MONEY FROM NATIVE LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1930, Page 6

MONEY FROM NATIVE LANDS

LIABILITY IN BANKRUPTCY. - DISCUSSION BY CREDITORS. A dispute as to should represent the creditors in an imeiestin<r case was responsible for the indefinite adjournment of a meeting of creditors in Hawera yesterday. Mr. L. / Taylor offered to indemnity the .Do puty-Ofiicial Assignee, Mr. R. S. Sage, against costs if he (Mr. Taylor) was allowed to represent the creditors, ol whom he is one. Mr Sage would not agree to this as he is usually iepierented in court by Messrs. ODea and Bayley. . .' The point involved is an interesting one that has not yet been tested. Native land is exempt from the pi ovisions of the Bankruptcy Act, but it is not considered clear whether this also applies to money received from the sa e of Native land. In this particular instance Ueroa Ngarcwa, a bankrupt oi Batea, had an interest in some West Coast Settlement Reserve land. Shortly after a motion for his discharge had been filed, but before it had come be oie the court, the land was sold, bankrupt receiving £3OO. The motion foi discharge has been twice adjourned and will'again be heard at the August session of the Supreme Court in New 1 lymouth. . At the meeting of creditors yesterday Mr. Taylor moved that it be tested whether the sum in question was oi was not an asset divisible among the creditors. ~ The D.O.A. stated that if any action was taken he would have to have an indemnity against costs. _ The creditors would have to foot the bill, Mr. Roberts said that an application for discharge had been filed some weeks before ■ sum had come into bankrupt’s possession. The speaker had been approached for an offer, 10s in the £1 being suggested. He had been in favour of a lump sum of £lOO. Ihat had not been accepted because Mr. laylor would not accept the compromise. Mr. P. E. Buckrell: Is the bankrupt prepared tb make an offer now? Mr. T. E. Roberts: No. The Natives regard it as a challenge to their righto under the West Coast Act. Mr. Taylor said he would personally lay £25 on the table to carry on the C<ISC. " The D.O.A. said he would accept the money provided that Messrs. O’Dea and Bayley were instructed to act for the creditors. Mr. Taylor considered t 1 A the attitude token by the D.O.A. was a narrow one and on the condition imposed he would retract- his offer. He was not practising for fun and would not go out -of his way to make business for anyone, liowevc much he respected them. • . . The meeting was then adjourned sine die and Mr. Taylor’s motif i lapsed. These present at the meeting were Messrs. R. S. Sage, G. J. Bayley, L. A. Taylor, P. E. Buckrell, T. E. Roberts, and Ueroa Ngarewa.

GOOD PROGRESS MADE. HAWERA JUNIOR BAND. Good progress by the junior band was reported by the conductor, Mr, H. C> A. Fox, to a meeting of tho Hawera Municipal Band Committee on Monday evening. There were 24 members of the combination, all of whom were doing well and showing great keenness. The members were encouraged by the prospect of competing in the U' grade at the next Taranaki contests. Attendances by the senior band had been good. Nine parades had been held, of which four were public performances, three being at the Winter Show. The band had been prevented by wet weather from playing in the park. Reference was made by Mr. I‘ox to the friendly feeling existing between the Hawera Pipe Band and the brass band. This had been well illustrated by Piper Quin’s remarks at the presentation of shields to tho Hawera Band. Those present at the meeting were Messrs E. Dixon (chairman), J. Champion, R. Swan, H. C. A. Fox, J, Kilpatrick, C. Pearce and W. Hawkins (secretory). HAWERA MAGISTRATE’S COURT. RETURNS FOR THE QUARTER. Business transacted at tho Hawera Magistrate’s Court during the quarter ended June 30 is summarised below:-— Civil business: Total of plaints entered, 436 (365); total amount sued for, £3701 9s 9d (£4440 16s); total amount claimed in cases tried, £3024 4s 6d (£2915 6s 4d); total amount recovered, £2894 8s 9d (£2709 17s 8d), Fortnightly sittings presided oyer by a stipendiary magistrate were: Civil 10, criminal 10 (12, 11); sittings presided over by Justices of the Peace 0, 10 (0, 7); total sittings during the quarter, 10, 17 (12, 18). Civil cases tried; By stipendiary magistrates 4; by Justices 0 (5, 0); distress warrants issued, 13 (15); judgment summonses issued, 104 (58); warrants of committal issued, 26 (4); writs of arrest issued, 0 (O); summonses and other processes served by bailiffs, 308 (222); warrants executed by bailiffs, 17 (13) ; summonses served by registered post, 107. J Criminal cases:. Cases against males, 61 (95); against females, 5 (1); totals, 66 (96). Fees and fines: Civil fees, £468 7s (£340 Ils 6d); criminal fees, £l7 Is (£l7 7s); fines paid, £4O (£80); licensing fees paid, £23 15s (£24 8s); totals, £549' 3s (£462 6s 6d). Pensions: New claims granted, 0 (6); refused, 0 (0); pending, 0 (0).

PA TEA SCHOOL AFFAIRS. The secretary (the Rev. C. Aker) informed the Patea school committee that the dental clinic had decided to base tho cost of supplying furnishings for the clinic on a pro rata basis throughout the district. The chairman (Mi’. R. .15. Moore) said he would like to assure the dental clinic committee of the school committee’s support and co-operation. The necessity for a locking device on the towel rollers at tho school was stressed ns the towels were removed and trodden underfoot. A credit balance of £35 16s was reported. ~ The. cleagnus heilgo at tKe back of tjie feotbaff ground was taking up nine feet, of the, football, ground and a motion was passed requesting the Wanganui Education Board to supply material for a wire, fence if the committee removed the ek-agnus hedge.