AUSTRALASIAN HEIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1966, 29 December 1906, Page 4

AUSTRALASIAN HEIRS.

i WANTED TO CLAW MONEYS AND MUM.’DUTY. 1 TO TUB KDITOU (USIIOKNU TIM US. 1 Sir, —Tlio uvorngo reader wlion porus- , inf' his fuvnrito morning journal, as a nilo looks through tho “ Missing Friends” ■ colunm (which is such tv feature in Australian newspapers), but very few have tho faintest idea of the value and the oxtcut to which missing heirs, legatees, and tho descendants of persons whoso forebears emigrated to Australia in tho early days are sought for. To give a full list of such persons advertised for throughout tho Commonwealth would take up a considerable amount of space, but somo tnkon at random from somo representative daily and weekly newspapers of Australia will doubtless bo of intorost to, and may probably bonelit somo of your readers, and in some instances tho information tints brought to thoir nolico may provo an acceptable “ Christmas Windfall” or “Now Year’s Greeting” to them. Taking into consideration tho protninonco given hv the leading Australian daily and weekly press to advertisements of this class, and tho choapnoss of their advertising rates in comparison with similar journals in England, it seems incredible that the Court of Chancery, trustees, bxccutors and others Booking information of people who aro known to have emigrated to Australia or thoir descendants should not avail themselves of this course, instead of expensive advertisements in English newspapors (admittedly of immonso circulation), but which from a long experience I venture to say cannot ho seen in any public library or mechanics’ institute or purchased at any. news agent in tho Commonwealth, and tho advei tisemonts contained therein cannot possibly reach.the persons they nro intended for, which is manifestly unfair to them. In ihc following list all ihe persons or their personal legal representatives or heirs arc all believed to be in Australia, and liavo been advertised for to claim money or property or for something to their advantage ; --Alexander Amos, formerly of the Royal Murines, last hoard of at Sydnoy in ISON, and at Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1890, is wanted to claim his share under an English will; and Fierce Power, who left Fothard, County Tipperary, for Australia threo years ago, is informed that lie is entitled to real estate and money under an Irish will- Emily Marianne if all or her heir-at-law or devisee under will, late of Sydnoy, is enquired for to claim money by order of tho Chancery Court, as also aro Samuel ltomelly Burleigh or his heir-at-law or devisee, under will ; ,)olm Sullivan, formerly a seaman and afterwards a messenger, born Cork, Ireland, who emigrated penniless to tho United States, and acquired considerable real estate there died intestate recently without any known legal heirs in America, leaving an estate valued at upwards of ouo million dollars Two of his near relatives aro said to have emigrated to Australia in tho early days, and they or their heirs aro now sought for by advertisement. Cornelius O’Brien, born County Clare, Ireland, emigrated to South Aus« tralia in 1852, and then had threo sons, viz., Cornelius, Michael, and Martin. Cornelius and Michael and other children (if any) are now sought for to claim an estate. Nicholas Freeman, a lunatic, died in California intestate, and his legal heirs are his two nephews, who left California for Australia some yeais ago ; they have been advertised for to put them in possession of real estate in America left by thoir uncle Nicholas. Nicholas Byrne, who arrived in Australia about 180 S, is advised that he will hear of important- news from home by communicating witli lire advertiser, and Victor Shannon, son of Owen Frederick Shannon, who was adopted in 1808 by a person residing at Adelaide, 8.A., named 8 and ford, and who was thereafter known in Australia by the name of Howard Sandford, is advertised- for in respect of money in chancery. Ilobcrt Woodrofle, who left Lincolnshire for New Zealand in 187fj (or if dead) iris children, arc advertised for by the executors of a will in England, and Cornelia Russell who left Scotland for Australia in 1804, and William Gairth, who left Lancashire for Australia 40 years ago are wanted for something to their advantage. Robert Bingham is informed that if he can prove himself a son of the late John Bingham of Woosang before April 1907 he will receive a direct benefit under a will. Some large fortune, or a sad history attaches to enquiries for Willi am Purchase, a son of Elizabeth Purchase afterwards Shappard, as ire has been largely and eon- , tirnrously advertised for by an English firm of solicitors for a considerable number of years in English and Australian newspapers, tho last advertisement as far as Victoria is concerned appearing in October last. All persons claiming relationship with John Flouri Dobson, who died in Australia some time prior to 1881 are asked to communicate their address for something to their advantage, as also arc Thomas and Samuel Ash (sons of the late Henry Ash of Bucks) or, if dead their representatives.

