MEETING OF MR P. C. FRASI'S CREDITORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1239, 25 November 1882, Page 2

MEETING OF MR P. C. FRASI'S CREDITORS.

An unusually largo number of creditors attended the meeting called by the above • bankrupt yesterday afternoon. Mr Beard : who appeared as proxy for Naera and Whatakorari, moved that Mr Bish tnko the chair, seconded by Mr Eapp and earned. • Mr Beard then moved, and Mr Warnock seconded that Mr Rapp bo appointedcreditois' trustee. Carried. The schodulo of liabilities was then read, which showed debts to store-keepers, butchers, bakers, chomUts, prititersj publicans, blacksmiths, carriers, tobacconists, laborers, agents, stablemen, waiters, merchants, engineers, tailors, brewers, sailniakers, and upholsterers, ainounting'x to a total of £1383, There were also said to be Beveral amounts not included in the. list. The assets wero sot dawn at £299 . 3s 7daud comprised—section of land at' Auckland valued at £UQ, horse, bridle, and.Middle 119 10s, furniture- about JI4O duo from Mr Grace on account of survey, and sundry small debts, The heaviest cioditor was Mr Krull, i-958. ' Mr Rapp asked what this item was for. ' Mr Beard-I would ask the District Clerk to have Mr Frasi put on his oath. i Mr. Skipper-Mr Frasi is quite willing to be sworn, but you need not put it that way,

Mr Beard—l don't know any other way. I wish Mr Frasi sworn. The debtor was sworn, and thoquestion repoatod.

Mr Fraai—■ The itom is for goods supplied to self and nien when I had a large government contract. The debt was' originally £I2OO which I owed to Mr Blyth, who kept the Empire Store. 1 transferred it to Mr Krull when ha took the Store over. Krull drow all the money oii'lho survey, I received no money on account of that survey except through Krull. £3OOO was paid for it, but Krull ! & Co. Had received .that as the account showed. I have iwt,roceived any account since January 1881. I have boeu in business lis a surveyor for a long timo, and invariably do business through storekeepers in this way. Tho survey in question waß a dead loss. Mr Beard—How much did you receive altogether on this contract! Mr Frasi—l conld not say, Mr Bisli—You certainly ought to bo able to say.

Mr Beard—You havo undertaken private survoys I suppose as well as Government ones ? ;Mr Frasi—A few. ■ Mr Beard-How much have you been paid for these? Mr Frasi—l dont know, Mr Beard-Do you keep books ? Mr Frasi—l keep two books, but very imperfecsly. .Mr B«ard—Have you nothing to show how much money you have received ? Mr Frasi—The best reforonce would be the cheque book of those who paid me. Mr Beard—Have'you those with you 1 Mr Frasi—Of course not. Mr Beard—Can you toll your creditors how much money you have recoived in the last year or so? Mr Frasi—l can during the last two ■ yoara. I have finished a contract for Mr Cooper for which I have received about £SOO, and one for Mr Grace for which I have received about £l2O, That is all except £1 or £2 received here and there I have received £2O deposit on the piece.'.;;; of land. Mr Beard—Have you any balance coming to you from Mr Cooper. : Mr Frasi-No. Mr Beard—Did you not say that you had £3OO coming from him ?.:''.. 'Mr Frasi—l thought I had before the Land Court. Then Mackay cut my charges down and loft £IOO. About a '■' week and a half ago I found I had none ; coming. ■ ' k ~ Mr Beard—Did you go into figures with '7\ Mr Cooper to see what you had coming?. | Mr Frasi—No, I have not gone into fionres, only very roughly. I knew jußfc . ; before the Court I had £2OO to come, and then after I thought I had £IOO. J have spent the £soo"in paying for stores aud' - wages. Mr Warnock—You have not paid wages or they would not appear «n the schedule, ■ Mr Fraai—l would like to say that that man threatened to " go"for me if : I did hot pay him, . '•..'..■ . • f ',<;•'. Mr Eapp-Who did you pay the £SOO to? '■•■';•'" . /\' :: V \: '■■■'■

