THE LATE FIRE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1148, 19 December 1879, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

TO THE EDITOK OF THE OAMAKTJ MAIL. Sir,—Mr. Russell stated in evidence yesterday that the Union IBank refused to let Messrs. Hodge and J ones have the stock of his bankrupt estate. Russell knows this to be untrue. The facts are these :—Mr. Markhara held a bill of sale over the stock. He offered it to us for the sum of LIOO. We told him that we did not require it, but, on his pressing the matter, we at last told him to otherwise dispose of it if he could, and that if he could not do so, we would take it. We subsequently purchased it at the price mentioned, and waited upon Russell to endeavor to get him to re-purchase it, telling him that we did not wish to deprive him of it. He thanked us, and offered us a cheque for LlO for our trouble, which we reluctantly accepted, after having told him that we did not expect any compensation. The cheque, as the evidence shows, was valueless. Mr. Greenfield afterwards paid us LIOO on behalf of Russell for the purchase of the stock. Russell's statement that the bank refused to let us have the stock is capable of an interpretation that might cause injury to a business man who values his reputation. There is not a shadow of truth in what lie stated, and we only regret that our evidence and that of others who are in possession of important facts in connection with liis case was not taken, when it might have been clearly proved to the public that our word is worth more than that of Russell's. By inserting this you will greatly oblige—Yours, &c., Hodge and Jones.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMARU MAIL.)

Sir,—As the liability of seizure for rent of any grain deposited in stores has been proved, it has caused us farmers some little uneasiness. I would suggest that the Harbor Board, being the ground landlords of most of the stores, should allow their clerk to give information to such as apply as to whether the rent has been paid or not. This would relieve the minus of a good many that store grain upon Harbor Board property. Yours, &c., J. D. Awamoko, December 19, 1879. [The clerk of the Harbor Board could not supply such information. Such a course would seriously affect the value of the Board's properties.—Ed. O.M.]