“AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5452, 17 September 1878, Page 3

“AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?”

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TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. , Sill, —Silence gives consent. Some months since, when I communicated with Mr. Krull through a solicitor, Mr. Krull showed himself de-irons of “getting behind somebody.” He deposited, not the money, but his cheque with the company, then judiciously stowed himself away in rear of said company. It is true he upon one occasion came forward and challenged my little friends to meet him in a Court of Law; but now that I have myself challenged Mr.* Krull to meet me at the bar of public opinion he again becomes desirous of “getting behind somebody.” He judiciously bestows himself in the protecting arms and embrace of kindly old Mother Prudence,‘with sweetly pretty Miss Silence, Krull—Krull and Co. —F. Aug. Krull, Esq.,—Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, and Constdar Agent for the great Imperial power of Germany. Tenahoe. To show, sir, the necessity for a change in the law. of insurance, I may state what passed between a barrister of the Supreme Court and myself upon one occasion. Mr. W. T. L. Travers, who. dearly loves a joke, will, lam sure, pardon me. As Mr. Travel’s was solicitor to our little estate I waited upon him, and asked if he was solicitor to Krull and Co. He said he was. Ho asked ra a a few questions. “That puts it in a different light,” he said “It appears Krull had no insurable interest. Had Langley received the money and paid it into his estate it would -have been all right. Of course money is not earmarked,” Money not' ear-marked ! Noble idea, Mr. W. T. L. Travers, late M.H.H., an Esq., a highly refined and educated English gentleman, a philosopher, a Supreme Court barrister, and a possible coming Judge ! Money not ear-marked I (My little friends would like so much to car-mark Mr. Supreme Court barrister Travers. I would myself supply the necessary implement, merely suggesting caution with whispered me man crua am -h'/tua.) -.Money uot ear-marked ! I respectfully submit that all moneys that may be paid on account of a policy of insurance effected by one man on the property of another, such insurer having an insurable interest in such property from whatever reason, ought to bo held in law simply as trust money, such moneys to be expended in restoring the property burnt down, or such moneys to bo handed over to the owner, and any man otherwise disposing of such moneys ought-to be dealt with summarily, as other similar honest folk are dealt with ; and all persons aiding and abetting such insurers in so otherwise disposing of such trust moneys should bo sent, to hold them communion sweet. % How now find we this little matter ? A small and poor estate, the majority of the heirs young children, has, through a fire, lost a house, whilst through tho instrumentality of the same fire-the payment of a small premium, and tho moneys of a loudlyproclaimed insurance company, certain persons calling themselves Christian gentlemen have become, enriched to tho extent and tune of £2OO, and this hero in Wellington. Oh, Wellington," Wellington, tho capital of New Zealand, thou glorious commercial centre and exemplary empire city, how art thou fallen !

Vedly-the pakchv are agrand people, a noble people, with tbeir unlimited experience and talent for thy framing'of wiie and beneficial laws, their imV.itiful r-iV'wenoo for their sweetly pretty and lovely submission to those *ame laws—with tlieir Great Powers, their mighty navies, and grand armies, their IStnperors. and Empresses, their Kings and Queens, their Congresses, Parliaments, and Governors ; tbeir M.P.'s, M.L.C.’s, and M.H.U.’a; then-Supreme Courts and Supreme Judges ; tbeir little J. P.’s, O.M.G.’s, and K.C.B.’s ; their extensive, still extending, with Chambers of Commerce, and here to be trotting about with a judiciously melted-dowri little house in their pockets, the property of, y© gods, poor little helpless, Maori infants. Verily a noble people. Might I here suggest to the statesmen and legislators ‘of "New Zealand in Parliament assembled, that next time any of them may chance to race’; a Maori baby, let them take a good look at its sweet little face.' To Mr. Boardraan, agent of the South British Insurance Company, I am desirous of “ talking like a father.” Let him at all times bear in mind that he fills a responsible and an honorable position, and wbeu at any future time he may be applied to by the trustees of the orphan or the widow, whose property may have been wrongfully insured, by his own mistaken act, through his having been misinformed and misled, and the moneys paid to the wrong parties, Jet him eschew as pendcioua taking sides with the wrongdoer ; let him at all times think and act like a true gentlemm; let him higher, truly, and impartially, hold the scales between the owners of the property insured and lost on the one hand, and the good wishes of the really well-intentioned shareholders in his company on the other. I would also desire, iu spirit truly kindly, Christian, and parental, to suggest to Mr. Krull, of the- wealthy mercantile firm of Krull and Co., that next time he may find himself on bended knee, with purpose and intention of invoking a blessing upon his family, himself, his binsiuess, and belongings let him think of my poor little clients, of* their little house that was, but is not, their dear bare little feet, the £2OO lying judiciously ensconced with interest in some snug little corner, the strauge declaration ve “the amount of our loss”; lastly, the picture of Lazarus and the rich man after the adjournment—rc “ but now he is,” &c., il and thou <tvt tormented” Then let him rise, stricken and trembling, and cry with the jailor of old, “ What must I do,'” &c.; then pent him with unresting speed to Hobson-street; and there again, trembling, on bended penitent kuee, let him deposit his necessary cheque, with the interest or otherwise. I may not proceed; the subject is now becoming altogether 100 painful. Is there no redress, no remedy, for this sort of thing in this Chi istian land ? Is it all for these little people with others who may hereafter be similarly placed to trot about bewailing their loss crying “ Woe is me !” X am myself powerless, 'though sworn duly to administer this estate; we have no fund-, and if we go to law I with my little people will bo cast in heavy costs. Are there no good Samaritans, no kindly ministers, native or otherwise, who will talcejthis matter up ? TE nothing can be done in-this case, surely the law might be so altered aud amended as to have that attached to it that may render unprofitable such extraordinary dealing with household property in the future.—l am, &cr, Thomas C. Williams.