In Bankruptcy.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 181, 27 March 1896, Page 2

In Bankruptcy.

DISTRICT COURT, HAWERA. March 13th, 1896. Maurice Pellew, being sworn, stated he had carried on business at Opunake as a baker and fancy goods salesman for two years. Was £ll in debt when he started, but had assets to an equal amount. When he first put in his statement of assets and liabilities there was a deficiency of £75. The oven was, as far as be knew, available for his creditors, and was worth at time of bankruptcy £ls. He had paid £7 10s for it and had used it for two years. The proof of debt put in by Mrs Ashdown 9s 9d) is not correct. £56 6s owing to Thos. White was money raised on a P.N. which his brother had endorsed. At the time this money was raised he was in debt and was not getting on well. Was subject to neuralgia. On 28rd June, 1894, Sargood held bills for £l3 4s, £l7 13s 2d, and £l7 ; also owed £45 15s since the previous March to the Northern Milling Co; owed his brother £2l; T, Knowles, £lO. Had about' £145 liabilities at the time he borrowed the money from Mr White. Out of the £56 raised from Mr White paid £ls to Sargood, £lO to Burgess, £4los, Scott; £3 to his brother, spent £2 in travelling and paid in about £25 into Bank. In Knowles’ claim there is a dishonored cheque which Knowles cashed. He had spent part of it in the house. Had sold the good-will of his lease to Mason for £ls. The stock was seized and sold by Rogers under a judgment. Had filed the day these were sold. They were worth £2O and were sold for £7. Filed because Sargood’s traveller told him to. Kept a rough account of transactions. Kept a bank account until January, 1895. Discontinued it because he had nothing to put in it. Kept a rough cash book but destroyed it after he filed. Had a new book made up from old ones and then destroyed old ones as they were a bit shabby and torn. All the other books produced were made up after bankruptcy and the originals destroyed. The shop was not often shut. Was not away drinking for days at a time and the shop closed.- Was not gambling at all. Had only himself to keep. Dulness of trade was the cause of his losses. Never made out a balanc-sheet showing how he stood. Had no excuse for not keeping books. The dishonored cheque produced was given by him to the publican at Stony River. ’ Knew there were no funds in the Bank to meet it. Thought the Bank might pay it.