A LABOURER'S DIFFICULTIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 960, 29 October 1910, Page 9

A LABOURER'S DIFFICULTIES.

ESTATE OF NEIL WM. BREEN.

, Tho adjourned meeting. of creditors iu the bankrupt' estate of Neil Win'. Brecn, labourer, of Yuaimii-o-mata, was held before the Official Assignee . (Mr. A. . Simpson) yesterday afternoon.' iTha"'' bankrupt - was. represented' by . Mr.'-.1%; W; Jackson (Wilford'. 1 and' Levi)'. ."/'The; statement of assets and liabilities, has already been published. ' The assignee, commenting uponthe condition of; the. estate, remarked,,tlia};. 1 , tho bankrupt's affairs, appeared-:-.to 'be in a very unsatisfactory position.. So far as lie eoukl-seo, the creditors would be 110 better , off even if 1 the bankrupt's v wife'abandoned her interest .in the estate. '' ". ' '- V' ■'■ 'V

The bankrupt -intimated that his wife was quite prepared'to abandon lie'r iii- . terest for. the benefit-of, the creditors'.''

The assignee then asked for tho.bankrupt's statement, which was not forthcoming. The bankrupt : stated tliat lie' had sent it in to Messrs. Wilford and Levi. -.'.Mr.' Jackson -.'admitted'' thatf it had not been mado 'out, and after brief retirement. tho bankrupt and his solicitor reappeared with tho necessary, statement and the meeting proceeded. '. According to the bankrupt's stater ment tho insolvency had been mainly due to his lack of employment. Ho-had. bought a Section ofjand at the Hutt some three years ago for £100, depositing £50 cash, and built a house for £270, advanced by the Government. Ho also borrowed £50 from Mr. Michael Micauley. /Subsequently he was out of work, and illness in the family addedt6 his difficulties. He was now- em-; ployed by the Hutt County Council: at «s. per day.

Tho, assignee remarked that" all that; seemed to be available.for the creditors was a sum of about £25, the amount, of tho. bankrupt's expectations from .Ilia father's estate.. . . ■■■ -

Mr. Jackson understood that Messrs;' Bunny and Ayson had collected certain amounts under instructions from the bankrupt to pay half on account of tho creditors.

. Mr.. Ayson, representing Mr., Michael Macauley, of Lower Hutt, explained the bankrupt had defaulted' in respect of a second, mortgage, .and they , had ■entered into; poiscssiou in their client's' interest. ' Certain, amounts totalling £6 odd had been collected and held by liis firm.

■ After further discussion it was decided to allow the bankrupt to retain a bicycle which he had partly paid for ; on condition that he made a payment ot £3 on it. The assignee intimated that in the meantimo lie would make further inquiries _ with regard to tho legacy of £25 coming to the bankrupt from his father's estate. The meeting then ad' jouraed.