Some Light on Past Tranactions.

Manawatu Herald, 16 February 1897, Page 3

Some Light on Past Tranactions.

• : In the course of bit examination ' in bankruptcy the other day, Mr J. G. Campbell said Messrs Torapsitt and Mcßeatb offered him £125 towards the cost of removing the Manakau Hotel to Wereroa, but owing to dissolution oi partnership the offer was withdrawn. Mr Bar- 1 tholomew then agreed to provide all ' timber to ereot a house at Wereroa and wait fire years for his money. After debtor's application for removal to Wtreroa was saoosssful, and the hotel was erected, the mortgagees just on the eve of the general election, when he was unable to go into the money market until after the vote j on the licensing question was de- ; cided. Thu3 his properties valued at £4000 were forced into the market just at a time when hotel property was at a low value, and they only realised £1610. Mr Bartholomew placed a great value on debtor's ! hotel site, as he wanted £1500 for a I quarter-acre of land which he con. J sidered to be the best site in the colony for an hotel. Bartholomew Mid he was paying his employees i close oo £600 per month, Prouse i Bros, paid £800, and the State Farm another £250, and debtor could de penct OH getting at lea & 10 per oent. ' out of tb«t. Barthol •m-w also said ha wool* as* his influent to obtain a post and telegraph office, courttaooMi and railway-iution just oppo-

site the house. The site would also be the terminus of the Levin-Great-ford railway, and a racecourse would also be formed at the back of the hotel. Unfortunately for debtor none of Mr Bartholomew's schemes were carried out, and debtor was left saddled with a large hotel. There was nothing like the money spent in the place as was represented to him, and the takings were barely sufficient to pay hia way. — Standard.