PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 28 January 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answers thereto, are invited on Farming, Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed. TRUSTEE MYSTERIES. I am one of those unfortunates who has an interest in ncarty every bankruptcy in Patea for some long time past. lam a creditor, in four estates that I know were put into the hands of official trustees. One trustee died lately, and loft mo lamenting ; for not a penny has turned up out of the estates of which lie was official trustee. lam not much bettor off whether the trustee lives or whether he dies. I am waiting now month after month expecting to hear that a dividend is to be paid out of estates which have been in course of winding up a long time. The official trustee has neither reported what he has done, nor has he done anything towards paying to creditors the money he lias been receiving out of those estates. I was sorry when the District Judge did not turn up at flic last Court in Patea, for I expected to hear something said on the way these bankrupt estates arc managed by official trustees. I am determined to have my whack out of the assets which I know arc realised ; and if I don’t get it before the District Judge comes again, I will know the reason why, and in open Court too. Long-suffering Creditor. Note.—The present system of official trusteeship is a grievous mistake. No person should be appointed official trustee in bankruptcy unless he give security to a reasonable extent; and be should be required to report to the Judge of the District Court, say at each quarterly sitting, the course taken up to date in realising and distributing each estate. The present loose system of irresponsible administration has become a grievance in this district. It is to be hoped the above complaining creditor will press for a statement in each of the cases mentioned.— Ed. Maid.