MEETING OF CREDITORS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3879, 6 August 1891, Page 2

MEETING OF CREDITORS.

. Estate of "W. J. Hodges. A meeting of creditors in the estate of W. J. Hodges, of Eketahuna, bankrupt, was held in the old Courtroom, Masterton, yesterday, the Official Assignee (Mr W. B. Chennells)presiding. The statement of assets and liabilities was„read by the Official Assignee. The bankrupt, examined by Mr Bunny, stated that he had been carrying on business as a saddler et Eketahuna for four or five years. When he went into business he had £270. The whole of this had been sunk, the business having decreased the whole time. He could have made a good living at Eketahuna, had it not been that he sustained an injury to his arm about two years ago. He incurred some of his liabilities before he met with the accident. He was indebted to his wife in £2l. She | was earring on a separate business. Had it not been for her assistance he must have filed long ago. He had not handed money from his business to his wife. He had been compelled to file through Butler Bros, receiving a judgment summons against him. He had offered to pay the amount of the judgment summons to Mr Pownall, but he would not take it. Had it ,not been for the pressure ol

Butler Bros be would have paid off the whole of the money owing by him. When he filed he had stock-in-trade, which he valued at £BO. Some of this belonged to' Mr Elliotte, which he was selling on commission. The book debts were nearly all good. He had no offer to make his creditors, having handed everything over to them. By Mr Murdoch : I owed Butler Bros £6, and paid them £4. I have acknowledgments for £3. I filed because I wished the whole of my creditors to have a fair share of the estate. The representative of Butler Bros asked the debtor how much he had forwarded them; ihey had only received £l.

The debtor : I have paid £4. I have not got the receipts. Mr Murdoch stated tLat he was prepared to swear he had seen Mr Hodges send £'2 to Butler Bros. The debtor, re-examined by Mr Bunny, stated he had offered to pay Butler Bros, the balance owing if they acknowledged the receipt of what he had already sent. The £2l owing to his wife was for rent for the shop, which was built by her. He had originally held the property, but he had sold it to his wife for £2O. A transfer had been made about twelve months ago. His wife had made money as fruiterer and greengrocer, but he could not say the value of her estate. In April, 1890, a distress warrant had been issued against him by Butler Bros. On the following month he sold hi 3 property to his wife for £2O, but did not satisfy the elaitn of Bucler Bros., because he wished to divide the money amongst his creditors. In answer to the represeniative of Butler Bros the debtor stated that he had distributed the £2O received from his wife amongst his creditors. He had not filed to avoid the payment of the judgment summons. On behalf of the debtor Mr Murdoch made an offer of five shillings in the £ to all creditors, the claim of Mrs Hodges for rent to be withdrawn. The representative of Butler Bros said he could not accept the offer of five shillings. The Official Assignee was authorised to realise the estate, and the meeting closed.