Mr Frasi—l can only tell this from Mr Cooper's cheque book. :Mr Beard-Mr Cooper's chequebook Ix'|. Can you not inform your oreditors your- H self what you havedone with the'money! : ' .. Mr Frasi—l can'feitill I cati ee't a sti(6-_ '..: m.entof my .'account with Mr ■'. " .'Mr Beard—When did you first contera-; ■'"■■ plate filing];; ..■';; Mr Fraai—When I heard that twd

aummoiisps. . , ,\. consulted me and 'I "advised" Iriiifiii fife' ( Mrßeaid—Thenhehaabceiiknowitiwly insolvent ipr the ; past.-,two .yonrs,-.'and dwindling couii(tmj>. tradesmen,} „.'.,*. p , Mr Bisli-Kantlvefjf-siirryi Silij'frrasi, to hear sueli an admission made. Mr Skipper— He hold -oniii'fhelin'pe'bf . paying Mr Bish-Did^,n ; % J #"lm" Oooper on Saturday .week I,', ~ ~-. Mr. Frasi—Yew", IH i:r U ,!$) ' Mr Bem'd—Did, you take any; steps; to obtain a sin e.nent from, Cooper ?,. Mr Frasi—l could hot; (is Kerns away. Mr Beard -How much did you': think you bad to come from Cooper?. , V Mr v <Fr!(Bi^Ali6ut' ! ir' fortnight'' ago I flhooght I had £60.- : .'. ■': , ' : .' 1 . .. Br~Mv Eapp—Dirlii't you tell mo' that you [' had £3OO or £4OO to como, arid 'got mo to' k letyouhayogmkls'(m : that ( u.rideVfi:ahdi!i'gl ■ Mr Fru>i—Mr, Mackiiy, c|it ■ down: my. . charges by.£2oo. '•■'••.■■' •'" -" ; . Mr Beard-Thon you had ovor-charged' by^200?.:.,-. , ... Mr loast, Lshould havo got that'if Maokay had nut cut it off. ;, ' : Mr Bapp-You say you received 1500 . from Cooper ? How much -have you received from Mahupuku! -- ifr - Mr Raup-flow inuoii forthe-teut ?,;-,i.i Mr Frasi—l don't Ihink'-iho'tent-wa? paid for. .',, ,• , ~j

Naeia—Mkhup'ukir paid '£7 for the tent.-'. ■ . ■ . MrEapp—Did you sell a watch to Mahupuku? ; ; ' MrFrasi—Yes. ' Mr Bapp—Did ho pay you ? MrFrasi—£B" : ■ ■ V ;. Mr.Rapp—How much,have you received from Mr Grace?""'' Mr. Fi : asirr£(s 'duqi T 'other! Amounts,; which have been paid to laborers. Mr Roydhoaao—Were you-nnttpaid for anrveying.Dixon's estate?. , ;., . ; . Mr Frasi-Yes; J-10 went to Mr Perry' and 15 to, Mr Jago. I'veeeived no cash, Mr:Bapp—Did you not. receive £'4o from Mr Grace on account of survey 1 Mr, Erasi-rThat was the amount paid for Mahupuku. Mrßapp-Did not Cooper giveyou a. cheque for our firm which'you never paid to us?:"'-\. ■.';•''■■ '; '."■' ■:;.■■ '•';' "•' Mr gave mo a clieq'uo' of .£2O, hut not' for any special,purpose; • Mr Beard—Did lie not give you a chequo.bf k:2O lor Mr MrFrasi answered 03 before. , Mr^Varnock—'Mr.Copper gave Frasi n £lO--chcviue and a. .£2O cheque,. The i£o cheque was'for Bapp and. Hare. ■■■ Mr Skipper—tliat is a very grave charge's Mr'Warriock. : ' ■ Mr Beard—Did ymi no! ask Mv Cooper for a cheque fur £'2o tVr l'app and Hare?'-:. Mr-Frasi—l-asked for a cheque becanso Iwaspushcdv Mr Beard—Please answer my question. Did you receive a cheque for Bnpp and Haro ivh'ch you never gave to them! ' MrFrasi (after a great deal, of pressing and with reluctance)— Well yes I did, I say so' at once, I used that cheque and replaced it with another.

Mr Itapp-I'liad only let Mr Frasi have the goods on Mr Cooper promising to be security fort hem. Mr-Beard—.What did you do with the cheque? Mr Frasd—l spent, it for household purposes. I could not say who T : -piid ■ it to, it was spent in small items. Mr'Skipper—Wo ought to have Mr Cooper examined. Mr Beard—We will, do so. Mr Frasi-Yes, I should lib him to be examined..

