: Yes. Mr Cornford : Do I understand you that you shipped six carcasses of frozen mutton to tlie Lord Mayor of London by the Coptic about that date? Insolvent: Yes. Mr. Cornford: There is a cheque 11th of August debiting to you for hire of theatre. AVhat is tli at for? Insolvent: Isuppo.se for the hire of the theatre. (Left sitting.)