BANKRUPTCY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9325, 30 March 1889, Page 3

BANKRUPTCY.

DEBTOR'S EXAMINATION. John Dalbetii, in his sworn examination before the Official Assignee yesterday, made the following statement regarding his affairs : —For the last eight or nine years ] I have been farming about 110 acrss of land in the Bombay settlement. The property I and all that is on it belongs to my wife, bought with money in her own right and quite independently of me—money she inherited. £250 was borrowed in her name, on the security of the property, to complete the purchase. About five or six years ago I commenced carrying produce to town for tho farmers in the settlement, and r further sum of £100 was borrowed on the property with which to buy the necessary | plant. Neither the farm nor the carrying business have ever been profitable. All through I have aoted merely as manager for my wife's property; practically I acted as if tie property belonged to me, as she did not interfere with my management, and I always exercised a full discretion. It is very likely that my neighbours and those I had dealings with, thought the property was mine. I never was asked the question, and I never volunteered to enlighten anybody about my position. The carting business was carried on separate from tho farm, a house and outbuildings being rented about a mile and a-half from the farm, at a cost of £15 a-year. It was taken in my name, and, being in arrears, for twelve months' rent, the bailiff was put in possession under a warrant to distrain. A few days previously I was unjustly sued for a debt I did not owe, and, having no means, I filed to protect) my wife's interests in the plant and other property in my charge. When anything was wanted on the farm, or for the carrying business, and it- was inconvenient to pay cash, I ordered in my own name, and readily got credit. I believe it would have made no difference with those I dealt with if I had told them the property was not mine. I never told anybody, because I did not seo the necessity for explaining family matters. Debts to the amount of £102 9s 9d have been contracted in this way—all for the carrying business. In the shape of assets I have put down in my schedule the book debts for the carting business, and also t'he furniture in tho rented house, but both really belong to my wife. In the same way the debts contracted by me were for and on account of the business I was managing for my wife. I have absolutely nQthing to ca-H.w-x