WESTLAKE’S WILL CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1931, Page 5

WESTLAKE’S WILL CASE

(By Telegraph-**Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 19.

In the Westlake case, the evidence of the son, Arthur John Westlake, was a recital of harsh and cruel conduct on the part'of 'the father to the children. He said that when he worked on the farm, breaking in rough land, he never received sixpence in wages. If he had to go to Pahiatua, he had a meal ia£ the tea shop. > Counsel: Who paid for that? Witness: My father. Counsel: How much? Witness : Sixpence. *

Witness said lie never KnM the money to go to sports with when 20 years of age. He said he left home £0 go to his uncle’s place at Akaroa. His counAin lent him £lO, with which he bought clothes and paid his fare. Constable T. Burrell, of Pahiatua, described the testator as a man of peculiar ideas at times. Making money seemed to be his hobby. He . talked about his family occasionally, and witness gathered that he had not much love for them. Joshua John Swigg, saddler, who worked for Westlake for some years, and subsequently bought a business from him at Pahiatua,. 'said Westlake was hard with his son and knocked him about, He never gave him any

money. Unhappy relations between Westlake and his family were described by Mrs I. A. Redcliff, of Palmerston North who boarded with the family lor some time at Pahiatua, She ■thought Westlake "decidedly queer, but the mother and children agreed very well together. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.