248
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

It will be observed that in the Provinces of
Marlborough, Napier, Southland, and Taranaki no
insolvents have been adjudged bankrupt during
the year.

II.—General Account of Bankruptcies in Dependence
at 30th November, 1868.

Number of bankrupt estates wound up by
division of funds during the year ending
30th November, 1868, has been ... Nil
Ditto ditto by discharge of trustees with-
out dividend, no assets ... Nil
Ditto ditto by composition ... 9
Annulled ... Nil
Remaining in dependence at 30th November,
1868 ... ... ... 285

III.—Results of Adjudications.

The period which has elapsed since the commence-
ment of the Act and ending on the 30th November,
1868, is so limited, that the Accountant is not in a
position to deduce general results in regard to the
following:-

1st. The percentage of ordinary expenses when
applied to gross receipts.
2nd. Allowance to bankrupt.
3rd. Trustee's commission.
4th. Law expenses.
5th. Miscellaneous charges, ordinary and incidental
outlay.

In many cases the accounts for law expenses have
not been supplied to the trustee; the trustee's com-
mission has not been charged; and, in consequence
of the estate remaining in dependence, the charges,
miscellaneous and otherwise, have not been ascer-
tained.

IV.

From the imperfect manner in which the Reports
have been filled up, the Accountant in Bankruptcy is
unable to deduce any comparison between the gross
estate as estimated by the trustees, and the amount
actually realized by them.

In reference to this and to other information which
the Accountant desires to furnish to your honorable
Court, he hopes, when supplied with assistance, to
be able to instruct the trustees in the mode in which
the Returns should be made to the Registrars and
Clerks.

It is the practice of the Accountant in Bankruptcy
in Scotland to supply the trustees with printed
directions as to the mode of performing their duties;
and the Accountant hopes to be in a position to
supply information in a like manner to trustees in
the Colony.

V.—Results of Adjudications wound up by Composition
during the year ending the 30th November, 1868.

During the year there have been settlements by
composition in nine adjudications. The highest rate
of composition reported is 10s. 6d. in the pound;
the lowest rate of composition reported is 6s. in the
pound.

VI.—Discharges in favour of Bankrupts.

The number of discharges granted applicable to
this year is 143. Of these discharges 9 followed on
composition settlements, and the remainder (134)
were granted without composition.

In nineteen cases the final discharge was suspended
for periods varying from one to twelve months.

VII.—Discharges in favour of Trustees granted during
the year ending 30th November, 1868.

There have been no discharges of trustees in bank-
ruptcy during the year.

VIII.—Proceedings of Accountant in cases of complaint
against Trustees, in terms of Section 227.

During the year numerous complaints have been
made regarding the management of estates and con-
duct of trustees; but in most of the cases the
explanations made were satisfactory, and in some the
matter is now pending.

IX.—The Value of Property belonging to Bankrupts
as estimated in Bankrupts' Statements.

There were 294 adjudications, and the
estimated aggregate value is ... £246,074

Being an average per adjudication of ... 837

The Returns show the highest value of
property involved in any adjudication
during the year was ... ... 70,900

There were 22 adjudications included
among the above in which the funds,
as in bankrupt's statement, were ... Nil
And 53 in which the assets were under... 50

It will be apparent that each succeeding Report
will be more complete, insomuch as it will bring up
the arrears of the detailed information required to
render this Report complete, first, by the winding up
of estates, and next by supplementary information,
which will accumulate during the current year.

Appended is an alphabetical list of persons
adjudged bankrupt during the year ending 30th
November, 1868, together with a tabulated state-
ment showing the condition of every estate.

Dunedin, 12th May, 1869.

GEO. BRODIE,
Accountant in Bankruptcy.