MATAKANA ISLAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 6, 4 May 1912, Page 5

MATAKANA ISLAND.

ROBIESON v. SANSON. JUDGMENT RESERVED. Lper 'Press Association j Wellington, May 3. Before Mr. Justice Sim in the Supreme Court to-day, legal argument and counsels’ addresses were neard in tne Taranaki case of Morns Carr iiobieson v. Henry Sanson, jun., an action for specific performance of an agreement to exchange farm lands. Mr. H. I). Bell, K.C., with him Mr. J. B. Roy, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., witii him Mr. R. Spence (of Stratford) for the defendant. Evidence in the case was heard in the course of a -four days’ _ sitting 'at New Plymouth. The land involved in the case is Matakaaa Island, a low-ly-ing stretch opposite Taurangi Island some 8000 acres of land, of which wore purchased'by Robinson in 1910 at 12s Ixl per acre, llobieson effected a few hundred pounds’ worth of improvements, and, after eleven months’ occupation, sold to the defendant, for £3 10s per acre 1 . As part paymeht Robiesen took over defendant’s farm of 1200 acres, a few miles out of Stratford, and a large sum remained on mortgage. Defendant took over Robiesoi).’s mortgage to Bayly (the original owner of Matakaaa) of £5470 .so that in reality it was contended lie paid £30,600 for a property which changed hands less than a year previously for ■under £5470. When it came to completing the agreement Sanson refused to proceed, alleging that plaintiff had been guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation. His Honour reserved judgment.