RAROTONGAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 221, 18 September 1893, Page 4

RAROTONGAN NEWS.

THE NORVAL CASE,

Under date of the 9bh inst. our correspondenb writes :—H.M.s. Ringdove left here on the 19th ult. for Fiji, via Penrhyn Island and Samoa, after a lengthened stay of about a month with us. The protracted stay was on accounb of the holding of the High Commissioners' Court by Mr John Ross, a special Commissioner re the detention of the schooner Norval, owned by Mrs Charlotte Donald, of Auckland. Aa you are aware, the Norval was detained by the Penrhyn Island natives at their Island pending the settlement of monies held by Mes3rs Donald and Edenborough, and belonging to them. At the holding of tho Commissioners Courb, before John Ross, Esq., a special Commissioner, Lieub.-Commander Bain and Lieut Sykes, of H.M.s. Ringdovo, there wero three actions heard. First: Penrhyn natives sued Messrs Donald and Edenborough for the sum of 83,600 in their bands, belonging to the said natives. Second: Donald and Edenborough brought a cross-action against tho Penrhyn Government for §1,567 for goods sold them. Third : Donald and Edenborough sued the Tenrhyn Government for tha detention of the Norval the sum of §2,700, and 5800 for bringing her to ' Rarotonga with tho following results: — First action: Donald and Edenborough pleaded contracb to purchase the Norval. The judgment of the Courb was that no contracb had been mado and §5,600 to be refunded to tho Penrhyn people. Second action: The Penrhyn people admitted this claim and judgmenb was given for Messrs Donald- and Edenborough. Third action: The sum of §400 was awarded to Mrs Charlotte Donald, owner of the Norval, for detention. The judgmenb is the same aa was givon by Judge Tepou te Rangi in September last, when the case was beard before him and which judgment Donald and Edenborough would nob accept. Anothor case was also brought up, viz,, Karika and his people asrainsb Donald and Edenborough for produce given to them Einco 1889 towards tho purchase of the schooner Torea, and which pv&hase wa3 never completed. It is understood that Messrs Donald and Edenborough challenge the jurisdiction of Mr Ross, tho Norval case having already been dealt with by a Naval Courb held by the captain and officers of H.M.b. Hyacinth. The Norval is ab present lying in harbour jiere, after a cruise in tho Group. She is sendering tho Richmond, and, I believe, remains trading in the Group. The, Guthona has nob yob returned from her iradirjg cruise. The Linda Weber is also an a trading cruise in the Group. The orange and coffee crops are now at an end, after a moat successful year.

Mr Edwin Bamford who has ju9t been appointed to the position of Registrar oi Jjeeda and District Land Registrar at Auckland has been Registrar at Napier fdr the last 10 or I'd years, prior to which he was Registrar at Nelson. Mr Kisaling takes % months' leave of absence from the Ist proximo and retires at tho end of tho •year It is nob l n' lte certain when Mr Bamford will arrive in Auckland. Mr jrall has been appointed Deputy or acting District Laud Registrar in .tho meantime Mr Bridges who takes Mr Bamford s place at JNapier has hitherto held the positions of Examiner of Titles, Registrar of CompanieH and Building Societies nnd Dopnty SomraiMioner of Stamps at Duiiotin, Jimilnr po?l» to those hold by Mr Hall at Auckland. Mr Brides, however, i* Mr lini.v, ~i..inrfn fJL.-v.vu oy some yours.

A I ■<.(>•• - •"'! I'"1 l! iveri'd to-morrow rvonin .Ki'li r.f.i-.u X • ■■, o.- '-A Recent Visit to Ireland and Aau'-Ica," by the Rev. E.'Koeb. ':',.'■<■