CHANCERY MILLIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14223, 20 November 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHANCERY MILLIONS.

ROMANCES THAT LIE BURIED INSIDE MUSTY DEED BOXES.

Although the ordinary notion that millions lie in the coffers of the Court of Chancery awaiting claimants is quite erroneous, there is still a wealth of mystery and romance about the court's work and proceedings.

According to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General upon the Supreme Court of Judicature (Funds) account just issued, cash and securities of the noble value of £50,000,000, the property of suitors in the Supreme Courts, are held by the Pay-master-General. It stands: — Cash ... ... — — £2.304,429 Securities ... £46,928,096 Of this total £25,029,058 is in British Government securities and" £7,734,022 in British railways, and represents altogether 37,568 accounts' In the list of miscellaneous effects which the Bank of England is guarding on behalf of the Supreme Court are boxes of plate, jewellery, heirlooms, and deeds. A relic of an old Chancery suit is a bag of clipped money, marked "Jones v. Lloyd, Aug. 20, 1726." A sealed envelope deposited at the bank contains certificates for a million shilling shares in the Mexican Smelting Corporation, Limited.

In another envelope are two bills of exchange for £500 each, dated June 20, 1885, and payable three and six months after date. A sealed packet is said to contain a bill of exchange for £1000. Eight boxes of plate are deposited at the bank under a Chancery suit begun 35 years ago. Among securities of value not expressed is an Exchequer Order of £5 a year. The bank holds the certificate, which is in respect of a life annuity, against which claim ceased to be made in 1795.