DODGING THE LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 57, 25 July 1912, Page 5

DODGING THE LAW.

A LAND CASE. i By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Justice Cooper gave judgment today in a case relating to the estate of the late Sir Walter Buller. The Crown was the plaintiff and defendants were W: L. Buller and Gilbert Mair, surviving exocutors of the will of the late Sir Walter L. Buller, Barrister, and A. L. Herdman and H. E. Anderson, executors of the will of the late Arthur P. Buller. | The Crown claimed that in ISOB Sir W. L. Buller transferred to his sons, W. L. Buller and A. P. Buller. land at Manukau, in the Wellington district, for £2OOO, the real value of which at thattime was £4OOO. Further; that the £2OOO was never paid. The Crown claimed as duty £2OO and a fine of 100 per cent. The court held that no part of the £2OOO was ever paid, and that the statement in the deed of transfer was false. The judge found, further, that the land was of greater value than £2OOO, that the memorandum to secure payment of £6OOO was apparently given by the sons, that there was no evidence relating to it, and that Sir W. Buller treated it as non-existent for some time prior to his death, and that in his will he treated it as a free gift to his sons. His Honor found it impossible to believe that the transferees were bema fide purchasers, and that the substance of the transaction, however Sir Walter Buller tried to disguise it, was a gift to his sons. Judgment was given for the Crown for £4OO.