A SPENDTHRIFT'S BANKRUPTCY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11303, 22 December 1898, Page 6

A SPENDTHRIFT'S BANKRUPTCY.

* ♦ (Per United Press association.) AUCKLAND, December 21. At a meeting of creditors in the'estate of George Massey Watson, a bankrupt, Alex. Johnstohb, licensee of the Grand Hotel, on 1 being examined said that when Watson came to Auckland and engaged two rooms'for himself at 10 guineas a week and accommo-' flation for his valet at £2 & week, witness ' did ■ not inquire into' Watson's cir-. cuinstances.but ho heard from iwo.of ( his shipmates .(Messrs Leece and Farquharspn) that he (debtor) was a man of great wealth, jffarquharson said Watson seemed to have heaps of money. Ho bought dresses - and presents for all the ladies on the ship at Wellington, and he was drinking heavily on the voyage out to New Zealand. . Watson paid Leece's passage out from Home. Ten guineas' for two rooms with private attendance was .the usual tariff for the rooms debtor occupied. Debtor said he.had £800 rcoming from Wellington, and also told witness he -was worth £6000 a year and his mother worth £40,000 a year. Johnstone went on to say that Dr Marsack's statement that on August 12 Watson was not in a fit state to. .transact business was entirely wrong.--Dr Marsack could not. have' seen him that day, as Watson was not outside the hotel on the 12th, and Dr Marsack did riot come to, the hotel. A document signed by Watson was read over by Wstson himself.