MrUeard-I don't think 'you will. What have you paid in wages out of tho £500? . Mr, Frasi—l tan only tell from Cooper's cheque-book. Mr Beard—How did you arrive at ilip. amourilof !.2 which you have put in the' schedule in Naora's case ? : : Mr Frasi—Ho never sent in a claim, so I put it down roughly. Mr Beard-41'ow many miles'of'lino had ho and his party cut, and how much 'liave you paid them ? • MrF.tasi— Ido no! know how much I paid them. They cut live or sixiinles. i Mr Beard—lf. you don't know how much'ithey have done, how do yon reduce the claim from £2O to £2l Mr Frasi—l' cannot tell till I"sm Cooper's cheque-book. I just' put it down roughly. Mr .Bisli—Do you leave all your business to Cooper ? Don't you keep any accounts yourself ?....'. . . Mr Beard-How about Whaiakorari's . case? What do you consider is oomingto him? ' i' : ' ••'■ ■•' Mr Frasi—l consider he has been overpaid. '' ' '-.,' ; ; ■"'''. ■ Mr Beard—How ut ti, iheil, that you have put'hinf"iri your sfliedtile fbr£s!' How touch have yon paid him ! Mr Skipper—li ,"\\puld/be miicl) be.ll'et if the creditors themselycs.'woukl ask. the questions,' /'<!''.•'■■ ;-■' - Mr Beard—No dmilit'; much bettor for the debtor, JvowMr Frasi, just- liy,and-, tell us lrom memory how you paid ■\Vhatakoiaii. • :.' >V»'.';. i .'•« ,11 Mr Frasi—l put it down from memory that he had been.paid., : There was a. little due to his. party—about £2., Mr Beard—Well, on what do you base your memory ? MrFrasi—l just go. from memory. I must refer you to Cooper's cheque-book. Mr. Beard—Mr Oooper again!. Did you pay Mr Cooper to keep your accounts-]. Now with regard lo Maaka.; ; how do you make £o lo come from him ?. ■ •- -.. ■,>... Mr Frasir^For work done. Mr Skipper protested against the tone of the examination, He did not considerit a fair.one. . :_- Mr Bish (chairman), pointed out that there were uo books to guide the crodi; tors', arid any question relating to tho filed' Btatemont must be held to, be fair. * Mr Beard said that Mr Frasi ought to have come belore his creditors with a nroper statement"; and fully prepaid .to show clearly what ho had doiib with Hie /money he had received, aud.what work .he had done. Ho came totally .unprepared. He could not account clearly for a single item, and ho (Mr Beard) had no hesitation in pronouncint! the casosa most scandalous one. The debtor had evidently prepared his schedule, from memory ..or-guess-'woik, na ho now said he left eveVy-' thing for Mr Cooper lo clear up, He (Mr Xeard) had n'o'doubt Mr Frasi Had- not' -' 1.0-wl il,n lnd of tliis mnttnv. nnd if lie

had brought.liimstilf,nithiii the limits ,'of fto.law, the law should bo pu'tfin Motion Jj '.;..,,:;;■< ,:;, .. jA ..JHr Rnpp—Hear, hear I Mr Skfpp'er (aevevely)— ' MrPiii.p is oulnf place'here. .-.'•'.:-' Mr Hupp—l thoroughly endorse, nil Mr Beard has said. It is quite evident from tho debtor's own Btatemeiit. that he _has been insolvent thoso iivo years, : '' Mr Frasi-1 deny that, t ,'l .deny Jlujt. Mr McTavish ohtiiilinlf'o'f'Mr-.-K'rulFEaic 1 lie would never ask for their'amount; butleft it entirely to mo to ptfy' when I could.' Mr D'Arcy—To show Mr Fr'asiVstato--jriont is not correct Mr McTavisli (old me they intended 'fo'^uVMrTfaai"for "•'lliif amount ss soon ns- there waß any poasi-i- ---. .bilily offsetting it/ ■ ; ■>>- ■'■'■■ ■ Mr Eapp said he-would ferret'out' the' whole riiatlcrj ;nnd io .(he bottdhi" (To Mr 'Fi'asi): ''When did you inQur'tllii' liability' with' MoiUoitlv and Pi'rtKT* ;^ T ; ; /; MrFl•asi-Abml^2fye'ars" , 'ago,'' r • t!, ''•' ■ Mr WlWfictf'rWlrth'dia'-y'ou'gWWi last money from Cooper? ' Mr' Frasi-To-day. I got £lO from

