THE PATRICIAN “HORSE DEALER."

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 68, 24 March 1843, Page 4

THE PATRICIAN “HORSE DEALER."

THE BANKRUPTCY OF W. L. TOLLEMACHE, COMMONLY CALLED LORD HUNTINGTOWER. Court of Bankruptcy, Sept. 13. —(Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblauque.)—The bankrupt in this case is described as late of Keston-lodge and of Lock’s Bottom, in the county of Kent, and of Penton-lodge, near Andover, horse dealer and coach proprietorand the sitting held on Tuesday was for the choice of assignees and the proof of debts. His lordship appeared in court at the hour fixed, namely, 2 o’clock, for the commencement of business connected with his estate, and, though there was a numerous attendance of creditors, there seemed to be a much greater desire to gratify idle curiosity, as the court was crowded by persons who had nothing whatever to do with the proceedings. There may, however, be something in the fact that this is the first instance of the heir to a peerage seeking the benefit of the laws of insolvency in the character of a trader. His lordship, who, we understand, is held in the custody of the marshal of the Queen’s Bench, at the suit of several creditors, was, of course, attended to the court by a tipstaff. Just at the opening of the proceedings, the official assignee (Mr. Parnell) said, as no books or papers had been delivered up to him, he could not test the debts whieli might be submitted to the court. The list cf creditors, a paper furnished by his lordship, was all he had to guide him in the matters about to be brought Indore tire commissioner. Mr. Bodkin, the barrister, said he appeared there on behalf of certain creditors, to see that the estate was not improperly burdened with illegal claims. He believed many which had been contracted in the minority of his lordship would be put forward. To the admittance of these he should decidedly object. Mr. Nias, as solicitor to the fiat, should take great care that all claims were strictly enquired into. Mr. Wilkinson was the first creditor subjected to examination. His claim was 174/. for saddlery, a supply for nearly four years and a half. Mr. Bodkin : in all cases the court may take as a fact that the bankrupt was of age in 1841. Mr. Wilkinson : It was a supply of saddles, horse-clothing, Ac., from the year 1838 to the end of 1841. His lordship resided in Margaret-street, and also at Penton. In 1841, I think it was just after the death of the dowager Lady Dysart, I altered the armorial bearings on his lordship’s harness, Ac., to correspond with his elevated rank. In the whole of the goods supplied there was nothing extravagant, nor anything expensive. Mr. CommissionerFonblanque: This is a large amount, and it must stand over till assignees are chosen ; and in all cases accounts in detail must be furnished to guide investigation. The learned commissioner, in the course of some other preliminary proceeding respecting proofs, further said, he should require it to be stated in the forms how much of the amount claimed was for goods sold, and how much for money lent; and in cases where bills were brought forward, the actual consideration given for them. In the petitioning creditor’s proof, Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque said, it appeared that two of the bills set forth as securities were dated at the time of the bankrupt’s minority. Mr. Nias explained. Two bills, as alluded to, were in that posicion, but they were afterwards renewed for the same amount. He only produced those two bills to exhibit as securities of which they happened to have possession. Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque: His lordship’s name appears to these ; how was that ? Mr. Nias believed the dowager Lady Dysart died in November, 1840, and the name of Huntingtower attached to the bills would no doubt arise from some irregularity. Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque : I fear a great deal more than irregularity. The proof was about to be adjourned, when Mr. Nias, at the suggestion of the court, proceeded to examine his lordship as to when he first become acquainted with the fact of the death of the dowager Lady Dysart? Lord Huntingtower: Eitherinthe mouth of October or November, 1840. Mr. Nias : Did you ever use the signature of Huntingtower before that? Lord Huntingtower : I never used that signature before that date. Mr. Nias (producing the bill) : Is that your lordship’s handwriting? Lord Huntingtower : That is my handwriting, and is in the month of October. Mr. Nias : Has your lordship any doubt about having signed your name as Huntingtower before you heard of the death of the dowager ? Locd Huntingtower : I can swear I never signed my name as Hunttingtower until I was apprised of the death of the dowager Lady Dysart. Mr. Nias submitted that he had established all the court required to make his proof admissible. Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque said the bankrupt swore distinctly on the point; it must, therefore, be admitted. Mr. Nash now brought forward his claim for 284/. for drapery, for the years 1838, 1840, and 1841. He could not divide the amount, as he had not the detail of the several accounts with .him. Mr. Bodkin said it was clear part' of this claim was in the minority. Mr. Nias put it whether the amount would not be allowed. It was for linen, Ac., supplied for the necessaries of his lordship’s dwellings at Penton-lodge, and Crofton-cot-tage. —Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque could not allow it to be necessaries ; it must, therefore, stand over till after the choice of assignees for investigation.—After a pause, Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque said : With respect to all bills incurred for necessaries, &c., as they are termed, during the minority, except they are small amounts and within reasonable bounds, I shall decide against them.—A bill of 20/. 10s. 4d, was laid before his honour, and it was stated that it was for repairs of carriages. Surely that would he allowed ? Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque : What! as a necessary ? Carriages are not necessary for a minor; it must stand over. (Laughter.)—A claim for 22/. 15s. 6d., for a bedstead ahd some other articles of furniture supplied to Croftoncottoge, was allowed to pass. The item of hats came next. In Respect to a supply of these, Mr. Hook claimed 1840 to the middle of 1841. He 1 held aS, security aYfill,of exchange for 50/. 195., given in part payment?—;Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque : That won’t do; it must stand over.—Claims for corn, and for a similar Sum, fqr the hire of horses connected with his lordship’s trading establishment as a posttoaster, were also rejected for the present on similar grounds to those before mentioned. Mr. Ackerman’s claim of 10/. 4s. lldv for wine was ikvourably considered; It was inquired if there were any Other wine-merchants present who claimed

