MOTORS AND CARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12089, 18 August 1917, Page 2

MOTORS AND CARDS.

A MAORI SOUHKK'S BANKRUPTCY. Some remarkable disclosure.; cone--ru-ing a Maori's dealings in motors wore made in the course of a mcci-iny. of L creditors ot Matono Mitu, ol LYtan'.\ In held at Napier. H Bankrupt-., examined 0:1 oath, stated H that he was a returned sold it r and 1 came- back wounded. Uo had boon "back a 1 jout twelve months. When he came back he had some money and thought of going into the taxi business. W'ith that end in view he purchased a car. He ran i'or hire between Napier ami Pctane. He thought lie would do better at Rotorua, and took the car up there. He got £1:200 from the sab- of somo land, spent £'3oo o:i a motorcycle and side-car. and .spent, £oOO *'bile he was at Rotor'-'a, whore ho was sent bv the Government to recover from wounds. In March last, he bought a motor-car, and as a diversion started playing cards, with the result that in one day (S-atiday) ho lost £.j(). To meet this debt he accepted £.30 and gave a| mortgage ove.r Lu.s car tor .£'loo. Next Buuctiiy at» cards ho Inst £lb\ all the remaining cash he. had. He returned to Napier with the car. sold it for £2-10, taking a smaller car in part exchange, paying £4-5 cash. He did noti tell the purchaser that the car was mortgaged. He intended to pay his ■ gambling debt, though he had an idcai that he could not get into' troulmo owing to the law on that point. Tie was of opinion that " thev just took him down.'' Tbo Official Assignee said he bad wired io Rotorua claiming a car seized by one Johnston there, and received a reply to the effect that tJio. L mortgage was perfectly regular, and I that no claim on the car was admitted. A Thf. Assignee was empowered to take ■ n'hat steps he thought necessary to proHk ieci the interests of the creditors, and Hk to realise the estate should it become. necessary.