Palmerston District Court.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 84, 5 October 1895, Page 2

Palmerston District Court.

• Friday, 4th Octobbb. (Before His Honor Judge Kettle). Be Wm. Goodwin, senr., bankrupt.— : The evidence of the bankrupt showed that part of the property given assecurity to Mr Allan was that of his wife's and that he handed over some of his horses and drays to his men in lieu of wages. Witness usually paid bis men by cheque ; in regard to hiß sons he paid them in cash whenever they wanted a pound or two. While on contract work the sons were paid at the rate of Bs, 7s and 5s per day respectively. The property was given. them for work on witnesß* carrying bos* inesß about two years before, the date of bankruptcy. In November last witness '■ met "with a very severe accident, being run over by a load of gravel. The trans* fers were then effected as it was thought witness would die. Witness was quite solvent at the time and did not contemplate bankruptcy. Witness expected to make L2OO out of the contract on which he was injured, but several slips occurred and the contract turned out badly. Since the accident witness had not been able to do any work and his sons were contracting on their own account. A. H. Tompkins haying given evidence, debtor was examined at length, and ex» amination adjourned. On the application of Mr Lines, on behalf of Mr Reade, the hearing of Dougald Henderson's application for discharge was adjourned till the December sitting. Re Adolph Goldfinch— application for discharge— Mr Hankins, on behalf of the D.0.A., opposed the application, as also did Mr S. Palmer, one of the creditors. Mr Haukin's objection was that the debtor had kept no books of account, and had been in the habit of speculating rashly. Debtor was examined by Mr Hankins at some length. Mr S. Palmer, storekeeper, objected to the discharge on the ground that' bankrupt had acted in a shameful manner, speculating rashly, and involving himself deeply. The largest creditor in the estate was secured and the remainder bad received a dividend of 9Jd . in the £. The debtor said his bankruptcy was due to misfortune, and with the exception of Mr Palmer the creditors were satisfied with the settlement. In reply to His Honor in reference to the security given to the M.F.C.A., Gold-, finch said he did not give security to any other creditors as it was not asked for. His Honor said that was no excuse. Debtor should not have given such a security when he knew himself to be in . debt with so many other people. ■ The case was then adjourned till the next sitting in order that the evidence of the bankrupt's wife and brother-in-law might be procured in reference, to ' Freeman R. Jackson's bill.— Standard.