PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 104, 4 May 1891, Page 2

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

SINGULAR DISCLOSURES.

ALLEGED BREACH OF TRUST.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day.. The evidence taken by the Public Trus. Commission and forwarded to tha Government, discloses a mo.b extraordinary state of things. The books used in the office have been very loosely kept, and some of bhe evidence, ib is said* refleebs seriously on the Audit Department. It is asserted that large advances have been made from trust funds greatly in excess of the property tax valuations, and thab tha rights of illegitimate children as next o_ kin have been ignored. It appears that no inventory of personal effects has been kepb and thab arbicles of jewellery, etc., wera purchased at auction by officers of tha Department, in some instances at their own appraisement. It is related that on one occasion a Minister of the Crown having expressed a wish to be informed when any intestate jewellery was ta be sold, an officer of the Department took. two watches to bim for approval. The Minister stated whab ha would give for them, and they wera knocked down to. bim in the auction room ab his own piice.' Ceroain articles of valua entrusted to the Department have been traced with difficulty. One piece of valuable lace was asked for by tha Commissioners, and it could nob be traced until an officer of the Department admibbed having taken ib home some months previously to get a value placed upon it. A bracelet belonging to the same estate was claimed by the next of kin, as a memorial of the deceased, bub the claim was noll enberbained, and the article was sold, although there was sufficient money in tha estate to cover the cose of administration. In another case, it is alleged thab an agent) who was entrusted witn the sale of soma land belonging to a trust estabe, cameinbo bhe office with a transfer of the land to himself, but was made to return the property. The evidence has been submitted to the lav* officers of the Crown, who have given then? opinion that the facts disclosed amount prima facie to a breach of trust, and therfl is a great deal which cannot yet be mad* public. AUDIT DEPARTMENT BLAMED. Wellington, this day.

Ib is considered that the evidence takeft by the Public Trusb Commission-ihows tha accounts are not properly audit i]j|. and Commission intend bo summon me audltf officer to give evidence.