MAORI WILL CASE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 180, 17 August 1937, Page 8

MAORI WILL CASE

Provision Asked For Minors Application for provision out of the estate of Puke Puke Tangiora, late chieftainess of Pakipaki, wh0 died in N ovember last, for the minor children of her "only son was made before Mr Justice Reed in the fciupreme Court at Napier yesterday. After legal argument by counsel, the hearing was adjourned to enable a draft order, drawn up from certain directions given by his Houour, to be submitted to the Court for approval. Mr. W. E. Bate appeared for the trustees, Mr. D. P. Seannell for the first defendants (the grandsons in receipt of annuities), and Mr. E. J. W. Hallett for the second defendants (the other children). Mr Bate explained that the estate of Pukepuke Tangiora, who died last year, had amounted to £85,000 after various duties had been • paid on the total of £93,000 testated. Half was iu native iands, and the remainder i'n a small quautity of European land, mortgagesi seeurities, and cash, the estate having been preserved intact by the chieftainess. Her son, at the time of her death, had nine children, two now being adults and seven minors, the latter being the second defendants. Mrs. . Tangiorsj, had provided an annuity of £1000 for her son, £60 to those children who were aged 16 at the time of her death in November last, and £300 per aunum to those who had attained their majority, being two in number, or for females married before .that time. The remainder of the estate was to be distributed after accumulating for 21 years among other members of her family. The son, however, died unexpectedly •six months after his mother, the annuity thus being cut off. It was fair to presume that this would have been used by the son in supporting his minor children, and the position now existiiig was that no provision had been made for the younger children. An order was asked from the Court for theiV maintenance.