MILLIONAIRE'S WILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 3 (Supplement)

MILLIONAIRE'S WILL.

THE LATE LORD MELCHETT. DISPOSITION OF ESTATE. Probate was lately about to be granted of the estate of the late Lord Melchett, chairman of the Imperial Chemical Industries, Limited, who died on December 27, 1930, to his •widow, Violet Lady Melchett, his son, the present Lord Melchett, and his son-in-law, Viscount Erleigh, K.C. The estate has been sworn at a gross value of just over £1,000,000 and duty will be paid upon a net value of just under £200,000. These figures do not include laud owned by the late Lord Melchett in Palestine, or that part of his collection of pictures, statuary and other works of ait, which are exempt from duty as being of national interest and importance. By his will, which is dated July 20, 1028, with a codicil of January 24, 1930, the lato Lord Melchett left a legacy of £50,000 to his widow and £IOO,OOO to his son Henry, who has succeeded him to the title. He also left to his son ail his State papers and other documents relating to public or family interest. The London house at Lowndes Square and the contents are left to the widow, and the family seat, Melchett Court, in Hampshire, with its contents, to the present Lord Melchett. The testator's house and property in Palestine, on the Lake of Galilee, have been left to his eldest daughter, the Viscountess Erleigh, and certain pecuniary legacies were left to her and other members of tho family. Tho residue of the estate, after providing a life interest for "Violet Lady Melchett, the present Lord Melchett and (he la|e Lord Melchett's daughters during tho lifetime of Violet Lady Melchett, is ultimately divisible between the children in tho proportions of three-quarters to the present Lord Melchett and one-quarter between his sisters. Lord Melchett made no charitable benucsts in view of the fact that lie had, over a period of years, been a generous benefactor to a large number ot chnntable and scientific institutions, had terested himself in the economic and culdevelopment, of Mesune ™ , m nirticular, had founded at a cost ot some £50,000 tho Violet Melchett Maternity and Infant Welfare Centre at Chelsea which, in March of this year, was opened by Queen Mary.