NATIVE LAND COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1700, 16 March 1906, Page 2

NATIVE LAND COURT.

EIGHTS QP ADOPTED CHILDREN

(Per Press Asaooiation.)

Wellington, last night. In the course of judgment delivered at SpriDg Creek, Marlborough, in an important case, Judges Palmer and Edgar, of the Na'ivc Land Court, said : " The Na'ive Land Court has already extended the rights of adopted children under the native custom of succession further than the law of New Zealand would authorise, and we think it neither expedient nor necessary to further enlarge auoh a custom in divergence from the law of New Zealand. There has not hitherto been any [ decision by the Native Land Court that under the native customs of adoption and succession, adopting parents are entitled to succeed to the lauds of the child they have adopted, but who predeceases them. But as it agrees with tbo law of Now Zealand we see no reason why it should not to incorporated into the present native custom of succession ; more especially 8s natural justice would seem to require that adopting parents should have even more right to succeed to the child they have adopted, bd2 upon whom they I expended their substance aud fostering I oare than the adopted children would have I to sucoeed them,"