CHARITABLE BEQUESTS IN 1894.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10289, 21 February 1895, Page 4

CHARITABLE BEQUESTS IN 1894.

The bequests for Religious, charitable f and educational purposes noticed under wills nported in 1888, 1889, and 1890 wera to the amount of about £1,000,000 iv each year; in 1891, £1,200,000; in 1892, £800,000; and ia 1893 more than £1,400,000. Under wills reported during the last year the charitable bequests iv the United Kitigdom have been between £1,150,000 and £1,200,000. Of this amount live estates —those of Mr Samuel Weston, of Manchester; Mr E P. Gyde, of Stroud; Mr John Gillow, of Stock; Mr Matthew Honsn, of Cork; and Mrs Elizabeth Allen, of Bournemouth—contributed nearly half. In 1893 the bequests of three persons—Lady Forester (£300,000), the Rev. James Spurrell (£226,000), and Mr Henry Spioer (£lso,ooo)—made up nearly half the total of the year. The number of reported wills under which there are charitable bequests of considerable amount appears to be about 74* in each year. The number of wills proved and administrations granted yearly ia about 70,000, but of these some 18,000 or 20,000 dispose not mora than £100 eaph in personality, and are exempted from prob&te or estate duty. Although the estates charged with probate and estate duty in the year euding March 31 last were ia number 1000 more than in the year ending March 31, 1893, the amount of personalty charged with duty iv 1893-94 was only £162,866,000, as compared with £164.327,000 in 1892-93, and £165,329.000 iv 1390-91. In the exceptional year 1891-92, as the result of the fatal influenza epidemic, the number of estates was 57.928, and the amount of personalty £193,397,000.. It mußt be borne in mind, however, that in the first threu months of last year, owing to the anticipation of an increase of the death duties, an amount of personal entity, estimated at from £10,000,000 to £12,000,000 was prematurely brought into account. But for this the falling off would have appeared very serious. Tha realised wealth of the country does not seem at present to be increasing, sod it may be worth while at some other opportunity to consider tha probable causes of this ats.te of things. Meanwhile, it is interesting to note that the bequests for religious, charitable, and educational purposes in 1894 are above the average of the last seven years. Forty testators, the aggregate amount of whose pereonal estates v»9 £6,698,863, bequeathed, under wills reported during this year, about L 820.000 to charitable uses.