deemed to be vested in his successor without any further transfer or conveyance.
14. It shall be lawful for the Official Administrator, whenever he thinks it expedient to do so and upon such evidence of death as he deems sufficient, to receive or take possession of the private papers, moneys, goods, chattels, and other movable property whatsoever of any deceased person which may be found within the Colony, and to provide for the safe custody thereof, until probate of the will of such deceased person or administration of his estate has been granted by the Court: Provided always that the Official Administrator may, in lieu thereof, if he thinks fit, issue forthwith a commission of appraisement of all or any of such property.
15. Every person who, without lawful authority or excuse in that behalf, (the proof whereof shall lie on him), (1) Removes or attempts to remove out of the Colony any such property as is mentioned in the last preceding section; or (2) Destroys, conceals, or refuses to yield up any such property on demand to the Official Administrator, shall, on summary conviction thereof, be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
16. The Official Administrator shall have a lien upon all property mentioned in section 14 for the reasonable expenses incurred by him in respect thereof in carrying out the provisions of the said section, and such expenses shall also constitute a primary charge on the estate of the deceased person.
17.—(1) When any person dies leaving a will within the Colony, the person in whose keeping such will has been deposited or who finds such will after the testator's death, shall produce, and, if required, shall deliver, the same to the Official Administrator within fourteen days after the death of the testator or from the time when he has had notice thereof, or from the time of the finding of the will, as the case may be. (2) Every person who refuses or neglects to comply with the requirements of this section shall, on summary conviction thereof, be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.
18. From and after the decease of any person dying intestate and administration is granted in respect of his estate, the estate of such deceased person shall be vested in the Official Administrator.
19. When the whole estate of any person dying intestate in the Colony does not, in the opinion of the Official Administrator, exceed in value the sum of fifty dollars, it shall be lawful for the Official Administrator, if he thinks fit, without any legal formality, to receive or take possession of such estate and to administer the same in a summary manner for the benefit of all persons interested therein.
20.—(1) On application made by the Official Administrator, the Court shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, grant to him administration in any of the following cases, that is to say, (a) Where a person dying intestate, whether in this Colony or elsewhere, has left property situate in the Colony and no next of kin of such person are resident in the Colony; (b) Where a person dying intestate, whether in this Colony or elsewhere, has left property situate in the Colony and the next of kin of such person who are resident in the Colony file in the Registry a request for or consent to the making of such grant, in writing signed by them; (c) Where a person dying intestate, whether in this Colony or elsewhere, has left property situate in the Colony, and no person has, within twelve months after the death of such person, obtained administration of his estate; and (d) Where a person dying intestate, whether in this Colony or elsewhere, has left property situate in the Colony and the next of kin of such person who are resident in the Colony are infants under the age of twenty-one years.
Power to Official Administrator to take possession of property of deceased person until grant of probate or administration. (No. 4 of 1870, s. 14.)
Penalty for voluntarily concealing or removing out of the Colony property of deceased person. (No. 9 of 1870, s. 5.)
Lien on property of deceased person for expenses under s. 14. (No. 9 of 1870, s. 7.)
Obligation on person having custody of will to produce it. (No. 9 of 1870, s. 3.)
Vesting of estate of deceased person in Official Administrator until grant of administration. (No. 8 of 1870, s. 20.)
Power to Official Administrator to administer estate of intestate not exceeding $50 in value in summary manner.
Cases in which Official Administrator is entitled to administration.