Land
388
because they involve questions be which would probably be submitted to the Foreign Office, and I therefore thought it more convenient to deal with them in a separate communication. The first relates to the administration of the effects of deceased foreigners. At present, the Registrar of the Supreme Court is Official Administrator of the estate of all intestates, which may be found within the Colony. This is regulated by Ordinance No 8 of 1860 and Ordinance No 9 of 1870. Notwithstanding these provisions, Foreign Consuls upon the death of their nationals almost invariably lay claim to the custody and administration of his effects under instructions from their respective Government, and it is very difficult to convince them that they must conform to the local law and give up the custody of the estate to the Official Administrator or apply to the Supreme Court for Letters of Administration. I have been privately informed that it is quite...