ESTATE OF £130,000

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 8

ESTATE OF £130,000

AUCKLAND LADY'S WILL LARGE BEQUESTS MADE OVER £60,000 SET ASIDE MANY CAUSES TO BENEFIT Application has been made for probate of the will of Mrs. Catherine Smith, who died at her residence at Ponsonby on August 12 at the age of 84. The value of her estate is sworn at £130,000, and about half has been set aside for charitable purposes. Mrs. Smith was the widow of the late Captain James Smith, of James Smith and Company, who was very well known in shipping and coal mining circles.

After making substantial provision in her will for relatives, Mrs. Smith left to religious and charitable institutions the following legacies, totalling £6200:

Tabernacle Church . . . ■• . 500 Tabernacle Sunday School . . . 500 Bible Training Institute . . . . 500 Baptist Women's Missionary Union 500 Baptist Missionary Society . . 500 Baptists' Aged Ministers' Fund . . 500 Children's Orphans' Home, Manurewa . . . . . . • • 250 Salvation Army 250

Young Men's Christian Association 500 Young Women's Christian Assn. 250 Bible Society (Auckland branch) 100 Auckland Free Kindergarten School, Freeman's Bay . . 100 Knox Home for Incurables . . . 200

St. John Ambulance Society . . 200 St. James' Presbyterian Church Sunday School 500 St. James' Presbyterian Church 500 Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Soc. 100 Society for the Protection of Women and Children . . . . 50 Baptist College, Mount Hobson . . 200 Further provision having been made by Mrs. Smith for other relatives, the trustee is then directed to apply the residue in making other bequests to institutions, societies or objects established in or about Auckland for charitable, benevolent, educational or religious purposes. The residue thus available is estimated to be about £60,000. The New Zealand Insurance Company, Limited, is the sole executor and trustee.

Captain Smith, who died in 1923, was an old resident of Auckland. In the early days when only sailing ships traded in the Pacific, lie was engaged in the Islands trade and later owned sailing vessels running between' coastal ports, principally carrying coal. He became interested in both coal and goldmining and was one of the founders of the Hikurangi Coal Company. For many years ho was. in partnership with Captain Q. MeKenzie in the firm of Smith and MeKenzie, shipowners. He was also .a director of tho Takapuna Tram and Ferry Company', now absorbed in the Devonport Ferry Company. Captain Smith was a prominent member and trustee of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, with which Church Mrs. Smith was also associated. SOCIAL WORK AND BLIND

LARGE BEQUESTS MADE THE LATE MR. J. H. MAXWELL Two large bequests to charity are provided for under the will of the late Mr. James Henry Maxwell, formerly building inspector for the Auckland City Council, who died on August 13. Mr. Maxwell has bequeathed the residue of his estate, a sum which is expected to be in tho vicinity of £IO,OOO, to be divided equally between the Auckland Presbyterian Social Service Association and the New Zealand Institute for the Blind. Tho value of the estate is sworn at under £17,000. Tho remainder is absorbed in family bequests. Mr. Maxwell was a son of tho late Mr. James Maxwell, of Ponsonby, and Mi's. Maxwell inherits his interest in his father's estate.

Mr. Maxwell, who was born at Waipu 66 years ago, was for 31 years building inspector to the Auckland City Council. He took a leading part in several important projects for the improvement of the city, - and when he retired from duty in May of last year special tributes were paid to his services.