MR. GEORGE NORTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 14 January 1881, Page 4

MR. GEORGE NORTH.

£ MEETING OF HIS CREDITORS

w~,-{- [Evening Post.] A meeh'njr.of the creditors of Mr. George *■ North was convened at tbe Chamber of Comuierce at 10 o'clock this morninc. About a dozen attended, and Mr; -Richardson ; .,(of .Wilson .and Richardson) was voted to the chair. Tho Chairman said it had been reportfid;that. North had disappeared, and he (Mr; Richardson) find two or three others thought it would be advisable to meet; and ventilate the question to see if he had really, gone, and what were the best steps to be taken if such were the case. There were all manner oi reports about — that he had sold his business, turned his assets into ready money, sud bad- cleared out. "Mr. H.l3!undell— The first thing to tlo will bo to establish the fact that he Las gone, therefore it has been sug gested you should examine this gentleman here (Mr. Weal), who was m charge of North's business. Mr. Henry Neal (m the employ of Mr. North)— l can give you my credit he has gone. He went away by the Hawea last Sunday week. "We had not tbe least idea he was going. He said a niontii ago he would take a trip up country, and when he went up country lib took a lot of books for the next £4000 sweep and a lofc of cards. His wife and family have gone. He brought me down from Napier with my wife and family, and I am stuck here, and want to know what I am to do. Mr, Blnndoll— How do you know he's gone ? Mr. Neal— l know how; that is quite enough for me. Everything was arranged between North and a relative. I happened to pump the latter yesterday, or 1 would not know what I do. It was reported North was on the mail steamer going to San Francisco, and it is a fuel. Tho Chairman — What had the relative tod) with it ? Mr. Neal— He came up as a " blind," to gainnion the " boss " wasn't gone. Tho Chairman — Did he Bay bo to you ?' Mr. Neal— Yes; that was what he was down for. . Mr B undell — He told you that was part of his programme? Mr. Nenl— Yee. The Chairman — Is that what you think merely. ? ■■ Mr. Neal— What I said is what I know, not what I think. The Chairman— Do you know any- j thing about the sale of the business ? Mr. Neal— lt is not sold at all ;. the only part of his property sold is his private house. The Chairman—Did he live on the premises? Mr. Neal — No; he goes out every summer just for a change. When I came here I took my wife and family there, and it cost me nothing for rent. Mr, Blundell — Had North a lease of the shop ?— Yes ; five years to run. The Chairman I—There1 — There was a report about that he had sold his business <o a person m Nelson for £800, and got the money. Mr. Blundell said they could not do anything till they knew what money North owed m town; and, to get at this, he thought claims against him Bhould be advertised forthwith. Mr. Chantrey Harris did not think they bad authority to do that ; the first thing to do would be to declare Mr. North a bankrupt Mr. T. J. Ladd thought the best thing to do was to take legal advice m the matter, they were working much m the da?k at present. Mr. Harris said , he had seen Mr. Stafford, solicitor, the previous evening who- said they ought to make North a bankrupt. Debts to tbe extent of £174 (inclusive of £105 on bills not yet 1 matured) were stated to be owing. After some futther discussion, Mr. T. J. Ladd proposed : that Messrs. H . Blundell and Nathan should tpke the advice of. Messrs, Stafford and Fitzherbert as to making Mr. North a bankrupt* and to report at a meeting to be held m the 'same place at the same hour to-morrow. . Messrs. Nathan and Blundell subse-quently-waited.upon Mr. Stafford, and it was arranged that he should attend the meeting to-jporr,ow, morning to ad-r vise the creditors as "to the best course to be taken; The following- is, a.cppyof a telegram received from Auckland this morning by Mr; Fdreman. who is at present m charge of the bairdressing establishment on Lambton Quay, from Mr W. Marshall, weil known m Wellington as having formerly tenanted the fruiterer's' shop adjoining Mr. North's premises, m response to the former's enquiry whether Mr. Marshall knew Jthe absentee's wbeieabouts and intentions: — "Saw North last Tuesday. Said be had sold out and was going by mail steamer to gan Francisco."