ADMINISTRATION OF A MAORI ESTATE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16168, 23 March 1918, Page 8

ADMINISTRATION OF A MAORI ESTATE.

COMMISSION OP ENQUIRY. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 22. Mr H. W. Uisiiop, o.iii., sat to-daf as a local Commission to enquiro inio matters connected with the llangi Kerehoma Estate, in the Wairarapa. The Commission is the outcome of charges made in Parliament by Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P. The parties represented by counsel are Mr Hornsby* Ohennells (lormerly agent for the Pudlic Trustee at A\ airurapa) and the Public Trustee. Mr Mori6on, who appeared for Mr Hornsby, said that before llangi Kerehoma camo of age the Public Trustee administered his estate, which was valued then at from £80,000 _to £100,000. Six months after coming of ago llangi Kerehoma gave Chennclls a power of attorney, which enabled the latter to do things which it was alleged should not have been done in administering an estate. When the power of attorney was revoked, in consequence of certain land transactions, the statement of accounts by Chennells showed a startling improvidence, Rangi Kerehoma was spending money at the rate of thousands a year. Mr C. P. Skerrett l Reargued that the Commission could inquire onlj into the conduct of a public officer and into - his conduct as a public officer only. He contended that after Kerehoma attained his majority. Chennells did not act for him as an officer of the Public Trust, but as a private agent. He supgosted that the inquiry should be limited to the connexion of the Public Trust Offico at Masterton with th" mutter. Tho Commissioner snid lie would exn"l opinion on the points raised bv Mr St-^rrett. Mr C B- Mor'son. K.C.. nrpnied that was flenr''* within tho Fotjne r> r Commission, becnip" .ho rz>mniTir.'l +lir. rvrnni-, <■.* Public Tr"°|ve riiir;«,sr »'-»•! time ho vras making Th** ™"ns Mo"t- pvr— inrr Jud'— ; lfH<l^ —in the case, will be in Wellington.