for a supply, as upon this would mainly depend whether the habit of the bankrupt in this respect was reasonable, (Laughter.) No answer was given, and the claim was. therefore, admitted. A claim of Mr. Butler of 493/ 14s. 9d., for the erection of stabling for the business of postmaster, was also ordered to stand over, Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque observing that, whether these were ordinary charges or not, trading could not be considered necessary for a minor. Several other claims for supplies of provisions, and other articles from taverns, to the servants of his lordship, and also for the delivery of the same description of goods at his residences, both at Keston and Crofton-cottage, were put forward, but all ordered to stand over on the objection of minority. Mr. Bodkin : This is a bill, your honor, to which I can see no reasonable objection, and it was also incurred since his lordship’s majority. It is for certain expenses entailed at the election. Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque : They are not always the clearest cases. (Laughter.) Mr. Bodkin : It must be admitted occasions have happened where parties were not over scrupulous. Allowed. Mr. Bodkin : Here is another case in which lam not authorised to raise an objection. The debt was incurred at majority, and is for the repairs done to a yacht. Allowed. Against a claim tendered by Mr. Counts, matured in a judgment by default, Mr. Nias contended that the court had the power to re-open the case, and ascertain the consideration given for the debt. A warrant of attorney which had been given by his lordship to the claimant was produced, and here the question was dismissed, and the proof allowed. Proofs having now been taken for nearly two hours, Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque said : What assignees are proposed ? Mr. Bodkin applied for a postponement of the choice. Very few debts had been allowed, and he thought it desirable that further time should he given for creditors to come forward. Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque would, of course, grant an adjournment if sufficient reasons were shown; but without they were strong it was not the practice of the court to allow them. Did Mr. Bodkin mean to say that any creditors had lost their voice in the choice by absence ? Mr. Bodkin was prepared to say, that there were large bond fide debts yet provable, which would come in on a future day. After some further conversation, Mr. Nias proposed Mr. John Gibbons, of Hatton-garden, gentleman, the petitioning creditor, as assignee, and as no further opposition was raised, the court agreed to the appointment. During the proceedings not the least allusion was made to the amount of his lordship’s debts or liabilities, nor could we ascertain at the rising of the court the total amount of debts proved during the day. His lordship, when the case had concluded, left in the company of several friends.

Trotting Match. —An extraordinary trotting match against time came off in the neighbourhood of Taunton, on the Exeter-road, on Friday, September 2nd. Mr. John Hex backed his pony, the Maid of the Moor, 12 hands high, to trot 14 miles within the hour, carrying 9st 41b ; 6to 4 was bet on time. Some hundreds were present to witness the unparalleled performance. To the surprise of the spectators, the little animal performed its arduous task with perfect ease one minute under the time, and carrying 21bs over weight, without once attempting to break. She was admirably ridden by Mr. F. Allebone. Mr. John Hex is open to back the same pony against any 12-liand pony in England for 15 or 20 miles, carrying the same weight, to come off within one month.

Slugs and Clubbing in Cabbages. —Some inquiries having lately been made respecting the best method of getting rid of slugs, and also the cause of clubbing in the cabbage tribe, I beg to give the following as my experience on those subjects. When I went to the Duke of Portland as gardener, in 1832, I found that I could not grow any crops of the cabbage tribe that were fit to appear at table; every thing of the kind being eaten at the roots by a white maggot, and the ground being overrun with slugs as well. I, however, soon destroyed grubs of all sorts by the application of burnt clay, the refuse of a timber-yard, or any rubbish near at hand. As soon as the litter was sufficiently burnt to ashes, and cooled so as not to burn the barrows, I had it laid over the cleared ground, from an inch to two inches thick, immediately after lightly pointing it in, and then put in my crops. There was no appearance of clubbing afterwards, and the roots were perfectly clean, and the crops were as fine and luxuriant as any one could desire. The soil, which before was cloggy, soon became so mellow as to astonish workmen who had been there for years. The burnt material had all the good properties of our magnesian lime, without any of its bad ones. By the application of recent-slaked magnesian lime, sown at night, while all the slugs were abroad, f soon exterminated them. But the best and neatest method is to have a tank, in proportion to the extent of the ground requiring its application ; to throw water over the lime in such a quantity as to render it, when settled, clear and caustic; stir all well together, and in a few hours it will be sufficiently clear ; and then it should be drawn or laded off for use into another vessel; in the course of the day lay slates, tiles, boards, or large leaves of any kind, over the ground where the slugs or worms frequent, and on the following morning let one man turn over the slug and worm traps, whilst another person, with a small pot, sprinkles the limewater over the slugs as the traps are turned up, and in a short time they will all be as dead as if boiling water had been thrown over them. To the discerning horticulturist it is well known there are two separate sallies of slugs during' the night; One comes out in the evening, and another towards the morning. Those who are desirous of destroying the whole as soon as possible,,must have recourse to the quicklime system, and choose, a calm night for the pur-, pose; let. the lime be the ground