him as a loan as I luul nomoroy.'ogo<n;, <wjtli. v . ' - ...,■.:■, ' .k,,;.:/',V :^'i jj\li' Wiu nock--'When did ytiiiVtet jli'a . last money from him on account'; of, sor^ 'voy? ' ',';" ""*","'. i ■•' Mr Frasi-1 don't know, 1 don't rcco!-'; lect dales,-' I received uono this iii.'-iiili. ', ';' Mr IVuruook—Did yoir not receive ii' chcqiio a week-ago]. ''.':'.. i'",,' Mr^Frasi—Tliatwns for Mr Beard—Then, what you said about havjhgninoto conie a week and a half* ago was a lie? Mr Frasi-1 cannot recollect times very , .well. ■■■■■■■ ■■,'■>■ '■-'■ Mr Bish-Did Mr, Cooper know, you ' were a bankrupt when ho : sent you the £lO to-cluy ? . . MrFrasi—Yes. I asked for. it as a' 'loan, . . ' - '•Mr Beard—You value the land at 11.40? - - .' : "Mr Frasi-Yes, I have sold it, and have received £2O- on account. My .father died without a will. I received a jwwiji'bf attorney from my eltlot"brother to deal wilk tho laud, lutt liayo'-lost the document, ' ■•>' Mi - Beard—The land is not yours then, and voii have received .1:20 for what does not belong to you! Mr Frasi-Oli no, I have written home for a fio3'i power of attorney, and tho land, was sold 'under that understanding. ' Mr.Uapp—We may put. that asset-down afl nil, gentlemen. ' Mr Beard—There are two theodolites in; tho assets. Aro they wonh what you linvo put down ? 'Mr'Fmsi-Oiioisal Mr Bish's,' Mi'Bish—lt'is worth about £l, as it is much damaged. Mr Frasi—lt cost £32, There is also an aiteroid at Mr Dish's Mrßish-T ;i ' not worth twopence,- ■ MrFrasi—Xo, i, never did woik well. Mr Beard—And vet von put it down 1.141)? Mr Frasi—That's what it cost, There is another theodolite at" Mr Lang's.' That is nearly new, and cost ,4'3'2. 1 have the receipt hose (handing a file cf papers to : Mr Heard). Mr liapp—l'll retain these. ;Mr Slipper—You will please give thorn back to me, sir, they are my papers. Mr liapp-I shall retain them j thoy b/oloug to tho cteditois. ' Mr Skipper—lt is like your impudence. If you keen tlieni I shi.ll enier an action against you. Mr Bapp-1 only require tlioso relating to the eaiale, ..In answer to further questions, Mr Frasi said his tents wore at Mate's Tho li'jiu'i saddle, and bridlo were not exeeatiroiy' valued, There was r:n lieu on either this or the theodolite at Lang's. The £4O wac due from Grace on nccount of survey. This was only an estimate, arid was rather uudor lljan over tho amount. Mr Beard—How did you f rrive at that amount!' • Mr Frcsi—l made a rough value. I thought tho'Trustee would help to find that out, Air Board—l have no doubt he will. Mr Bish—You have only got £7 nwi) against Percy. Did you tint offer to gire me an order against him for £251 Mr Frasi—No; only thonmount of the survey, Mr Bish—You have staled your furniture at £ls ; is that after deducting what you may legally keop? ' , Mr Frasi—No. I had made over tho 'lurnituio to my wife, tut Mr Skipper advised rue lliat this was not legal, sol havo put it in. Mr liapp—The furniture had belter bo valued. Mr Frasi—Well,.it is hat dly worth ike trouble. • Mr Skipper said he was instructed to .give'nil the information requiiod by ihe Trustee, and would »ivo every assistance possible, .-Mr Frasi-Yes, lam quilo willing to give all information required. Mr Beard—sfou havo not given much this afternoon. Mr Rjpp then took possession of all tho papers produced, which consisted of accounts, old summonses, one or two. receipts, and one book (which Mr Frasi said was imperfectly kept), and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.