ANOTHER MAORI WILL CASE.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7265, 26 January 1889, Page 5

ANOTHER MAORI WILL CASE.

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NAPIEE, January 25.

Chief Justice.Prendergast and a jury have been occupied four days in hear, ing a will case bearing a strong resemblance to the famous Donnelly-Broughton case. An aged, chief named Hanrangi died last year at Te Aute. He was totally blind; and very deaf and feeble for several years before bis death. Soon after wards probate was applied for and obtained by the chieftaineas Arihi te Nahu, on a will dated shortly before testator's death Her case was that she, her husband, and two relatives went to the old man before 1 breakfast one Tuorning, and asked him to make out bis will in favor of Arihi. Hβ refused, but said he would leave his property to his grandchildren, including the children of Arihi. Hameora, her husband, then drew up a will, and she guided Haurangi's hand,; while he made a cross on it. Watene Hapuka, another near relative, sought to have the probate revoked and granted in favor of another and prior will, properly drawn by a solicitor and a codicil drawn by Archdeacon Williams. The case for the plaintiff was that Arihi's will was a forgery, and. his witnesses swore that neither die, her husband, nor her witnesses were at Haurangi'eon the day named, which was fixed by the death of a chief, Nopera, who died that day. The case finished early tide morning, bat the jury were unable to give a satisfactory verdict for many hours, and repeatedly returned into Court for instruction from his Honor. In the afternoon they gave a three-fourths verdict for the will proved by Arihi, but with the addendum that some of the con editing jurors were of opinion that the evidence was very suspidoos. His Honor declined to take the verdict, and again directed the jury. To-night a threefourths verdict was given without any reservation.' Leave was given to plaintiffs solicitor to move that judgment be entered up for plaintiff or & new trial ordered.