HUNTER ESTATE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 150, 13 July 1937, Page 7

HUNTER ESTATE

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. 'J'l w ■ > ■ ■ • Defendant Gives Evidence oi Farming STAT10N MANAGEMENT

(By i'elegrnpb-'

WELLINGTON, This* Day. Yesterday afternoon Thomas Percy Hunter entered tlie wituess-box in the Bupreme- Court, Wellington, to give evjdence for the defence in the action which Lady Hunter has brought to havo him and his brother, Cyril Paul Hunter, removed from the trusteesliip of the estate of her late husband, fSir George Hunter, on the ground that they havo nhsmanaged the ostate, the cliief property in whieh is Porangahau Station. Mr Justice Smith is presiding, Mr J. D, Willis, with him Mr R. It, Scott, represents Lady Hunter, and Mr G, H. Weston, K.C., with him Mr J, H. Punu, represents the trustees, Continuing his evidence Erederick Leo Selby, stock buyei*, who was in the faox whcn the court adjourned on Fri"day, commented on the evidence given for plaintifi regarding station management. Percy Frederick Wa 11, sheepfarmer, Hatuma, Hawke's Bay, guve evidence similar in character to thaf of the previou§ witness, He sajd he had had 40 year's farming experience and was Aow farming 4500 acres at Hatuma and betwpen 900 and 1000 acres at Makerua, near Shannon. Also He was supervising 800 acres at Te Uri, near Ormondvil'.e. He said Porangahau Station had iiuproved since Sir George Hunter' s degth. Thomas iPercy Hunter said that he, his fatlier and his uncle, Sir George Hunter, worked Porangahau Station in partnership until 1908. Of the two brothers, Sir George Hunter was the manager and witness worked under him. The brothers separated in 1908 and witness worked for his father until 1922, wlien his father gave him part of the estate now called llax Flat. Howevcr, his own. farm and that of his father, Papikihau, were worked in conjunction, and witness managed them, his father being unable to get about. While Sir George Hunter was attending Parliament, witness assisted him, and he had aiways been in close touch with Sir George' s land. When Sir George had a stroke in 1929 he automatically took charge of the station. During his uncle's iilnes3 witness supervised the-station, earrying on the policy of its owner. During Sir George' s -lifetime, Lady Hunter did not suggest that witness was incapable of managiug the station. The meeting of the three trustees oi' the wiil that was not proyed, at which Messrs A. Dunp aua D. M, Finalay were presenfc, as well as Lady. Hunter and himself, appointed witness supervjsor at £200 a year, and he retained the appointment until 1932. Since witness had changed the Shorthorn cattle for Polled Angus the station' s cattle had jmproved, and there had been no difficulty in disposing of the surplus at good prices. While he was sup.ervisor lie put into operation the sheep-breeding policy that he had told Lady Hunter was correct. After his brother was appomted a trustee in 1932 he continued tbe policy. He had receiyed no eomplaint about his policy regarding the ewes until the present action, and he tkought it had been a success. .Commenting on the criticiSm that he should have increased the number of ewes on the station more rapidly than he did, witness said more fences were needed first. To-day it was quite a fair flock. It was getting into the second cross between the Komneys that had. beeji introduced since Sir George's death and the original Lincolns and was improving fast. None of the old Lincolns were left. The mortality rate and the lambing per. centages were now all right and the sheep were receiving the attention they reauired from the station manager. The trustees disposed of the racehorse stud that was on the farm when Sir George Hunter died, but retained the draught liorse stud, and witness was satisfied with the condition of the latter horses. The hearing will be continued this morning.