THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 720, 18 March 1881, Page 2

THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE.

tin these days, of,- progress,-. were it not for the gros : s4ndialmdst-,briminal negligence .displayed, it might be thought scarcely necessary to remind persons that they have duties to perform which, if neglected, hot only bring disasters of the most seriousoharacters on whole families, but prove'that those'who'fail to discharge these duties are wholly wanting in the very qualities which they assume, and would fain'lead others to believe that they abundantly possess.. ..IWant'of ordinei7 forethought, lack" of ■ common prudence, are deficiencies which suchpersons exhibit in a : lamentable degree. Ninetynine personsout of every to consider the great business ot life.islo make money, but the proportion of those who consider how money should be used when made,.might be-more estimated by the odd one of thehundred. Money, iri common with other ; blessings, is given to us for our own benefit and for that of those' entrusted-to-our care. It is afrustration of the intentions of the Giver/if we wilfully neglect to provide for those, of our own' household. We do not refer so muctitoihe mere provisions for present wants as to the providing for the requirements of those who may at any moment be .rendered destitute of the veiy necessaries of life, if these wise precautions be neglected.. Mere selfishneß induces energy while life and health last, and impels men to use their utaios exertions to secure prosperity, or at least to live decently in the world, but a reckless carelessness with respect to the future causes them to forget, or neglect the duty of saving against the day of death or adversity. There are other pretexts for heedlessness with respect to the future. .It is said by one, "I have to work for my living; let my children, after lam gone, work lor theirs" By another it is said, "What is the use of my saving for others ? Ten to one it will be squandered by them." To the first-of these it may be replied, "How do you know your children will be of age to work when you are taken from them ?" To the second we answer, "It is merely assumption on your part that your hard-earned savings will be squandered; but in order to prevent this, make such provision as shall preclude the possibility of it. You have .the power of putting your property in the hands of your Mends, who, after your death, will look after it;; and see that your wife and children do not want.'.' You reply, "There are certain things with which Inever trust my friends during my lifetime, when I can exercise a' certain control over them.' One of these is my money. I certainly will- not trust them with it when I am no longer able to. exercise my control. Besides, when I remember A.-B'. and C./men esteemed as highly respectable and deeply religious until that (for them) unfortunate.exposure of the way in which they mismanaged certain trusts committed to them, I am not inclined thus to hazard my hard-earned savings. Nor do I wish my friends, who love and respect me now, to consider me a bore after death, and regret that I had entailed so much trouble and responsibility upon them.;'.. There is a great deal of common sense in all this.,, There is. no doubt that trustees do' experience trouble.and difficulty in connection with private trusts, .whilst those interested in them are likely to be defrauded.and deceived, We can read almost daily of instances of frauds, of family quarrels and embezzlement in connection with private trusts, and these things show how difficult it is to obtain persons properly qualified to undertake the duties of trustees. Tho Government of the colony,' recognising all this as true, although one lof England's latest acquired possessions, has taken a step far in advance of other colonies, and even the mother 'country herself, by providing for the : administration of estates and tat properties, with, out the slightest fear of loss or risk, either, from ■ incapacity, .of.. mind or dishonesty of purpose. We allude to thoappointment of a Public Trustee, special office is to administer all estates "of which he may be appointed executor by will. Besides this ho is empowered to take chargo of all kinds of money trusts, such as those Under marriage settlements; sums to be invested for the benefit of minors, or bequeathed for charitable purposes; moneys, the title to which is in dispute, or the legal owner of'which is unknpwn; to administer all-intestate estates, of which letters, of administration have not been granted to relatives or other persons entitled thereto.; tho realisation, and distribution of the residues after the payment of all just debts, The administration of the estates of lunatic patients also devolvos on tho Public Trustee.as well as the (protection of all lands, lying waste, of which the owneris unknown, or has been absent from the colony for ten years without having loft any known agent. > Thus it will be seen that/the number of cases needing tho appointment of private trustees must be very limited, if not absolutely reduced to nil. No one can possibly object, with reason, to entat his property to the care'of the Public Trustee. The whole colony is responsible for the due fulfillment of all trusts, and for the safe custody of the property placed under the control of this officer; and by one judge at least it has been'expressed that it is a satisfaction to the Court to be_ able to appoint a public officer tc discharge certain duties (as the Court has power to do) instead of having the name of. some person proposed into whose.fitaess the Court would have to enquire.. It inusf be added that while, for the protection of persons placing property in the Publio Trust-Office, the colony is made ultimately responsible, to preserve the publio funds as far as possible from loss no trust can be received nor any property' parted with without the consent of a Board, of which the Colonial Treasurer' and the Attorney-General of the colony are mem-' bers: nor. can any mquey.be issued without the approvalof the Auditor and Con-troller-Geqeral. . ;^"*''

IIEMimSOKKCES OH til? year 1845" a worthy citizen pioaded his way with some difficulty through fern and ti'tree to Te Aro Plat baiog in search' of tlie surveyr's opeg which had been driven'in at tbo corner of what ia now Cuba and Dixon streets, Upon this spot was erected a small house, in which a very successful drapery business was carried on by.two ladies of remarkable talent and energy* who *hava long sincei retired from the scene to the 1 nd of their birth*— - ~ "Land o* the mountain and the flood, : Land of brown heath and shaggy wood. In the year 1866 it passed; into the hands of Mb Jamrs Surra, the present .proprietor, who'gave tp the premises-the; appropriate name of To Aro House, and under whose management. business-' has : steadily progressed with tlie-risiug /fortunes <£ the city, until at length it.was,found 0 rable was one of :.jhe-mostv ; ''comp^ettV»i3 :^Ext?ii'?i T P colto of Now Zealand. The' Jeneral Drapery.p'cciipies aiargeßpace',.being 49' feet hyw four,: amply sufficient for ;all Manches'.er good*