THE BANKPUPTCY OF PATRICK LYONS.

Mataura Ensign, Volume VI, Issue 257, 22 May 1883, Page 2

THE BANKPUPTCY OF PATRICK LYONS.

♦ STOEMY CREDITORS' MEETING. A largely attended meeting of creditors of Patrick Lyons of Riversdale, a bankrupt, was held at the Gore Courthouse, yesterday at 1 p.m. Punctually to time and before many 01 editors were present, Mr A. B. Tv» son was voted to .the chair, and after some preliminaries— during which the legality of the chairman's election was questioned, Mr Fletcher (representing Reid and Gray) pointed out that in all bankruptcies the Registrar of the Supreme Court held office as trustee until the appointment of one of the creditors. Now, the .Registrar was in lavercargill, and there were no papers before the meeting, the official he had named being iv possession of two very material documents, the statements of assets and liabilities, and without office c >pies of these the meeting could not proceed. He would move, That it bead* journed until the Registrar could attend personally or by his deputy. Mr A. Brown secon ded the motion, which was met by an amend* ment by Mr W. HendersoD, That the meeting do now proceed to the election of a trustee. This Mr Sioison Seconded, Considerable time was then taken up. in examiuing tie proofs of debb in order that ib might be ascertained who had a right to vote, sundry objections being raised by the legal gentlemen present, MrAldridge (representing the debtor) being most assiduous in his endeavors to upset the proofs. Ultimately, and not before one or two bloodless passages at arms, the chairman ruled that the meeting should adjovyn until Monday next, the majority in numbers of the creditors being favorable to that course, Then ensued an almost indescribale scene. Mr Tuson, still sitting iv the chair, took possession of all the proofs of debb, holding that these were the property of the Registrar until the appointment of a creditor*' trustee. Mr W. Henderson, however, disagreed with Mr Tuson, nnd ind'gaantly demanded the documents. In hia : demand he was vigorously backed up by Mr Simson, who declared thac Mr Tu9on was biassed ; that he should no!; leave the Court with the documents in bis possession ; that lie -would prosecute him for detaining documents nob his property ; and that he would hold another meeting and ap^ point a trustee, as ho did nob consider the motion for adjournment had been legally carried. Mr Simson also made an attempt to wresb the proofs of debts from the chairman by force ; but he was not successful, and Mr Tuson ultimately left' the Court under a threat of prosecution and bearing the documents wibh him. The majority of the creditors left with him, only Messrs Simson )and Henderson remaining. Mr Henderson took the chair, but it was of course impossible to proceed with any business, and the second •*' mesting " broke up. It may be mentioned that the principal creditors named at the meeting were ;— Alex. lirowD, £93 ; Bank of New Zealand, £3i ; Keid aud Gray, £77 ; B. Mansoa, £9 ; E,. Cleave, £15 ; Paisley aud Co. £U ; P. F. Monaghan. £16; W. Lewis, £5^ B. and N.Z. Mortgage and Agency Co., £93 ; Fraser j and McLeaa, £3 ; Jno. Mitchell, £21 ; Gregg and Stephenson, £9. No intimation v/s& made a§ % > the assets,