ESTATES IN THE HANDS OF PUBLIC TRUSTEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 137, 18 June 1885, Page 4

ESTATES IN THE HANDS OF PUBLIC TRUSTEE.

(BY TELEGRAPH— PARLIAMENTARY BErORTBR.)

Wellington, Wednesday. Among the Government papers laid on the table yesterday (Tuesday) was the annual report on the Public Trußt Office, which Sir George Grey suggested should be printed. This wbb resisted by the Premior, on the ground of the bulkiness of the document, and it contained little of public information.

Mr Lbvjsstam supported Sir Geo. Grey's suggestion, remarking that he knew of some transactions in connection with Trust Funds which ought to see the light of day. Ho disagreed with Mr Stout that it was advisable the document should bo treated as a confidential communication.

Mr Maoandrew urged that the report should stand over for a few days, till members had an opportunity of perusing it and satisfying themselves whether it was worth tho cost of printing. He deprecated the continuance of a large expenditure for printing without any earthly object. Sir Geo. Ghey said he had no objection to the postponement of the question, but he would simply remark that any papers laid on the table were published because any one member could communicate the contents of them to his friends. He repeated that the report should be printed, because it was desirable that tho wholo of the. public should soe tho way in which the Publio Trustco doalt with ostatos under his care.

Tho matter was then allowed to stand over.

The return referred to contains particulars regarding tho estates of about 1,500 intestates, absent heirs, and lunatics of a gross value of £178,925 and not £102,593. Tho estates vary in value from four shil-lings-that of A. H. Muck, a defunct Chinaman, to that of Hugh Wright, a living lunatic, £10,341, whose possession of so large a sum was probably the cause of his losing his senses.