ADMINISTRATION OF AN INTESTATE ESTATE.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1090, 18 July 1873, Page 2

ADMINISTRATION OF AN INTESTATE ESTATE.

The subject matter of the following letter, appearing in the Nelson Daily Examiner, of the Bth instant, need's prompt enquiry and explanation : Sik,—On the 10th of April, 1873, William Taylor, commonly known by the name of " Scotty," a brickmaker, was burned to death in an accidental fire that occurred in Broadway, Reefton. The inquest was held by Mr Charles Broad, R.M.. Reefton, Coroner, and an order was, I understand, given by him to Constable Jeffries to procure a coffin for the remains of '• Scotty," who died intestate. The constable, obeying the coroner, gave the order to the carpenter who would execute the work at the lowest price. Mr" Donne, who acted :is agent for the Curator of Intestate Estates in the district, hearing of the death, arrives on the scene, thanks the constable for his ..rouble, tells hiin that the funeral expenses shall be paid immediately on sale of the property left by the deceased, takes po." session of some hundreds of bricks left by Scotty and has them put up to auction. Result of sale, I believe* £2? odd. Mr Donne then informs the constable that he finds he has no power to allow said expenses, but must pay all over to Curator, and he must send claim to Curator. Claim sent accordingly, and nothing more heard of it. Time goes on. The carpenter who made the coffin wanting his money, sues the constable in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Reefton. Judgl ment is given against him, the constable, for amount claimed. Execution is stayed till Mr Donne can be communicated with, but no one can find out Mr Donne's where<) bouts. The New Zealand Gazette, No. 36, June 5, 1873, contains the following statement by the Curator, Mr Pollock, dated May 9, 1873 :- "Name of deceased," William Taylor; "Colonial resi<lence,"Keefton; " Value, or estimated value of personal e*tate," .£8 5s # 3dj "Time of deceased's death," 10thApril, 1873* " Remarks,"—Burned to death. What has become of the balance, £l9 odd ? If it has been expended, as I presume it has, in expenses connected with the sale, and those expenses are allowed to be retained or immediately deducted, surely the bare expenses of a coffin should be also allowed to be so immediately retained or deducted. I must say that if my fisures are correct, as I have everv reason to b.dieve they are. that the sum of £l'J for the_ collection of £27, seems, to sav the least of it, a heavy charge on the estate of the decease!. It appears that judgment can be, at any rate it has been, recorded against a constable for executing the order of a Coroner as to the burial of a body in such a ease as that above stated. If the law so stands, the sooner it is altered the better. It should be clearly understood and laid down by the Legislature, that in the event of a man dying intostate, the Curator has full power to incur, and immediately pay out of any funds in his possession, the expenses attached to the burial of the body. I cull the attention of Mr O'Conor, M.H.R. for the Buller district, to the above.—And remain, &c, _ , _ Observes. Keefton, July 1.