IN BANKRUPTCY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2756, 10 March 1910, Page 2

IN BANKRUPTCY.

WILLIAM ROGERS. A meeting of creditors in connection with the bankruptcy of William Rogers, laborer, Parihimamlii, was held in the office of the Official Assignee yesterday afternoon. Bankrupt and his solicitor (Mr. J. It. Kirk) were present, but no creditors. Bankrupt’s statement of assets and liabilities showed a deficiency of £213 19s; 6d. The following written statement was received: —“About 11 years ago I was working at Whntatutu, when I met with a serious accident, necessitating my being laid up. I have always been a laboring man, and it was as a result of this accident that I first commenced to get into debt. However. I was always in hopes of recovering my position, and have worked away with this object. Unfortunately, however, I have had to contend with a good deal of sickness in my family, first losing one child and then another. 1 decided to do some carting, but this put me further back. Misfortune, followed me, and I lost two horses. The wages I gat per day did .not allow of my keeping up ■with the expenditure, necessitated, and I found that I could not get along at all, much as I. tried to do so. Latterly a creditor applied for, and obtained, an attachment order on my wages, and this forced me into bankruptcy. My failure is owing to sheer misfortune, I have to the best of my ability, tried to meet my engagements, but force of circumstances has been too much for me.” In examination by_ the Assignee, bankrupt stated that Mr. Keen an had paid £73 to men for cutting firewood for him. The wood was still in the bush on top of the Ormond quarry, having been there for six years. Idis wages 'durin<r the last twelve months had been, about 30s a week, but he had had a lot of broken time, and he did not

think he averaged £1 a week. He. contributed bis bankruptcy in the first place to an accident about eleven years ago, by which he was laid' up, more or less, for twelve months. He then got into debt. He had also lost about a year by the firewood contract. In addition ho had illness in his family, and lost two children by death. In connection with the ’contracting lie took lie lost two horses. Most of the accounts shown as liabilities had been running on for some years. He had paid a little at a time. Ho had been sued, and had settled the accounts on getting the summons, but bein g so hard pressed he could not manage to pay everybody. Latterly, when two creditors bad obtained a judgment order on his wages, he was unable to got any money to buy the necessaries for his borne, so it was necessary for him to file. Mr. Kirk remarked that it seemed a case of misfortune. The Assignee thought the. man might have worked a little harder, as there was always a good deal of work to be got. Mr, Kirk pointed out that the man was a laboring man, and didn’t live in luxury, and could make no offer. The meeting then, adjourned.