WAIMATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8146, 18 April 1887, Page 3

WAIMATE.

[teom oue own coeeespondent.] Apeil 14. The weather since Monday evening and up till Wednesday afternoon has been wet —a steady downpour of rain the whole time. The threshing has been impeded, and other farming operations frustrated, but at the time of writing the weather is | more settled. The root crops and pastures : will benefit by the rain. Fortunately, the ! thresh’ng season is about completed, very I few farms having grain to be put through the mill. Of late ploughing has been the chief item of work going on amongst the agriculturalists, and judging from present apprarances there is every indication of a larger area of land being broken up than was the case last year. I hear the potato crops are not likely to be as good as was anticipated in the early part of the season. I was very much pleased to see the Waimate Rifle Volunteers so well represented at the encampment, and during the “ campaign ” more than one in- i dividual possessing knowledge of volun- | teering was loud in their praise of the appearance of our corps, and its efficiency under Captain Studholme—not bad for a two-year-old corps, that. St Augustine’s Church was very prettily decorated for the Easter festival, and great credit is due to the ladies of the congregation for their taste in the decorations. The services were conducted by the Rev C. Coates, assisted by the Rev L. Keating, and were well attended. The former gentleman leaves here to-day (Thursday) to take temporary charge of St Michael’s parish, Christchurch, and during his absence, which is expected to be about nine months, the Rev Lloyd Keating will act in bis stead. With a view to encourage further settlement in this district, I understand the executors of the late Mr Studholme have decided to offer another block of land for sale, situated in close proximity to this town. I hear also, on very reliable authority, that there are already several applicants for part of the land, so that ere long we may expect another influx of settlers in our midst. The land is of firstclass quality. The action of the J.P. in issuing the warrant for the arrest of the defendant in a not savoury case, heard the other day, was strongly commented upon by the R.M., who characterised his action in the matter as being monstrous. Mr Clement, defendant’s counsel, added that no one would be safe if such things were done, as it might happen to anyone to be arrested merely on the statement of a woman who might be actuated by malice, and he thought the J.P. who had issued the warrant should be made accountable for the action he had taken in the matter. It was with much pleasure that I learnt of a resolution being passed at a recent meeting of creditors that a Deputy Official Assignee should be appointed to deal with bankruptcy cases in this district. Before offering any comment, it must be said that bankruptcy cases are not of every day occurrence in our midst; yet, for the number of the population, the tradesmen are victimised as often perhaps as they care for. However, there are one or two instances which have come under my own personal knowledge, and with them there is sufficient reason to complain. As an illustration, a man finds himself in difficulties. He takes the train, or rather the train takes him, to Timaru. He there consults a solicitor, who advises him that there is only one way of riding the storm, i.e., by seeking refuge in the Bankruptcy Court. Acting upon the advice given, he files. A date is fixed for the meeting of creditors in Waimate, the majority of unfortunate ones attend, but no Deputy Assignee puts in an appearance, nor forwards any of the necessary papers in connection with the case, and consequently the meeting is adjourned, and the only excuse given after the sorrowful ones have been kept anxicu-ily waiting for a considerable time is, probably—the Assignee missed the train, or prior engagements prevented his coming. Another instance: His Honor Judge Broad refuses at the outset to allow the hearing of application for discharge to be taken from Waimate to Timaru, and very properly too, seeing that this is a bankruptcy district, and the majority of the creditors are resident here ; but the bankrupt’s solicitor (practising in Timaru) urges his application, and ultimately succeeds in winning the point, the creditors not caring to be saddled with the train fare to Timaru and sundry other expenses, do not attend and oppose the application ; and although His Honor, as already stated, declined at the outset to allow the application for discharge to be transferred from Waimate to Timaru, a few weeks afterwards he quietly grants the discharge, and the bankrupt goes on his way rejoicing. It would appear that Waimate tradesmen are altogether ignored in bankruptcy matters, and the sooner steps are taken to have the evil remedied, the better it will be for all concerned.