DISTRICT COURT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 184, 17 August 1871, Page 5

DISTRICT COURT.

(Before His Honour Judge Grey.) Tuesday, 15th August.

IN BANKRUPTCY. In the matter of Donald and Hugh Clark. — Mr. Copland appeared for bankrupts, and applied for their final order, Mr. Hayes for Provisional Trustee. His Honour remarked that £180 appeared a very large stun for expenses in the estate. ' j Mr. Hayes explained that arrears of. rent had to be paid, also two bailiffe in possession, law expense^ trouble of mustering cattle, &c. * •Donald. Clark was subjected tio a long examination by Mr. Hayes relative to the claim of bankrupt's.. daughter for £95! His Honour adjourned the examination for two months, and remarked that 'the claim by'bankrupt's daughter appeared a family claim . His Honour considered th c expenses incurred in winding up quite incommensurate with the value of . the • estate. ' • In .the matter of Grant and Puller, bankrupts.- Mr Gooday appeared fpr Provisional" Trustee. Mr. Copland, in the absence of Mr. M'Coy, Avho was detained "at Tapanui on business, appeared for" the bankrupts. ! . John Grant, examined by Mr. Gooday —We sold the slaughter yard at Switzers .to .Battista on the 13th 'May. We £led on the 15th May. Ido not consider Aye sold the yard, pigs, horses, &c., for less than their value, I do not recollect I boasting to any one in LaAvrence that I

intpnded doing. Macdonald and Chapman out of their money. Battista pushed us for a settlement of his account. We bought two saddles on the '-3th. I havo not handed them over to the Trustee. We have received £109 since we filed. We paid £15 to Mr. M'Coy ; the rest has gone for our expenses to Lawrence four times. I had about £750 when we commenced business ; I have lost it all in this business.

W. Puller, examined by Mr. Gooday — We made up our minds to file on the 13th May. The chesnut horse I handed to Skene is the one I claim from the estate.

By Mr. Copland — I have not been anxious to assist the Trustee to Avind up the estate. The Trustee has left us pennyless. We are mining for a livelihood. We have no power over the pigs, &c, sold to Battista. When we commenced business we bought 100 head of cattle. They were paid for eighteen months ago.

His Honour remarked that there appeared to be a prevalent opinion that bankrupts could, as it were, pitch their estate into the gutter, leaving it to the Trustee to do the best he could with it. As a. piuge in bankruptcy, he would not be doing his duty if he did not mark his sense of the bankrupts' treatment of the Trustee in this estate. Such conduct could not be countenanced. He should therefore suspend their certificate for six months.