PLAINTIFF'S EVIDENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10608, 5 June 1920, Page 8

PLAINTIFF'S EVIDENCE

BIRTHPLACE AND ORIGIN. . WHY NOT NATURALISED. George "William von Zedlitz deposed that his -present occupation was taking pupils privately, and he resided at the Lower Hutt. Mr Skerrett: ' Has that been your oooupation during the war since the' termination of your engagement at Victoria College? Witness: No, during that period I was engaged in manual employment only. ft By His Honour: There may have been some small literary jobs, but it was mainly manual employment. Mr Skerrett: And after the termination of the war you began to take in private pupils? _ _ . Witness: I obtained permission from the Government in one case and proloeeded to take other pupils on the strength of that. PRUSSIAN FATHER—DUTCH • MOTHER. Witness stated that his father was Sigismund von Zedlitz, an ex-officer of the Prussian Army, and was the eldest son of a squire in Silesia. His mother was born in Stamford Hill. London, her father being Ernest Wolff, a merohant, whose homo was in Leeds.

Of what extraction was ho?—-I believe originally of Dutch extraction; but for centuries the family had been residing in England. He would not swear to the legends of family anoe*try, but that was what he had been told. He saw his father on one occasion only, at the age of four. That occasion did not extend to months. Ho believed "that the marriage of his. parents terminated' in 1876, when he. was,five years old. Ho was brought up by and lived with his mother. He was at school at Dresden, in Germany, for a period of two years from the age of six to eight. At eight years of ago his mother removed to Great Britain and resided in the Island of Guernsey, in Yorkshire, and at Eastbourne for three or four years, ing which time ho nit/tended school Guernsey, at Green Ha,ll School, Belper, and at Eastbourne College. She then lived in Italy and the south of Franco for health reasons, practically until her death in 1897. During this period she sent him to a school in Germany, for ono year. Ho was then 11 years of age. It was at a boarding school at Gotha, in Saxony. South Germany. Next he went to Wellington College in Berkshire, for three years. At 18 he went for four years to Trinity College, Oxford, as a scholarship pupil. He graduated at Oxford, coming down in 1893. _After that he earned bis living as assistant master in schools and by private tuition. From 1895, two yearn or so after leaving the university, until coming to New Zealand, he was form-master nt Loretto, Musselburirh, near Edinburgh, a vorv well-known school. _ Ho was entirely dependent noon his own exertions for a> living, and ■ always had hep". Tn 1901 aonlications -n-ere advertised for a. position nt the Victoria Cr>lWe. Wolliturton. He applied "for it and seeni-cd the appointment. Mr Pomber Reeves, representing New Zealand. the arent for the matter in Ftnsland. and Mr Eve representing the university. He informed them of his nationalitv. Ho made a full statement in making the application. Mr Reeves discussed it with him then. QUESTION OF NATURALISATION. Mr Skerrett: Was there any discussion as <to naturalisation ? Witn-is: To the best of my memory.

Mr Reeves said: "I, observe that you are nob naturalised." . 1 "ies; but I have no objection, iTjou confer it necessary an Now Zealand." He is , £ best of my recolleobion: &at is a matter entirely lor yourself. It *iU make no difference to .the ™ y 7 ™ whioli you are treated m *ew Zealand." I was married in New Zealand in 1905 to a New Zealand girl, by whom I have three children. S.nce the termination of my professorship I have been earning my living in tho way described. I had been about twelve years, in service at the time the war broke out on August 4th, JVIr Skerrett.: "What did you do then in regard to your professorship? Witness: On the afternoon of that day 1' went to the house of Mr Ostler, the chairman of the College, Council, and there tendered the otter of my resignation. Air Skerrett: Was the offer accepted?—N°- , T .I." , *'-ll And nothing yras done, I ttank, tin the Act of 1916 was passed ?—There were some debates at the College Council, but nothing was. done. I remained ! until my employment was terminated by the Alien Enemy Teachers', Act of Wero you arrested for any breach of the War Relations?—No. _. Did you commit, any breach ot the War Regulations ?—Not knowingly: They are numerous as sands of the sea shore. (Laughter.) Have you observed the obligations which the . hospitality of tho country imposed upon you during the war? Witness: Pedantically. ■ Before you came to New Zealand had you communicated with your relatives in Germany?—Yes, at very-long intervals.