Its Constitution and Objects.

The Public Trust Office was constituted by "The Public Trust Office Act, 1872. and its functions have since been much enlarged by amending Acts, necessary to enable the office to meet the growing requirements of the public and of the business The Amendment Acts of 1891 and 1893 present many new and important features They facilitate the administration of properties placed in the office; provide for the administration by the Public Trustee of intestate estates of a value not exceeding £250 without the expense of an order of the Court; provide for the notification to the Public Trustee of the money and property of deceased persons, by persons, etc, having the custody of such property and knowing it to be vested in the Public Trustee; authorise a more prompt distribution of the residue of testate and intestate estates; provide absolute security from loss to properties of the funds arising from them which may be invested at the discretion of the Public Trustee in mortgages of real estate within the colony, or in General Government securities of the colony; insure the regular and punctual payment of interest on such funds; and, by rending practicable a more efficient conduct of the office and of the arrangement of the accounts, have raised the office in the estimation of the public.