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17. WANGANUI. N h> ■ Value. Estates and funds under administration— um er ' £ On 31st March, 1924 ~ .. .. .. .. 291 809,961 1925 .. .. .. .. ..325 1,100,826 New estates accepted during the year — Wills .. .. .. .. .. ..33 203,212 Trusts .. .. .. .. .. ..13 88,545 Intestate .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 20,156 Mental Patients .. .. .. .. .. 5 19,670 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. ..31 41,791 Totals 91 £373,374 Estates closed and distributed during the year .. .. 57 58,084 Wills deposited during the year .. .. .. .. 147 Total number of wills held at Branch on 31st March, 1925 .. 1,080 Value of securities held, £47,737. Cash held to credit of estate funds, £144,016. Cash receipts, £309,449 ; cash payments, £309,000. Common Fund investments in the district.—Flat mortgages, £639,371 ; local body debentures, £262,857. During the year loans to the value of £91,900 were granted. The loans granted from other funds at this Branch are as follows : Railway Superannuation Fund, £31,400; Public Service Superannuation Fund, £52,027 ; Teachers' Superannuation Fund, £52,820; National Provident Fund, £41,050. On the 31st March, 1924, there was a staff of fourteen employed at this Branch and on 31st March, 1925, fifteen, the addition being the appointment of a Legal Clerk to the Branch. Training of Junior Officers. —The junior officers when first appointed to their cadetship are instructed in the use of the typewriter as time permits, and later attached to the Administration Clerks or the Accounts Clerks with a view to acquiring a knowledge of the duties they may later be called upon to perform. The prospects of the Office in this district are remarkably bright. All the business shows a steady increase, and the satisfactory additions in the number and value of the wills deposited give every reason to view with much satisfaction the prospects of the Office in this district. Although the year just ended could hardly be classed as altogether favourable towards realization in view of the restricted money-market during the greater portion of the year, none the less assets to the value of £98,101 were realized during the period under review. The Farm Inspector visits this district at least three or four times a year, and during his visits inspects the various farm properties under the control of the Office and directs the work in connection with them. The serial advertisements regarding the various duties performed by the Public Trustee appear in both of the local papers, and no doubt these advertisements are bringing the Office more and more under the notice of the public. 18. WELLINGTON. The information furnished below will disclose that the progress of this Branch is well maintained, and the volume of business steadily increasing. Particulars are as follows: — , Value. Estates and funds under administration.— JNumDer. £ On 31st March, 1924 1,552 5,449,309 1925 1,726 5,141,281 It will be noted that the number of estates has increased while there has been a decrease in value. The explanation lies in the fact that certain funds formerly held by this Branch are not now under its administration. Actually the average value of the estates is maintained. N . Value. New estates accepted during the year — INum er ' £ Wills 125 287,112 Trusts .. .. •• •• •• ..54 134,351 Intestate .. •• ••• •• ..75 41,942 Mental Patients .. .. .. .. 41 37,198 Miscellaneous .. .. .. ..22 11,476 Total .. .. .. ..317 £512,079 Estates closed and distributed during the year .. .. 227 161,427 Estates both accepted and closed during the year .. .. 72 59,481 Wills deposited during the year .. .. .. .. 703

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