EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2111, 19 January 1886, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

At the London Bankruptcy Comta meetiii!,' waih-lil, bef^H'Mi'K'-gistiar Hazlitt, foi tlie public c\amination of Fiank I'latt, who is doseiibcd as of Margaret street, Cavendish srjnare, of no occupation. The assets show an extraordinai y state of tiling, the debts being £974 83 6d, and the assets £99,800. In reply to the ollioial solicitor, the debtor stated that he had a sliaie in a claim which he had made against H M. Government for the seizure and destruction of his yacht, also house, furniture, and effects on the Island of Samoa by H.M. gunboat Barraconta in 1876, the damage being estimated by him at £125,000. The yacht was seized on the ground that fahe was a pirate. She was an armed vessel, but amid were only carried for protection. He also claimed £1500 for diplomatic services rendered to the Samoan Government io negotiating treaties. He also had an action pending in the American courts to recover £35,000 for breach of contract for the purchase of mining property in Colorado for £200,000. When he gave up business in America he was worth £100,000. but he.had lost it all. That was about 12 years or more ago. He had failed in 1869 in America. His liabilities were very large ; but he could not remember what the amount was. By Mr Davi.l : He had had transactions on the Stock Exchange during the last three or four years, his turnover being about £100,000. He lodged his claim against the British Government in 1877 by sending it to the Earl of Derby. He had communications with the Earl ot Derby stating that he (debtor) had a half-share in the claim, and he received a reply to the effect that uo decision would be giveu on the claim without notice to him. He had not individually pressed the claim ; it had been conducted by his solicitors. Mr Steinberger, as part owner of the yacht, was the other claimant, but he had not seen him for three years. Steinberger had offered him £10,000 for his share. He and Steinberger formed the Government of Samoa, Steinberger being the Piime Minister, and the debtor the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The yacht *yas worth £8,000, and the other property destroyed between £50,000 and £60,000. While Chancellor of the Exchequer he did not pay himself the £1,500, because it was not then due. He had since demanded it, but it took upwards of a year to get an answer from there, There was no written law in the Samoan islands.— The Registrar: The islanders are much to be congratulated. — The Public examination was adjourned, to enable the trustee to make further investigations.