Numerous advertisements have appeared for Charles Douglas Singer, who left Exeter, England, in 1824 and was last heard of at Lake Albacutyas Vietoria ; he is informed that his father is dead and that by communicating with tiie solicitors he will hear of something to his advantage, and a firin' of London solicitors seeks information respecting the children and relatives of Walter Daird, believed to have died at (Caulfield, Victoria, about 1878, whilst thii next of kin of Charles William Elliott, who died in Queensland last January are enquired for by the Curator in Intestacy at iiockhampton, and the Public Trustee at Adelaide advertises for the whereabouts of Otto YVendcborn. Forest W. Maxwell is advertised for in respect of property in America, and John Murray Campbell son of Hubert is wanted for something to his advantage. Pursuant to orders made in different causes by the Chancery Courts in England and Ireland, the following persons or their legal personal representatives were required to send in their claims before a specified date, otherwise they would be premptorily excluded from the benefit of any decree made:—John Campbell who left Ireland for Now Zealand in 1805, Christopher Do Courecy Duff of Gorrig Castle, Kingstown, in respect of certain property in Ireland. Elizabeth Edmunds nee Harris; the next of kin and also the heir-at law of Elizabeth Jane Trefoml, Edward Green who emigrated from England about 1889, and last heard of at Uoulburn, N.S.W., the heirs or devisees of Joseph Price Hodgkins who died at Eehuea about 1894, William Ilogg of Lincolnshire who cainc to Australia about 1851, Stratford George Hogg, John Weddrington Hall. The next of kin of Emma Harrod of itedhill in Surrey deceased; all persons claiming an interest as to one fourth part of the residuary estate of Ann Wilkin deceased, Benjamin Maloney, all-persons resident in Australia claiming to be next of kin of Hugh Massey late of County Waterford, Ireland, and desirous of disputing the title of a claimant to the sum of ±7178 Is od guaranteed stock in the Irish Courts, and to an annual rent of ±278 14s 2d arising out of certain hereditaments in the County of Limerick, The next of kin of Alicia Maguire, more particularly Thomas Dtinny, Owen Maguire* Margaret Maguire, Thomas Maguire, aud Mary Ann Gaffney, all supposed to be in Australia; John Davies formerly of North Wales, who came to Australia in 1850 ; the widow and next of kin of Arthur Peel Thompson, who died in Vistoria in 1.878 ; Lydia, Phoebe and John Warliam ; the heirs of James Baridwood, Helen Lawson and Margaret Alexander, in respect of a Scotch estate; and Thomas Wardcl an auctioneer of Wolverhampton who left England for Australia about 1870. By a petition under the Presumption of Life Limitation Act (Scotland) it is ordered by the Lord Ordinary, that unless William Sawers formerly of Brighton, Glasgow, who left .Scotland for Australia in 1890 appears before October 15th, 1900, he will be presumed to have died on the 21st of November. 1901, being 7 years from the time he was last heard of; and in a .summons of multiplepoinding and exoneration in the first division of the Court ■of Session. Scotland,intimation, is adver-

lined by order of tile Court that all persons claiming to be interested in tho trust disposition and settlement of James ] Dick and claiming an interest in the r fund, and not otherwise cited, are forthwith required to enter an appearance in the cause. Patrick MoAuloy, son of James McAuley, is notified that if he does not send his address within two years ho will lose all bonelit in an estate in Ireland, and Samuel, David, Nancy, i Mary Ann and Margaret Warden aro enquired for by an American linn Crawford George Ferguson left County Down iiii years ago for America, and subsequently came to Australia, is enquired for from Ireland, and llenry Lomas, formerly of Derbyshire, last hoard of in Melbourne 20 years ago, is asked to come forward and claim money due to him. The representatives of Richard Ceilings are wanted for some-, tiling to their advantage, as also is Robert i aulthard who left Ifngland for Australia in 1854 Tho following persons or their next of kin are also notified that by communicating with the parties who inserted the respective advertisements they will hoar of moneys to which they are entitled or of something to theiradvantage :—(liras. Reid, of AVigtonshire, Scotland, who came to Australia in 1800 ; Thomas O’Connor, son of John and Margaret, Mrs Janet Prodie or Burns, of Milwathorl, Scotland, late of Victoria ; the children of Frederick Constantine Hope Charlesworth and Felicia his wife ; Addio Courtney, otherwise Richards; the children and grandchildren of Hugh Anderson, late of Lurgan, Ireland, deceased, and all persons having claims in the estate of Jane Green, formerly Jane Johnston, widow, nee Anderson, deceased. As illustrating the casual nature or some Australians, I may mention that I am frequently consulted by persons in respect of moneys and property lo which they claim to be entitled either personally or by descent. They admit that they had heard that they had been advertised for many years previously, but had never bothered about it, and then produce old letters and documents to show thoir claim, and which appear on tlie face of them to be ample evidence. On investigation, however, I have found that under decrees of the Court of Chancery the respective estates lmd some years previously been distributed amongst the then known next of kin and other claimants, to the exclusion of all others, and the clients in question, through their own apathy and sleeping on their rights for so many years, have lost what they were justly' entitled to, whilst in other similar instances I have fortunately been able to recover the moneys payable to them. My advice to people ill such circumstances is to at puce consult a respectable solicitor. Thu Crown during the year lias benefited to moneys aggregating a large amount through persons dying intestate in the United Kingdom without known heirs or next of kin, and in these niat- ; tors again very little publicity is given, beyond a short advertisement in one or two London papers, calling upon por--1 sons claiming to be next of kin to take out letters of administration within a certain time, otherwise a grant would be r applied for by the Solicitor to the '- flairs 1 of His Majesty’s Treasury.. No trouble 1 is apparently taken to ascertain what relatives (if any) have in years gone by 1 emigrated to Astralia, Canada or else--1 where, ■ I have certainly never seen any ’ advertisements relating to these appiications in colonial newspapers. Injustice, however, to the Crown, I may mention > that no obstacle is ever placed in the way ; in distributing such moneys when a valid 1 claim is made, notwithstanding tire number of years which may have elapsed ’ since the" grant of administration to the * Solicitor to tho Treasury, although in the ’ near future it is probable that an act will * ho passed by the Imperial Parliament ex- ; eluding all claimants after the expiration J of six years from the date of the grant, Yours, etc., TIIOS. W. LLOYD, Next of Kin and Unclaimed Money Offices, Swanson street, Melbourne. ' December, 1906.