AN HONORABLE MAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 157, 8 July 1902, Page 4

AN HONORABLE MAN.

HIS CREDITORS PAID IN FDLL.

Mh C ? W. Goodson, of New Zealand, on Saturday (says a London paper of May 26th) achieved the honourable distinction of paying off his creditors in Norfolk after twenty-three years, and received at their hands a silver c isket holding £125 in gold a3 a token of esteem.

The romance of Mr Goodson's struggles to pay off hia English creditors will be recollected, for it was told 18 months ;igo, when Mr Goodson sent a cheque from New Zealand for £992.

In 1879, while ho was in business at Norwich, Mr Goodson found it necessary, through misfortune, to make a deed of assignment, his liabilities being about £5300. In 1880 his creditors accepted a composition of 8s 5d in the pound, and Mr Goodson emigrated to New Zealand iv the hope of better for tune and of wiping out the deficit.

He worked with a will and gradually built up a business and saved money. When lie W3>s on the point of sending the money to his orGcHtors in England, a wave of depression swept over New Zealand, and he found himself bankrupt. For the third time he began again from the beginning, and resolutely battled with fortune. A few years ago he paid all his New Zealand creditors in full—£4soo—and they presented him with a gold watch and a silver salver. On Saturday Mr Goodson himself met his English creditors at Norwich, and paid them in all £1795, wiping out his indebtedness.

There was quite a happy creditors' meeting, and Mr Gurney Buxton, who presided, in handing Mr Goodson the casket, said that they all had a high appreciation of hi.s honor.

Mr Goodson replied that his creditors' gifts would be treasured heirlooms for his family.