ANOTHER MAORI WILL CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2047, 26 January 1889, Page 2

ANOTHER MAORI WILL CASE

(PJBR PKESS ASSOCIATION.) Najier, Janaary 25. s Chief Jastibe Prendergast and a speoial jury have been occupied foot days In heariDg a will case bearing a strong resent* blance to the famous Donnelly Broagh ton case. An aged chief named Haura ogl died lait yeir at Te Ante. He was totally blind, and very deaf and feble for several years before hfs death. Soon afterwards probate was applied for and obtained by the ohleftainess Arihl to Nahu, on a wilj dated shortly before testator's death. Her oase was that she, her husband, and tiro relatives went to the old man before breakfast one morning, and asked him to make oat h ; a will In favor of Arlhl. He refused, bat said he would leave his property to his grandchildren, Including the ohlldren of Arlhi. Hameora, her husband, then drew up a will, and she guided Haurangi's hand, while he made a cross on It. Watene Hapuks, another near relative, sought to have the probate revoked and granted In favor of another and pilot will, properly drawn by a solicitor and a codloll drawn by Arohdeaoon Williams. The case for (he plalatlff was that Arlhi's will was a forgery, and h's witnesses swore that neither she, her husband,, nor her witnes*es. were at; Haarangt's on tbe day named, whloh was fixed by tbe death of a chief, Ncpera, who died that day, The oase finished early this morning, but the jary were unable to give a satisfactory verdict for many hours, and repeatedly returned Into Court for Instruction from his Honor. In the afternoon they gave a three-fourths verdict for the will proved by Arlbf, but with the addendum thatsome of the consenting jurors were of opinion that the evidence was very Buspiolcus. His Honor declined to take the verdict, and again directed the iuuy. To-night a three-fpurths verdlot was given without any resery#tton . Leave was vl ven to plaintiff's aolioltor to move that judgment be entered up for plaintiff or a new trial ordered.