LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

of Creditors. John Mollaia* (carter).—A meeting of creditors in this estate was to have been held yesterday at the Official Assignee's Office, but it lapsed for want of a quorum. — The debtor, in bis examination on oath before the Official Assignee yesterday morning, said that he had been & carter for many years, and had been in monetary difficulties for the last fonr or five years. What horses and carts he had were mostly under bill of sale,and be bad never been a free man. all that time. If he got a contract job of any size he bad to have backers to help him through, and they got the earnings, and kept all the accounts and most of the money, afe he got vary little. He was no scholar, and did not keep any check, but trusted to their honesty. He was constantly in trouble for want of money, and he got to drinking, and made matters worse. Six or seven months ago everything he had was sold. He bought in one of the horses for 375, and borrowed another on which to make a fresh start. Three months afterwards the horse he bought was accidentally killed. Since then he had done next to nothing. A fortnight ago one of his creditors sent him to gaol for deb , where he remained for eight days, and was released only on filing his schedule. The meeting stands adjourned until to-day. F. MoßGAff.—The creditors in this estate met yesterday, at the Official Assignee's office, There was a quorum present, and the debtor and his sulioitor (Mr. A. E. Whitaker) were in attendance. The Assignee read the debtor's sworn statement, and explained that an interest in £30 balanoe of purchase money of some land sold by the debtor twelve months ago was the only available asset disclosed. Mr. Henderson, a creditor, said he understood the debtor had 120 acres of land at Puhoi. In reply to this the debtor's solicitor explained that his clieni had mentioned this land when preparing the schedule of assets, bat it was left out, because Morgan, in conjunction with a man named Buckland, had only paid 50s each deposit, and afterwards abandoned further interest, in the belief that it was a bad bargain. It was stated that Mr, Brock, solicitor, who acted in the transaction would confirm the statement. The debtor produced receipts for part of the £75. referred to in his sworn statemet, and promised to produce one more, viz., Jamison's for £21. Aβ regards the £30 aasets of the debtor, he had bo doubt it could be collected at once, if a reasonable discount was allowed. This was the whole business of the meeting, and the bankruptcy was left to take its course.

Ingram Co.—An adjourned meeting iu this estate was held yesterday.—The Assignee stated that Mr. Fox had come in from the country on the previous day, and bad made a full statement of his connection with the parties, and also of his firm's transactions with the firm of Ingram and Co. Some of the creditors cross-examined Mr. Fox and Mr. Glover oa various matters, but as the result was conflicting and unsatisfactory, it was deemed necessary t<) make further investigation, in the belief that there was something to accrue to Ingram and Co. out of the estate of Ingram and Fox ; and on the motion of Mr. Buddie, seconded by Mr. Geddee, it was resolved, " That the affairs of Messrs. Ingram and Fox, and Ingram's ' Maori' partnership, be placed in the bands of an accountant, under the direction of the Official "Aeei&nee, with the view of ascertaining the amount due to Ingram ahd Co., and that the cost thereof be paid out of the estate of Ingram and Co., or by the creditors present, pro rata, in the eventof there being insufficient funus." Debtohs , Examination.

Norman Finlayson,. James John . Mcßa, Duncan H. McKenzie, and Angus McKen'zie, bush contractors, filed their declarations of : insolvency yesterday, and each made a sworn statement before the official Assignee. . It appeared that they had contracts, in the Hokianga and Otamatea bushes. The following is the Rtatement of James John Mcßa, which was borne oat by the others :— Duncan H. McKenzie, Angus McKenzie, Norman Finlayson, and John Mcßa entered into partnership in October, 1882, as bush contractors. They took up a "bush at Hokianga on royalty, also one at Otamatea on contract, Mcßa, as manager, placed Angus McKenzie in charge at Hokianga, and he remained there until July last. During this period he, Mcßa, fully believed that everything was going on satisfactorily. Their agreement' was that timber only-to the amount required for working expenses was to be sold, Hβ suddenly left the colony without their knowledge in July last, and it transpired that he had not only soli) all timber cut, but also left them in debt £300. When they entered into partnership they bought 18 bullocks for about £170, and having no capital, gave a bill of sale over them, These bullocks were all left at the Hokianga bush, and in January, 1884, they agreed to draw £200 from the Otamatea account to pay this with. McKenzie, however, failed to pay, so that leaving out profits on the Hokianga contract, they lost £500' through McKenzie, and this completely crippled them. "All th-s timber cut at Hokianga bush was sold to the Hokianga Sawmill Company, but they declined to give him (Mcßae) any account, so that he could not say what profits were made, but considered they must have been considerable. About three months ago the bill of sale holder pressed for his money, aud they were not in a position to satisfy him, and it was on account of proceedings taken by him that they" filed. The Otamatea contract paid them well, and they were in hopes that if allowed time they would have been able to clear off all liabilities from that contract. There was at present about £120 due them by Mr. Coatea, the owner of the Otamatea bush, and it would be paid when demanded. The only reason this had not been got in was that there was some timber still to be measured, and he (Mcßa) intended going up there next week. Beyond this book debt, and a boat put down in the schedule, be had nothing. When he joined the partnership he had about £100 of private liabilities, and none of these had heen paid, as he made an agreement with his creditors that they were to be paid out ot his share of the profits of the partnership. He did not consider that he drew more than 30s a, week on an average. . ' .... •. POLICE CODRT.-Feiday. [Before H. G. Seth Smith, Esq., E.M;]Dkonkenness. — Three man, for first offences, were mulcted in the usual penalty. Edward Ryan, for a second offence, was fined 10s and costs, or forty-eight hours' hard labour. Unregistered Dogs.—A number of cases were dealt with for breaches of the Dog Registration Act in the Archhill highway district. Mr. J. H. Gouning, Registrar, represented the Highway Board. Colin Mclntosh pleaded not guilty to having an unregistered dog in hie possession. The Registrar deposed that the dog was on defendant's premises on February 3. Defendant, in his evidence denied the ownership ; it belonged to his neighbour. Dismissed.. Nathaniel Gow and Charles Barnes, who had taken oat collars since the proceedings were taken, were fined Is and costs. Four other caaes which were settled before the Court opened were withdrawn.