BANKRUPTCY COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9089, 22 May 1891, Page 2

BANKRUPTCY COURT.

' .- T33CIS DAY. Friday, May 22. — Before B. G. Baachope, Esq., D.OA. Tee: following are the private depositions of Albert Bishop, farmer, Bell Block: — I returned "from" Canterbury in February, 1879, and I brought with me in cash £150, and shortly afterwards I received £650 from the sal* of a farm near Lepperton to Mr Magee. I wav not owing anything at that time. In the same year I leased a farm, of about 200 acres at Waipnka from Mr. Thomas Wright, of Lepperton, at an annual rental of £30, and a purchasing clause of £4 per acre I held this farm for nearly five years: I paid the rent and £180 for felling bush and grassing. , I lost 35 head of cattle, which I suspect were stolen, which, were worth on an average £3 per head. 1n ,1884,' finding I was in difficulties, and the property being unsaleable, I surrendered all my rights to the farm to Mr Wright. 'In 1883 I bought the right to collect the dog tax from the Taranaki County Council. 1 lost £80 on this transaction, but the County Council allowed me JL2O. In the same year I took the contract for gravelling the Henwood Road. I consider I lost over £300 on this contract. I built the cottage at Fitzroy shortly after I returned from '{Janterbnry. 'The land and cottage cost me £350 It is mortgaged for £200, and there is overdue interest to the amount of £66 owing to the mortgagees. In. 1883 I bought a section of 50 acres near Bell Block from Mrs Turner, of Melbourne,, for £450, and paid £50 at the time of. purchase, the. balance, £400, being left on' mortgage at 8 per cent.. I spent £63 in grubbing furze on the section, and being unable to pay the interest the mortgagee foreclosed about January, 1889. During the period from 1379 to 1884 1 was also in business as a cattle dealer. In 1884 or 1885 I was owing MrN. KingJEUO, and ! gave him as security a Bill of Sale over 10 cattle, about 100 sheep and 4 horses, one of the . hones being the thoroughbred entiio horse Australian. In January 1889, Mr N. King was realising his assets, and be sold the Australian to my nephew Walter Bishop for £30, and he gave me credit, for this amount. Walter Bishop left me the horse for one year to assist me to keep my family. At the end » of the year he resolved to sell him, as it was of no use to him, but I persuaded him pot to do so as I considered toe horse would

become more valuable as, his stock were turning out good. Since this he has received all tho horse earned, and has paid me-£l per week, and 15s for each mare served during the season, and I was to find the oats during the season. In 1884 I gave MrCurtis a Bill of Sale over my furniture for £40. I have kept the interest paid up, but have not paid any of the principal.-' The house I now live in is leased by my wife from Mr Thomas Kelly. The lease has 2 years to run/ but I do not consider it of any value., I have not any furniture that is not included in the Bill of Sale. It was in 1884 after finishing the Henwood Road contract, and realising all available plant, horses, carts, &c, that I found. I was seriously involved, and I had great hopes of retrieving my position, though I see now it would have been better for me to have filed 4hen.