TITLE CLAIMED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 73, 28 March 1941, Page 8

TITLE CLAIMED.

COOK GROUP RULER.

JUDGMENT DISPUTED.

An application on behalf of Mrs. Takea Rio Love, who was appointed paramount chief of the Cook Islands by the High Court of the Cook Island?, to dismiss an appeal of Tuvaine and Patua I.a ngitanc ggainst the judgment, was adjourned by Mr. Justice Blair in the Supreme Court this morning. Mr. X. Wilson, who appeared for Mrs. Love, said the High Court of the took Islands had delivered judgment .in favour of Mrs. Love on February 7, 1940. An appeal had been lodged by Tuvaine and I'ut ua Rangitane. who were man and wife on July S. HMO. It was laid down in the Cook Islands Act that such an appeal should be heard in the Supreme Court at Auckland. In view of the time elapsed and a clause in the Act which required that appellant should prosecute his appeal. Mrs. T.ovc was asking that the appeal should be dismissed. .Mr. Wilson stated that it was desirable that the matter should be determined as soon as possible, as the Cook Islands had been in doubt over their paramount ruler since the death of the former chief, Makea Xui Tiuirau in January, 1939. Also his client was anxious to return to Rarotonga, but had been in New Zealand sinec May, 1940, waiting for the appeal to l>e heard.

Replying to a question by his Honor, Mr. Meredith, who appeared for appellants on the instruction of relatives, agreed that the matter was of supreme importance as revenues were involved.

His Honor fixed the date ot hearing the original appeal for June 9. unless the parties concerned came to a mutual arrangement for hearing before that date. Mrs. Love's application was adjourned until the same date.