THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8963, 4 May 1891, Page 2

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Wellington, Saturday. The Public Trust Commission have sent a copy of the evidence taken so fur to the Government. From this it appears that tlieo Dicers are in the habit it attending auction sales ordered by the Trustee aud buying up goods which they have been allowed to appraise beforehand. This has not been dono with real property, bnt, on the other hand, the agents entrusted with the Bale have been prevented from buying such property themselves. The system of book-koopiug is cumbrous, inconvenient, and unintelligible, and certain articles of value have been proved to be missing. In aonsequenca of tbe revelations ailorded by the evidence tho Government have called on Mr Hanierlon (Commissioner), Mr Wilson (legal adviser), and the chief clerk for an explanation. Later, Both the Government and the Commission look upon the practices disclosed in the Public Trust Otlice in a serious light, and it was in order to have them stopped that tho Commissioners forwarded the evidence up to date to the Government. Besides Messrs Hnmerton and Wilson, Messrs Do Castro (chief clerk), Magmity (accountant), imd Uonaldson (clerk), were culled upon to explain their conduct, loth in bvyiug urticles nl autiou belonging to trust estates, and in regard to tho administration of cortain estates, particularly one iv which some two yean elapsed before an account woh rendered to thoso interested. The replies were received to-day, aud will be considered by the Cabinet on Monday.