IN BANKRUPTCY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 4 March 1914, Page 4

IN BANKRUPTCY.

A SHAREMILKER'S MISFORTUNE.

„t w^mg^of- in the estate of Wilhelm Jseithe, sharemilker, was held at the office of the D.0.A., Mr <- A. Budge, on Tuesday afternoon, lhe creditors present were: Messrs R. har?T FHW^i *?"> s'-. S- Lf3ck~ flart, C. E Hollard, H. Priestly (R. Hannah and Co., Ltd.), J. G. Osborne (Osborne and Turnbull), J. W YearEX* W (N- Z" Clo^ing Factoiy). lhe bankrupt and his wife (represented by Mr D. Smart) were also ArfwS ¥/ Ryan aPPwred for mi i. , ams^ creditor. Jhe bankrupt's filed petition showed tnat his total debts amounted to £177 5s lid and his assets £44, leaving a deficiency of £133 5s lid. The amounts *i V°k iei ? nse£» red creditors totalled &L<5Z os lid. There was one secured creditor. The list of unsecured creditors is as follows: \Y. K. Wallace £7 14s lid, M. Barraclough £16 3s 9d, Sio T/n^?ar^ ey. £8 9s 6d > C12^ 4s clld' Qmn Bros- £2 19s 10d, n* ,V £6 5s > Hallenstein Bros. £2 15s N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agenc- Co. £8 14s 9d, W. S. Lockhart £2 5s sd, R. Hannah and Co., Ltd £1 13s sd, R. J. Hughes £5 8s 6d\ Hawera Bacon Factory £1 8s 6d, E Bach £11, T. Barmby £5, J. W. Yearl bury £9, C. E. Hollard £7 14s, Fitzzell and Shaw £9 18s sd, Cole and Donnelly £2 10s, Dr Paget (Stratford) £11. The only secured creditor is H. E. Harris, grocer, Hawera, the amount of the debt being £105, and the estimated value of the security £60. The bankrupt, in his written statement, said: "In April of 1908 I came with my wife and 13 of a family to Stratford. I had only a few pounds by me when I arrived in Stratford. I . got some oasual work, and in July of the same year I commenced milking. The herd was a very small one, and I had never been sharemilking before. My wife was ill for 22 weeks with rheumatic fever, and my. mother died, and I had to pay her funeral expenses, and at the end of the season I was about £50 in debt. The following season I went to Okatb and worked for Mr William Gray.-milking at the wages of £15 per month. The wages barely kept us in food, and I got further into debt. In 1910 I came to sharemilk at Mr Harry Barr's, Inaha, receiving 30 per cent of the milk cheques. We just managed to kee^ afloat in thieplace, and I do not . think we got further-into debt. In the beginning of the milking season of 1911 we came to Mr J. R. Corrigan, who started us milking on. his Taiporohenui farm. He paid for our back debts and bought for us a waggon, 31 horses, 19 cows, spring dray.and harness, and pig tubs-. I was quite unable. Without incurring debt, to maintain myself and family on the money I received from Mr Corrigan. During the first season I had to pay out ha wages £1 per week, and during thew second year I had to pay out, on anm average, £3 13s per week in wages. 1 In the winter of 1913 I was laid np> with rupture .for three months, and my wife was ill with, rheumatic fever for three months, in the same winter. In July of 1913 we went sharemilking: for Mr Henson, Glover road, receiving 40 per cent of the-milk cheques and half the pigs and calves. I have had to pay out £6 per week from September 1 last for .wages. Mr Henson has been deducting half the cost of the pigs and half the cost of food for the calves. Since I was 12 years of age I have suffered from rupture, and have never been strong. About 14 years ago I underwent an operation in the Christchurch Hospital, and I was unable to do any work for two years. I have altogether 15 of a family, of whom seven are under 16. My present position has been brought about through, my own ill-health, which has prevented' me from making' enough to maintain my family without incurring debt." The DO.A. said that in December last and in January deposits amounting to .£SO had been paid by Mrs' Neithe on a section in Fantham street. This was from moneys due to twoi sons, who decided to put their savings into a home for their mother.

Replying to the D.0.A., the bankrupt said he had never kept any books, except one wages book 6ince September. 1913.

The D.O.A. read a statement'of the transactions between Mr Corrigan and* the bankrupt, -which' showed that at the completion of the contract the bankrupt had been given a cheque for £36 18s" lOd. He said there were several matters which required looking into, and the creditors could rest assured that he would do the best for them. - ■ . .

After several matters had been discussed Mr Hughes suggested an adjournment until such time as ,tfce DJO.A. had made his enquiries.

The D.O.A. said he would make his enquiries, and if it was necessary would convene another meeting of the* creditors. In the meantime, if * any three creditors desired a. meeting that meeting could be called. He then declared the meeting closed.