about nine or ten o’clock at night, and again between three and four in the morning. It onlv requires a slight sprinkling to destroy the slugs, which will be found dead next day in all directions, where there is not the least appearance of the finest dust having fallen. If it is to be effectually done, not a nook should escape the hand and eye of the operator; and, if so, no galvanic batteries are needful. —John Mear ns F.H.S., in the Gardener's Chronicle.

(From the Auckland ' Times.J Subterranean Passage at Epsom near Auckland. —We have heard a good deal of this place, and resolved when opportunity offered to pay it a visit, for the purpose of giving to the best of our ability a description of its peculiarities, in the hope of inducing the good people of Auckland to look about them a little instead of confining the exercise of their optics—as too many do—to a perpetual survey of the flag staff. On Friday last our holiday came off, and being favored with the company of a friend or two, we walked to the Prince Albert Inn, where we enlisted the land services of Mr. De Philipsthal as a guide, and on our way passing through the estate of George Cooper, Esq., we were lucky enough to encounter Mr. Clare, the miner and well sinker, who joined our party, carrying with him a Davy’s safety-lamp. The entrances to the cavern (for there are two) are nearly concealed by Tupakahi scrub, and lead immediately to a kind of circular vestibule, in the walls of which, so to speak, as the sight is reconciled to the sudden darkness of the place, various fissures will be discovered. We turned our attention, as instructed, to one upon the right—a small arched opening about three feet high, gradually lessening in dimensions till it is barely large enough to admit the passage of a person in an absolutely crawling posture over the surface of rough scoria ; when the head emerges from this place there is a sudden descent of about fifteen feet, having made which the adventurer will find himself in a large cave again, branching out in various directions. These avenues are of unequal extent some extending perhaps as far as fifty yards, others less than so many feet —frequently ten or twelve feet high, but more often not above three or four. The root, sides, and bottom are composed of rough scoria, with this remarkable circumstance, that in almost every passage, large or small, the roof is singularly perfect in form of the semi-circular arch. Generally speaking, there is little moisture in the place, hut here and there water is dripping from above, and where that is the case stalactites are rapidly forming. With exception of the regular avenues, there is nothing striking to the eye of the general observer: the place seems to consist of rude heaps of very sharp rough scoria, upon which it is necessary to be very careful of one’s footsteps. In the entrance of the cave there are several piles of human bones; hut xve did not observe any indication of the Aborigines having had the courage or the curiosity to penetrate beyond—except indeed that at the very extremity of one of the deepest, passages we found one solitary skull—no doubt carried there by some explorer like ourselves, and dropped because of the trouble of taking it further. In one of the deepest recesses, after crawling upon our hands and knees for a considerable distance, we came to a spacious cave twelve to fifteen feet high, from the roof of which, through crevices in the scoria, were dependent like bell-ropes the long white fibrous roots of some plant, which we intended to examine, but in the difficulties of the exit we forgot the specimens. We saw but little variety in the general deposit of scoria beneath our feet; we brought away one very curious exception in a large piece resembling white coral. There were no symptoms of animal existence either to alarm or interest our party. At the bottom of one of the most difficult of the avenues we found a card suspended, dated 22d January, containing the names of Henry Macfarlane, the brothers Derrom, and several others of our townsmen. Upon the whole we were much gratified, and think the place well worthy a future visit. The air was pure and free in every part. Visitors must be well provided—as we were —with candles or torches, be very stoutly shod, and in a condition to be careless of their apparel. We do not think that at any time we were more than from twenty to twenty five feet below the external surface. We have often noticed, when walking upon the nearly level ground at the feet of Mount Hobson, Eden, &c., the hollow sound that answers to the foot-ball, and have little doubt but that these subterranean cavities are common.

Upon this excursion we were, confirmed in our opinion of the generally excellent quality of the valley land among these mountain ranges; but we noticed that some of the small allotments marked out were nothing better than perfectly impracticable scoria. The fern grows tall and green between the blocks, and clothes them, with an appearance of luxuriance, but it is next to impossible even to walk over the land, much less to put it to any practical seivice. The stock we saw in the neighbourhood were in very fine condition; they feed entirely upon the spontaneous herbage.