72

38  &  39  Vict.  Cap.  60,  s.  15.

(4.)  Distribution  of  sums  not  exceeding  fifty  pounds.—If
any  member  of  a  society  [or  branch]  entitled  from  the  funds
thereof  to  a  sum  not  exceeding  fifty  pounds,  dies  intestate
and  without  having  made  any  nomination  under  this  Act
which  remains  unrevoked  at  his  death,  such  sum  shall  be
payable,  without  letters  of  administration,  to  the  person
who  appears  to  a  majority  of  the  trustees,  upon  such  evidence ­
  as  they  may  deem  satisfactory,  to  be  entitled  by  law
to  receive  the  same.
(5.)  Payments  to  persons  apparently  entitled  valid.—Whenever ­
  the  society  [or  branch],  after  the  decease  of  any  member, ­
  pays  any  sum  of  money  to  the  person  who  at  the  time
appears  to  the  trustees  to  be  entitled  under  this  section,  the
payment  is  valid  and  effectual  against  any  demand  madeirpon
the  trustees  or  the  society  [or  branch]  by  any  other  person.
(6.)  When  trustees  are  absent,  <Scc.,  registrar  may  order
stock  to  be  transferred.—When  any  person,  being  or  having
been  a  trustee  of  a  society  [or  branch],  and  whether  appointed ­
  before  or  after  the  legal  establishment  thereof,  in
whose  name  any  stock  belonging  to  such  society  [or  branch]
transferable  at  the  Bank  of  England  or  Bank  of  Ireland  is
standing,  either  jointly  with  another  or  others,  or  solely,  is
absent  from  Great  Britain  (a)  or  Ireland  respectively,  or  becomes ­
  bankrupt,  or  files  any  petition  or  executes  any  deed

provision  will  be  found  of  great  benefit  to  depositors  in  savings
banks  and  members  of  friendly  societies,  particularly  with  reference ­
  to  the  easy  and  comparatively  inexpensive  mode  of  now
obtaining,  by  personal  application  at  the  Court  of  Probate,
London,  or  at  the  office  of  the  district  registrar  in  the  country,  a
probate  or  letters  of  administration.
By  36  &  37  Vict.  c.  52,  administration  to  the  estate  of  an
intestate  not  exceeding  £100  may  be  obtained  by  his  widow  or
children  through  the  county  court  for  a  small  fee  in  England  or
Ireland;  and  by  38  &  39  Viet.  c.  41,  confirmation  in  Scotland
for  an  estate  not  exceeding  £150  may  be  obtained  from  the  commissary ­
  clerk  for  a  small  fee.  Further  relief  from  trouble  and
expense,  in  the  case  of  small  estates,  is  contemplated  by  a  bill
now  before  parliament.
By  38  &  39  Vict.  c.  27,  the  benefits  of  the  Act  36  &  37  Vict.
c.  52,  are  extended  to  the  children  of  a  widow  dying  intestate.
(a)  “  England  ”  in  the  Act  of  1875.  The  correction  to  “  Great
Britain”  is  introduced  by  s.  10  of  the  Act  of  1876.