BANKRUPT PASTRYCOOK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 987, 30 November 1910, Page 3

BANKRUPT PASTRYCOOK.

A meeting of the creditors of John Hardio-Murdoch, pastrycook, of Napier-, which was called by the Official Assignee for yesterday morning, lapsed for want of a quorum. It appeared that the amount owing to unsecured creditors was £317 16s: 3d,- Furniture, £22 7s. 6d., -was the only asset, the deficiency being £295 Bs. 9d. The' bankrupt, in his written statement, said that in March last,, together with Edwin Albert Robertson, he purchased tho pastrycook's business of William Noad, Cuba Street, Wellington, for £S7O. They paid £600 in cash, and gavo a promissory note for tho balance and interest. They also-provided £50 for tho business. Bankrupt contributed £100 of the cash and Robertson the remainder, but in order to equalise matters- between them, bankrupt borrowed from Mrs. Robertson tho deficiency of his share, and gave her . a document, promising to pay £2-50 in four years, with interest at 3 J- per cent., his share in the business to bo charged with tho amount. , After carrying on business for some months the .partners found themselves in difficulties. They therefore called their creditors to- J gether, and assigned their joint estato to Messrs. H. A. Gold and J. L. Arcus, for tho benefit of their joint creditors. Ho understood that tho trustees wero still carrying on . the business, in the hope of selling it as a going concern. It was thought there would he a "surplus after paying tho creditors of tho business' in full, but ho had not. put down any amount in this respect as an asset. ■ Mrs. Robertson had expressed her intention of holding him to his liability to her for the loan, and had demanded the interest due. This (bankrupt further stated) was 'his only liability, except legal costs incurred in disputes with Robertson, and £52 10s. owing to a friend, Mr. H. M'Lcau, of Christcliurch,. money lent by him. Bankrupt was at present employed as a pastrycook at wages' by Mr. A. Youngson, of-Napier, and the books were in .the hands of Messrs. Gold and Arcus. He had personally had nothing to do with.tho books, his work being entirely in tho bakehouse.: . •