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7. GREYMOUTH. The figures for the year ended 31st March, 1925, show distinct progress as regards the business transacted by the Office in this district, as the following facts and figures will show : — Estates and funds under administration— _ T , Value. Number. £ On 31st March, 1924 .. .. .. .. ..248 172,448 1925.. .. .. .. ..298 233,906 New estates accepted during the year — Wills .. .. .. .. .. ..39 58,254 Trusts .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 481 Intestate .. .. .. .. .. ..19 7,794 Mental Patients .. .. .. .. .. 8 4,606 Common Fund investments .. .. .. 13 6,379 Special investments .. .. .. .. .. 13 8,300 Sinking Funds .. .. .. .. ..13 9,431 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. . 3 1,850 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 112 97,098 Number. ™ ue - Estates closed and distributed during the year .. .. 62 18,907 Estates which were both accepted and closed during the year .. 14 5 ,679 Wills deposited during the year .. .. .. ~ 150 Total number of wills deposited to 31st March, 1925 1,178 Sinking funds in district (cash and investments) .. 18 55,924 Particulars with regard to Benefit Funds. —The amount at credit of the Brunner Disaster Relief Fund as at 31st March, 1925, was £2,444 4s. 4d. The number of annuitants receiving benefit therefrom was nineteen, the annual amount payable being approximately £540. Under trust instrument dated Ist October, 1896, the sum of £31,147 raised by public subscriptions in New Zealand and Australia was vested in the Public Trustee for the benefit of the widows and orphans of the miners who lost their lives in the Brunner Mine disaster, which occurred on the 26th March, 1896. Provision was made in the deed for widows to receive 12s. per week, and 4s. per week for each child under the age of sixteen years. Value of securities held, £17,354. Cash held to credit of estate funds, £53,545. Cash receipts, £61,984 ; Cash payments, £62,207. Agencies at Westport, Reefton, and Hokitika are controlled by the District Public Trustee, Greymouth. Regular visits have been paid to each at intervals during the year. West-port Agency. —The Office is making progress in this part of the district. There was quite a steady flow of new business reported from this Agency, both as regards new wills deposited and new estates reported for administration. Reefton Agency. —-The portion of the district served by this Agency is rather poor. Taking this fact into consideration, the Office made fair progress during the year. Holdtika Agency. —Apart from the administration work in connection with local estates, there is a considerable amount of searching, stamping, and registration of documents for Greymouth and other parts of the Coast to be attended to by the Hokitika Agent. This work is always promptly carried out and well done. Total staff employed as at 31st March, 1925, nine. One additional cadet was appointed during the year. Training of Junior Officers. —Close personal supervision has been exercised over the work and training of the junior officers, with very satisfactory results. Prospects of the Office. —The prospects for [the growth of the business in this district are bright. An indication of the growing popularity of the Office is found in the fact that the number of persons whose wills were deposited with the Public Trustee through the Greymouth Branch for the year was 150, being an increase of nearly 50 per cent, over the number deposited for the previous year. Several letters of appreciation were voluntarily forwarded to the Branch from beneficiaries who were pleased with the manner in which estates in which they were interested had been administered by the Office. Such clients almost invariably do what they can to advance the interests of the Office by advising their friends to make wills and to appoint the Public Trustee as executor and trustee therein. There has been also quite a large number of verbal expressions of appreciation of the work done by the Office. Realizations.—There was considerable activity in this branch of the work. The total amount of realizations was £34.374, made up thus :— Number. Va^ e " Sales of freehold and leasehold properties .. .. ..24 13,879 Life policies collected .. .. .. .. ..10 2,859 Mortgages repaid .. .. .. .. .. ..4 974 Motor-car sold .. .. .. .. .. 1 400 Shares sold .. .. .. .. .. .... 409 Accounts. Post Office Savings-bank moneys collected .. .. ..31 8,176 Bank moneys collected (fixed-deposit receipts and current accounts) 32 6,045 Inscribed stock and debentures .. .. .. .. 10 1,628

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