taking over the actual operation and supervision of the mine, and the miners employed thereon, and attending to the financial arrangements.
54. No company was ordered to be wound up by the Court during the year. Three petitions for winding-up were pre- sented, but these were all withdrawn on settlements being reached between the parties concerned.
Dividends
55. Dividends were declared and distributed by the Official Receiver in three bankruptcies and by outside liquidators in two compulsory liquidations. Owing to extreme pressure of work, the Official Receiver was reluctantly compelled to postpone the declaration of dividends in several other cases in which all or almost all the available assets have been realized.
Public Examinations
56. Two public examinations were held during the year, in one of which information as to certain bankruptcy offences was elicited leading to an Order by the Court for the prosecu- tion of the bankrupt and his subsequent conviction.
Cases Concluded
57. Two bankruptcies were concluded during the year, and the Trustees released.
Previous Cases Still Outstanding
58. There were outstanding from previous year 19 bank- ruptcies, but in 8 of these a final dividend has already been paid, and only formal closing proceedings are required. 12 compulsory liquidations were outstanding from previous years, 5 of which were merely awaiting formal conclusion.
Official Receiver in Bankruptcy Account
59. Table XIV sets out the Receipts and Payments for the year, and the Assets and Liabilities as at 31st March, 1956.
29