Untitled

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 7

Upon the findings of Mr. CharW | Hartlett, who has been appointed _ a special commissioner to axauiiuo witnesses at, Thursday island, the legality of the will of Madame Nordica, c.\c'cuted by her last year, will to a crtat extent depond. Mr. Hartlett is viceconsul for the United States m Mo!- | 'bourne, and he lias been nistruofe.l by tlio Surrogate Court of New York to proceed to Thursday Island, wnero it is alleged that Madame Nordica drew uo her second will. An attempt is Sieii'g made through the New Jersey Cunts by George W. Young, the husband of 'Madame Nordica, to obtain probate of the first will, which was executed : n 1910. and in which- the singer left, a l ' she possessed to nini. In the later '.will, however, the husband was practically out off, from a shars in the estate, ,valued approximately ab VI (10,000. The irelatives of Madame Nordica are endeavouring to obtain probate of the 1914 will in the Now York Court, and the question of 'he validity of the second will is now to go before the Courts in both States simultaneously. Mr. Hartlett's instructions are to examine the witnesses who were said to be present when the seco.id v-'l to dr-'Wi: up. He will commenco !'s investigation? on May 1. At the meeting of the Frankton County Council, held in Pukekohe last week, strong opposition was offered by members to a suggestion that a rabbit board should, be brought into existence, to hare jurisdiction over the county. . The alleged neglect of the Agricultural Department in instituting proceedings against farmers who took no steps to 'combat the evil was, it was contended, responsible for the _ fact that _ rabbitß •■were such a plague in the district, and it was urged by a majority of councillors that compulsory poisoning operations would effect a remedy without, such harsh measures as would be entailed by the oreation of a rabbit board. As in other parts of the Dominion, land in the Palmerston South and Macraes districts of Otago has shown a marked advance in value during the last few years. A typical instance of the enhanced prices now ruling, as compared •with what could be obtained for the same land five years ago, came under the notice of a 'Daily Times" reporter •while in conversation with a well-knotni farmer at Palmerston on Saturday. He stated that, five years ago, he had purchased over 3000 acres at £2 12s. 6a. per acre. Two years ago he had disposed of a part nf his holding, about 100 acres in extent, at £3 10s. j)er acre, and he was at present negotiating to sell the balance at £5 10s. per acre. He estimated that the improvements he had i effected during the five years did not amount to more than an average of 2s. i6d. per acre.