MEETING OF CREDITORS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10180, 4 March 1911, Page 5

MEETING OF CREDITORS.

ESTATE OF LEONARD J, HOOPER.

A meeting cf creditors m the estate of Leonard J. Hooper, draper, of Mastertonj bankrupt, was held in the office of the Official 'Assignee, Wellington, on Friday morning. Mr W. B. Chennells, D.0.A., presided. The statement of assets and* lia-: bilities, as already published in the Age, was put in. The bankrupt put in the following written statement: —"After having been in business for some time with Mr G. W. Schrod'er in Masterton as drapers and clothiers, I started business in the same place, and in the same line, in 1880, with a capital of £7OO. Since that time I have put in about £I2OO outside the business from family estate and sales of property, in addition to money lent by my brother and .-wife. The business was successful until 1893, when I went into the grocery business in adjoining premises. That was not a success, and brought me to renewing my bills,, which pre-! viously I had had little difficulty ill meeting. The consequent interest and embarrassment has continued ever since. Recently the depression has become greater, owing to varied causes, and my credit being curtailed and pressure being brought to bear upon me, T was compelled to file. I tried to sell the premises as a going concern, without suc'cessi, although t had hopes of, !q|oing so up to the time of bankI was quite willing to go on; and had every, consideration from the merchants, \ but proceed ings" by the. manager of .the .Bank, of Australasia at.' Masterton, as trustee for J. Payton, deseased, shut, me up. I have lost all my >'. money; and oyer, thirty years' .work, without any fault on my part." The matter, of the disposal of the stock was left in the hands of the, D.O. A., who stated that there, wasa prospect of'; a -i airly good offer ■.being, mad© by bankrupt's brother. Mr-Chennells stated that, several small payments, appeared to. have, been made of a preferential character.'- : '•' ..;,. ~ ■','....,-..;. . •.;■'.' -.- The bankrupt, under,, examination, stated that when he.'' >as pressed by the Wairarapa Daily Times, certain other Masterton ere-; ditors pressed him, and he had paid several small accounts. > • The creditors did not think, the ! matter of sufficient importance 'to , take action'. ; " - .Mr R. W. Robson explained that' Mr Graham, manager of \the Bank of Australasia, had taken action a® /a trustee in the estate, of MirPayitoii. ' ' ••. ■'■/' .• ..:',; ; 'The irieeting decided that an allowance be made from the . estate to the bankrupt's two daughters,. It was also decided that Mrs Hooper be allowed to retain the furniture. The Deputy Official Assignee stated that, in his opinion, there was no equity, in the Nelson property. ' < ] The question of investigating the books was left with the and the meeting adjourned ! sine die.