Mayor, " Grey railway petition comes before. committee to-day ; still of opinion deputation would further work and get available moneys expended at an early date between Peremakau river and Eapitea. Wire to me if deputation coming." In reply tho Mayor (Mr Mandl) telegraphed to Mr Seddon, "He railway, I agree with you that deputation would have furthered work, but public meeting thought the reverse, consequently no one going from here ; hope, however, that you will be success ful." To Mr Grimmond ho replied as follows* ' Glad Petition Committee will recommend the immediate completion of the line. Public meeting decided not necssary to send depu- ' tation." It will be noted that Mr Seddon is still of opinion that a deputation would havo furthered the work. Is it to be the old story of •' spoiling the ship for a ha'porth of tar." A lengthy meeting of creditors in the estate of William Pearson of Woodstock, miner, took place yesterday. Tho evidence gave a very dismal history of a drifting to the bad. About four years ago the debtor sold his farm near Lake Mahinapua for £738, having at the same time £30 or £40 in cash at his bankers. Of the proceeds of the sale, some £500 wenfc in the purchase of the Marquis of Lome Hotel. He had no experience of hotelkeeping and did not know what his receipts and expenditure were, but had a pretty good idea that he was drifting behind, for in November 1888 — some sixteen months afterwards — his money had gone, and he was in debt to the extent of £40 or £50. As there seemed no alternative between selling out and mortgag ing the place to pay his liabilities, he chose the former and disposed of the hotel property with its contents to Mr Gaylor for £250. Of this sum about £50 was absorbed in paying his debts and £50 was given to his wife who bought a house and section at Woodstock wuA it; They lived in Hokitika for a month after selling the hotel, expending £30, and finally went to live in Woodstock early in January, 1889, with something like £120 to credit. This money went as speedily as the rest, for we find him, eighteen months afterwards, with cash all gone and liabilities amounting to •S2OO. 