A Victorian Heiress.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 223, 8 October 1887, Page 5

A Victorian Heiress.

On September 9th an order was made in Melbourne, by consent, by which the trustees of the estate of the late W. Grant were directed to hand over to his daughter, Bessie Susan Grant, the sum of £80,000. There is a little story about this young lady and her fortune, which only came to light when the order was made. In 1874 Mr William Grant, who was a quartz; crusher at Stawell. died, leaving 1 a very considerable sum of money behind him. A handsome annuity was left to his widow, and the sum ot X'3oo to the children of his brother, the Jate Hon. J. M. Grant, the residue to bo dhided between his own two children. (Since the death of Mr Grant his widow and one of the children have died, and some time ago a suit was commenced by the sun ivor, MipsBessie Susan Grant, to have the estate administered under the direction of the court. While this suit was in pi ogress this fortunate young lady wastravelhngon thecontinnent; and, while in Paris, shefound the sum allowed her by the trustees too small, for she wrote to his Honor (now Su Robert Molesworth, a very lengthy letter, complaining that the allowance ghen her by the trustees was quite insumcicnt. She wanted, she said, to lay in a stock of dresses while in Paiis, in order that she might show to advantage at the Governor's ball upon ker return to Melbourne, and the younglady finished up by asking his Honor what he thought the trustees knew about " feminine instincts "' His Honor did not deal with this epistle, being on the point of retiring, but handed it over to Mr Justice Webb, his successor on the Equity Bench. Judge Webb refused to take any hteps in the matter, but said that if the young lady wanted any larger allowance, ''he should apply to the com tin the proper way. However, a few months ago Miss Grant attained her majority, and lus now come into full possession of the sum of £80,000.