Correspondence.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5257, 13 May 1895, Page 1

Correspondence.

The following letters are reprinted from the Lyttelton Times :—

THB ELL CASE. TO THE BDITOB.

Sib,— lt ib now eighteen years since I first applied to Messrs Hanmer and Harper for a full statement of my transactions with them. I was pat off by promises for a year, and then employed Mr James M'flaffie, accountant. Ho pressed for a statement persistently until August, 1880, when he received an account of part of the transactions. He asked for a complete statement, which waa refused. About this time Mr Leonard Harper offered Mr M'Haffie .£SO to quaßh all farther proceedings. This Mr M'Haffie declined, but urged Mr Harper to spend the £50 in submitting the matters to arbitration. This Mr Harper refused to do. Many more applications were made for account?, but without avail, and friends coming to my assistance I invoked the aid .of the law, employing Mr John Holmes. He firet applied for accounts, and being refused iesued a writ. Then Mr Harper offered to submit to arbitration. I readily agreed, and the writ was held over. The arbitrators had nearly completed their investigation, when Mr Holmes had to leave to attend to hia parliamentary duties. By agreement, a fresh arbitration deed was drawn, extending the time for the arbitrators tc make their award. This Mr Harper refused to sign. In oonBequence the arbitration wes not completed, and I waa constrained to again ceek the aid of the law, which I havo been on and off dcing ever since; I have been alwayß ready and willing to eubmit to arbitration, and have frequently made this fact known to Mr Harper. All I have ever asked for is to have my claims settled on their merits. From March, 1885, 1 filed a motion in court asking for the review of the Begistrar's certificate of account, on the ground that he had come to an erroneous decision' through ignoring an order of the late Mr Justice Johnston, which directed him. nob to disturb a certain settled account, and had also ignored evidence contained in his notes. My contentions have never been dealt with by the Court on their merits from that day to this. My first attempt was frustrated by Messrs Harper and Co. making me bankrupt, April, 1885, which was annulled on the ground that the step 3 wera taken for the sole puipose of preventing roe from proceeding against a member of the firm ; my second attempt by a petition by Messrs Austin and Haskins, and my third attempt, by Mr T. S. Weßton, in August, 1886, from which time my hands were completely tied until I was made assignee of my own property by Act of Parliament brought in by the Hon R. J. Seddon in 1893. I have asked the Official Assignee of this city since April, 1892, to review the Registrar's certificate. This he refused to do, and still refuses, although, in the presence of Mr M'Haffie, accountant, I have laid before him the proof of each item I claim. I am at my wito' end what to do next. Do you not think that our system of administering justice mighc be improved P — l am, &0.,

*G. W. ELL.