A MAORI'S WILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 146, 17 July 1909, Page 2

A MAORI'S WILL.

AN ALLEGED SCANDALOUS AND EXTRAOBDINAIiY CASE. I By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A special Court, consisting of the Native Land Court Judges Jones and Kawson and Hemi Eruti (assessor) sat today to hear application for the re-trial of the whole proceedings- in regard to I lie will of Wi Matua, deceased. Application for a new trial was made on the grounds that the dwi-sions of the Native Land Court and Xative Appellate Court refusing to grant prohate of the will of Wi Matua were obtained by fraud. It was further alleged that the decisions of the same Courts on applications for succession to interests of Wi Matua in various blocks' of land were secured by false evidence and collusion. Mr. Baldwin appeared for the applicants, and Messrs Skerrett, Eraser and LougJraan for the other parties. Messrs Skerrett and Eraser took strong exception to the application, which was characterised as unwarranted on facts and without merit of any kind. Mr. Eraser said the case was one of the most scandalous and extraordinary ever brought before a civilised Court. He declared he wanted not to read affidavits but to get certain witnesses in the box on oath. The Court decided that until the contrary was slunvn, it must a/oiune it had jurisdiction. Mr. Baldwin applied for leave to put in certain affidavits in amplification of the facts alrerdy stated in the amplication. Messrs Eraser and Skerrett protested. The former dc manded witnesses instead of affidavits so that they could be put into the box and testify on oath that they had committed perjury, after which "they could be dealt with in another Court. Mr. , Skerrett said if the Court allowed the application it might as well tear up its own rules of procedure. The Court refused to accept any additional affidavits, and announced it would decide as to the admissibility of those now offered later on.