MEETING OF CREDITORS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10218, 12 December 1893, Page 5

MEETING OF CREDITORS.

SABAH FIDUGIA BROWN. A meeting ,of creditors in ,the estate of Sarah Fiducia Brown, widow, was held at the office of the Official Assignee yesterday morning, when there were about a dozen creditors present. The debtor bad been adjudicated a bankrupt on the petition of Messrs J. Bates and Company, for whom Mr Kippenberger appeared, and Mrs Brown was represented by Mr Von Haast# The debtor's sworn statement was to the effect that she had.been made a bankrupt on the petition of Messrs Bates and Co. on a debt of about £62 which she was unable to pay. She estimated that she owed about .£250, and these liabilities had been incurred during the past twelve months. In June, 1892, she was out of debt. Her gross income for the last year was £426- 7s 9d, which, after paying interest on mortgage and cost of collection, &0., left available for her use and for the maintenance of her six children (aged respectively eighteen, sixteen, fourteen, thirteen, eleven and eight years), a sum of about £2OO. She had been incapable of attending to her home duties during the past year on account of bal health, aud this had caused her heavy expeases. A gentleman named Harold Hammond had lived in her house as a friend, and latterly had acted as tutor to her children. He had not paid anything for his board and lodging, though he was supposed to pay £4permontb. She had lent him £lO, which had been repaid to her out of £3O she had paid him for teaching. This gentleman had looked after her household business affairs and had managed her finances from about August, 1892. She received her income from the trustees under the settlements froin which she benefited, and handed over to Hammond any moseys that were required. Hammond was involved when he first came to her house, bat stated that he had expectations, and would help her to pay whatever debts were incurred. In July last she ijma so ill that she had to leave her home 'for four or five weeks, leaving a power of attorney, which, how. ever, did not come into force, as she did not go out of Christchurch. She bad left the management of her affairs entirely to Mr Hammond, and the debts now due were incurred on his advice, and she thought she was to blame for having given way to that advice. Her income was settled strictly for the benefit of her children; at least she was advised to that effect. When they came of age the income reverted to her, A meeting of her creditors had been held about four months ago. She had been unable to attend on account of ill health, but had offered 6s in the £, which however, had been refused. Mr Hammond was in Christchurch in employment of some sort. McG. Ritchie held all her bills, and without them she could not / make out a statement. He might have other papers others. She did not think she owed him anything in respect to any of the paper* now m his hands. On being further examined, Mrs Brown said she believed the goods comprised in the'bailiff's list were included in a deed of . settlement dated 1873, and also in a subsequent settlement, and were therefore beyond her control. Some of the goods bought from Messrs Bates and Co. were in that list. The Official Assignee pointed out that up to the present ho had been unable to got a list of the liabilities of the debtor. Various, settlements were pleaded in bar of any possible payment of the debts owing to the creditors, but ho thought the creditors would agree with him that the debts would have to be paid somehow; and that in the bankrupfs own interest she had better obtaiu the consent of the trustees and of her children to soma satisfactory arrangement to effect this. He, advised the adjournment of the mooting till Friday next to give her time to make soma satisfactory proposal, as well as to file her statement of assets and liabilities. In default of some voluntary arrangement, it would be necessary to see if the settlements could not be attacked, as it was monstrous to suppose that the Court would permit the creditors to be defeated, if her comparatively large estate could bo utilised in any way. Unless some attempt was made to make a v satisfactory arrangement it would be his' duty to commence criminal proceedings against her. , Mr Kippenberger having given some information as to the deeds of settlement which ho had perused, promised to give the Assignee all the assistance in his power, and the meeting adjourned till Friday next, at 2 p.m.