THIS DAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7376, 20 May 1887, Page 2

THIS DAY.

Friday, May 20.— Before F. P. Gorkill, Esq., Deputy Official Assignee. IN BE LEVER AND CARTER, OF INQLEWOOD, STOREKEEPERS. | William Carter, duly sworn, saith :—: — After my arrival ia New Zealand, some eleven years ago, 1 worked at my trade as builder at Inglewood for about nine months. I then joined Messrs. Broad more and Marnes in partnership, and we erected and worked a aawinill. In 1877 I sold out my interest to Messrs. Marnes aud Broadmoro. After leaving Messrs. Broad more and. Murnes I went into the storekeeping business, in which I had previously embarked on a small scale during the time I wbb in partnership with them. After describing the oause of a previoue bankruptcy, Mr. Garter Baid : After my bankruptcy I worked at my trade in Inglewood, and built a house there, the one in which I am now living, Air. Richmond finding the money. A year later 1 sold my interest in the house — such as it was — to S. iVlatlhews, the proceeds passing to Mr. Richmond, who waß to settle up sundry accounts owing by me. I then went to Auckland, and worked at my trade as ti journeyman, or sub-contractor, for about six months, doing fairly well, and paying my way. I met with Mr. William Gibson, who was a London master builder and bricklayer, and we formed a verbal partnership, being at that time free from debt, but without capital. We obtained a contract for two villas at Burroy Ilills, to be erectnd at a cost of, I think, £550. The job did not pay its way, and when it was about half through we tendered for ana secured a contract for repairs to Dr. Honej man's house, to coat £780, or thereabouts, and we lost a lot of money on that. The debts now Bhown in my separate list of liabilities (say £360) are accounts for which I was jointly liable with Mr. Gibson. We saw that wo could not finish tho work, md therefore agreed to separate. I returned to Taranaai, and Mr, Gibson went into bankruptcy. The contraot wus in tho name of " Gibson and Co," I being tho jnly partner. I had no money when I returned ts Taranaki — not more than 255. I went to Inglewood and worked at my rude, building a bridge, school, &0., and illed in odd times in improving the place ,v here lam li /ing.l had by this time obtained ny dischurge fiom bankruptcy through rflluxiou of time. Messrs. Humphries & Son then sent me to Inglewood small conli^nments of grocery stock, which I sold >n their account on commission, and when hey became bankrupt I bought the renidue n their estate from Mr. RenuelJ, their .Bbignee. Meßsrs. L. D. Nathan & Co. luppliod wo with tsomo goodti, say £50

worth, and I re-commenced business on my own account. Mr. Richmoui had agreed to sell me the store and dwelling for £350. Mr. J.R. Lever had been to England, and on his return, after due negotiation, we went into partnership in April, 1836 I sold to tho firm the place 1 was living in and the store attached, for £550, an 1 the £200 over Mr. Richmond's interest was credited to mo as capital contributed. Mr. Lover was to pay in £600, but lie actually contributed more than this. His shop also bocame the property of: the firm. We bought a stock and sold in both stores, also carrying on bakery and butchery. We got together a fair business, but met with repeated losses on our butter transactions, to which I attribute our present position. We also lost about £111, through trusting Charles Callaghan, ot New Plymouth, who has paid us nothing. The last parcel of about 100 kegs butter, which we sent to Sydney was more than a tctal loss, the proceeds being less than the charges. We ceased trading about ten or twelve days ago, when a number of writs were issued against us. I consider that the stock-in-trade now on both premises is worth three hundred pounds. We took atock about a month before we filed, the figures will be found in the ledger. The watch and chain held by Mr. Bewley as security were given to him under the following circumstances : When I reopened business, after I had bought the residue of Humphries' consignment, Mr. Bowley lent me £25, and I then agreed that my gold watch and chain should be liable to him for repayment of that advance. That was eighteen months ago, before I joined Mr. Lover, and the watch and chain continued in my possession until about two months or sis weeks ago, when, finding myself in difficulties, I handed them over to Mr, John King in trust for Mr. Bewley. Except that he handled the watch at the time when we made the bargain, Mr. Bewley has never had possession of it, unless he has received it from Mr. King very recently. Referring to my Auckland liabilities, .1 do not remember having told any people in Taranaki that I was so indebted when I came here. I did not tell Mr. Lever. My impression was that when Mr. Gibson went through the Court my liability had ceased. My wife has no separate property whatever, excepting her sewing machine and a few sundries. The property in which I live is Mr. Richmond's, and the title is in his name. There was an agreement to sell to me, which was never completed.