MR. NORTH AND HIS CREDITORS.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 19 January 1881, Page 2

MR. NORTH AND HIS CREDITORS.

? THE ABSENTEE TO BE DECLARED A BANKRUPT. Nearly a dozen creditors of Mr. George North) who has been absent from Wellington for some weeks, held an adjourned meeting at the Chamber of Commerce at 11 o'olock this morning, for the purpose of learning from their solicitor, Mr. Stafford (of Messrs. Bnckley, Stafford, and Fitzherbert), what further steps had been taken in connection with this estate. Mr. Fitzherbert attended on behalf of Mr. Stafford, and reported that a petition, calling upon the Judge to adjudicate Mr.. North a bankrupt, had been duly prepared, and was reidy for_the signature of those creditors who intended to p'etitiofe. A sufficient number of creditors would require" to sign to bring up the total sum due to £50. He (Mr. Fitzherbert) was not aware whether there was any single creditor whose debt would cover that amount. — Mr. H. Blundell: Yes, Mr. Nathan's will cover it.— Mr. Nathan said the sum represented bills current, and Mr. Fitzherbert thereupon pointed out that Mr. Nathan could not take any part towards making Mr. North a bankrupt ; he could only prove for the amount after this had been done. — Mr. Blundell remarked that his firm had the honor of Btanding second on the list, the amount being £21. He would prefer, however, not to sign the petition. He did not wish to take any step that might involve him in trouble hereafter ; he would rather not incur any risk. — Mr. Fitzherbert: In what way ?— Mr. Blundell : In every way. Suppose Mr. North turns up after all. Does his conduct justify us in declaring him a bankrupt? — Mr. Fitzherbert : The responsibility attached to that proceeding will rest with the Judge. If the Judge declare him bankrupt you are freed from all responsibility. — Mr. Blundell : In that case I will sign. — Mr. Fitzherbert here read the 29th section of the Debtors and Creditors Act of 1876, explaining what were deemed to be acts of bankruptcy, the case where " a debtor, with intent to defeat or delay his creditors, has departed out of New Zealand," or " has departed from his dwelling-house, or absented himself from his usual residence or business," being mentioned aa such an act. — The petition was then signed by the following creditors, and will be presented to the Judge in Chambers on Friday morning : — Messrs. Blundell, £21 ; Lyon and Blair, £16; Wilson and Richardson, £12; Casey and Macdonald, £15; Burrett, £9; Sloan, £6 6s ; total, £79 6s. The proceedings then terminated.