THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Evening Star, Volume 8505, Issue 8505, 2 May 1891, Page 2

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

—— A NICE STATE OF AFFAIRS. WELLINGTON, May 2. The Public Trust Commissioners have sent in a copy of the evidence taken so far to the Government, From this it appears that the officers are in the habit of attending auction sales ordered by the Trustee, and buying up goods which they have been allowed to appraise beforehand. Certain articles of value have been found to be missing. This has not been done with real property; but, on the other band, agents entrusted with the sale have been prevented from buying such property themselves. The system of bookkeeping is reported to be cumbrous, inconvenient, and unintelligible. No interim report has been sent in, and the Commissioners intend to pursue the inquiry till they are in a position to send a full report to the Governor. In consequence of the revelations afforded by evidence taken by the Public Trust Commissioners, the Government have called on Mr R. G. Hamertnn (commissioner), Mr F. Wilson (the legal adviser), and the chief clerk for explanations.

Both the Government and the Commissioners look in a serious light upon the practices disclosed in the Public Trust Office, and it was in order to have them stopped that the Commissioners forwarded the evidence up to the Government, Besides Messrs Hamerton and Wilson, Mr De Castro (chief clerk), Mr Moginie (accountant), and Mr Ronaldson (clerk) were called upon to explain their conduct both in buying articles at auction belonging to trust estates and in regard to the administration of certain estates, particularly one in which some two years elapsed before- an account was rendered to those interested. The replies were received to-day, and will be considered by the Cabinet on Monday.