COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8062, 1 October 1887, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

* 1 FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]

Hamilton, Friday. There was a large attendance of creditors yesterday, in person and by proxy, at the first meeting of areditors in the estate of Ralph Graoie, builder, of Hamilton, a very strong feeling existing that tbe creditors had been hardly dealt with. Mr. John Edgecumbe, Deputy Official Assignee, presided. Mr. VV. M. Hay appeared for the bankrupt, and Mr. O'Neill for certain of the oreditor*. A letter was read from the Auckland Timber Co., stating that, as they had not time to appoint a. proxy, they hoped that a searching examination of the case would be made, as the bankrupt had obtained oredit from them in July,'on the express condition that it would be paid for on the 20th of that month. This, at the examination, the bankrupt denied. Several creditors present at the meeting diatinotiy contradicted the statements made by the bankrupt in answer to ; questions .put to him by the Deputy Official Assignee, and two creditors stated that within three weeks of filing the bankrupt had stated to them that he had £130 to receive on a contract, when he would pay everybody\in full, the money for the contract having really been received by the bankrupt some time before. The bankrupt denied having made these promises. The statements made were, however, considered so unsatisfactory by the creditors present, that a motion was unanimously passed, " That the bankrupt be publioly examined on oath." The examination will take place at the next sitting of the Bankruptcy Conrt in Hamilton, on the~lßtb. The bankrupt's statement was as follows:— "I am a builder by trade, and ro«ide at Hamilton, and arrived from Canterbury, New Zealand, five years ago. I worked for wages lor the first three years. The first two years I earned £2 per week. The next year I earned about £1 per week. Last year, 1886, I was ill and unable to work— working only two months in the year. It. was then I contracted the bulk of my liabilities. I have finished two contracts this year, and also had two small jobs. On the 'contract for building Mr. VVhillan's house, in Kirikiriroa, 1 lost £50 through bad weather. The other paid me very little—l should say not more than £2. The contract price for Whilian's house was £157 and £7 for extras. I had no capital when I took the contract, but got all the material for the job on oredit. Mr. Whillan has paid me the whole of the contract money and for extras, with the exoeption of £2 17s, which he keep* subject to a dispute in the work*. This sum ot £2 17* is all I have to show as an asset. I have paid my solicitor, Mr. Hay, £7, part of whioh I received from my wife; and my brother ha# promised to pay any other money necessary to carry out the bankruptcy proceedings. 1 value my furniture for less than £10. My tools are worth about £5. I have no property, and my life is not insured." The aominations for the two vacancies in the Borough Council, will be received on Thursday, the 6th October. Mr. Isaac Uoates and Mr. K. F. Sandes have been asked, and it is understood allowed themselves, to be nominated for the vacant seats, and in such case it is scarcely likely that there will be a contest.

A case of typhoid fever is reported In East Hamilton. As the East Hamilton School reopens on Monday, it is desirable that children likely to spread the infection should have an extension of holidays.

A meeting of the Baths' Committee will be held to-night to report to the Council on Monday night, re proposed alterations in the Hamilton West Baths. If lefts?, they are, the West Hamilton Baths, which were largely used by the public last year, and whicih will doubtless he far more largely patronised during the ooming ssason, will put the Borough to considerable cost in providing a caretaker; and without a caretaker fatal accidents are certain to coour and larrikinism would render the baths useless. Mr. Pannell, the caretaker, who had charge of the baths during the last two months of the previous season, has offered to lease them for the coming season at a rent of £10, if the area is doubled. At first it was proposed to remove the baths from East Hamilton, which would also be useless without a caretaker, and add them to the baths on th« west side, bat this idea wan unpopular, and has been abandoned. The committee will therefore have to report on what addition shall be made to the baths, and the probable cost, so that the Council may on Monday take immediate steps for making the necessary addition#, aa the bathing season is close at hand.

Cambridge, Friday. A man named Clews, oharged with larceny at Hautapu, was traced by the police to Tamahere, and arrested yesterday. Noarcawahia, Friday,

The Amateur Dramatic Company go down to Huntly on Tuesday, where they will perform in the play of John Dobbs," in the Publio Hall there. On Friday night last the same piece, with the farco of "Box and Cox," was given at the Publio Hall, Ngaruawhhia, but owing to the wet night the attendance was less than it would have been. This amateur dramatic company comprises some really talented players, and is making for itself a name in Waikato. {is? TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT]. CambhidQE, Friday. At the R.M. Court this morning, Wiliavn Johnson, of Hautapu, was charged with impersonating William Johnstone, of Raglan, at the Cambridge polling booth on the 26ch instant. The case was adjourned for eight days to enable the principal witness to attend.

William Maxwell .was charged with using obscene language in Duke-street, on the 27 th instant, hut the case was dismissed. A lad named Charles Edmond Clewes pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of »rtioles fiom settlers at Hautapu. He was remanded for eight days. Hamilton, Friday evening. Heenan's leg will be amputated at the Hospital to morrow. His stepfather, Mr. Bolton, of Te tiore, has been written to to attend, as the operation will probably be a critical one.

Ngaruawaiiia, Friday evening. The boy Middleton, remanded from Te Aroba, charged with stealing money and clothes from the dwelling of Mr. Peter Kice, of Taupiri, was brought up to-day at the Ngaruawauia Poliso Court, before Captain Lindsay and Mr. Rathbone. He pleaded guilty, arid was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Paterangi, Friday evening. The matoh between the Paterangi Cricket Club and the Hamilton Club, to have come off to-morrow at Hamilton, has been post poned till next Saturday,' in consequence of the difficulty of getting the Paterangi team together to-morrow.