CARNIVAL THAT FAILED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 15

CARNIVAL THAT FAILED.

BANKRUPTCY OF PROMOTER. ROYAL VISITORS NOT PRESENT. STORY OF VARIED CAREER. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Friday. A story of a varied career was told to a meeting of creditors to-day in the bankrupt estate of Edward Lenihan, formerly of Taihape, bankrupt saying that in the course of nine years he had been a soldier, railway officer, journalistic editor, rabbiter, showman and builder's labourer. ' All would have been well, he said, had the Duke and Duchess of York attended an axeman's carnival which he promoted in Wellington. The amount owing to unsecured creditors was shown at £236 4s 6d, while the assets were given at £IOO. "I am a journalist by profession and carried on this profession before tho war," said bankrupt m his sworn statement. "I was with the N.Z.E.F. for three years, coming back in 1918, when I was employed by the Railway Department. In or about 1920 I went to Taihape and became sub-editor for a newspaper there, rising to the position of editor in March, 1925. In April, 1926, the proprietor decided to cut down expenses, so T resigned my position and took up a rabbiting contract. This venture proved unsuccessful. "In November 1 came to Wellington and sought to arrange an axemen's carnival, and obtained a permit to libld one at Newtown Park in March. I understood from the Minister of Internal Affairs that he would personally recommend the attendance of the Duke and Duchess. I received no definite assurance, but the suggestion was placed on the list of their appointments. Owing to a misunderstanding they were not present. "Sixty axemen took part in the events. The total prize-money was £7OO. However, the takings were only about £4OO, the carnival being a failure The attendance was very small, although, had the Duke and Duchess attended, there can be no doubt but that they would have acted as a magnet for the crowd. "The expenses in connection with the carnival were very heavy and, including the prize-money, I consider that I lost about £6OO on the carnival. At tho time I called a meeting of the competitors and told them it did not appear that I would be able to pay the balance of the prizemoney, about £6OO, and they passed a resolution that they would leave it to me to do the best I could to square the matter up. Not a single competitor since that time has applied to me for any prizemoney." " Bankrupt said ho was now working as a building labourer, and was unable to make any offer to his_ creditors. The official assignee, Mr. S. Tansley, said he would adjourn the meeting sine die, in order to give the Taihape creditors aia opportunity of attending a further meeting if they so desired.