$18B estate: N.Z. interest

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 1

$18B estate: N.Z. interest

Special correspondent

Some New Zealanders are likely to pursue claims for a share of the estate of a long-dead Brazilian after a meeting at the week-end with a lawyer from Brazil, Dr Jose Cicero Biglia. About 300 people, most of whom claim to be descendants of Manuel Lima, met Dr Biglia at Tikitiki on Saturday. They came from Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and many provincial centres to learn of their good fortune. Afterwards an organiser of the meeting, Mr R. N. McConnell, of Te Araroa, said it had been made clear that the family would have a genuine claim to the estate which has been valued at $lB billion.

“If they want to do anything about it they can either get in touch with Dr Biglia or employ their own lawyers to handle the claim through the Brazilian courts.

“I think some probably will, although I don’t know how many.” He said that Dr Biglia, who was reported to ask $460 to represent each claimant, had come to give genealogical information and to answer any questions.

Mr McConnell’s wife, Vivienne, stands to inherit $1 million if the claims are successful.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Dr Biglia is a genuine person and it was made clear that the family in New Zealand have genuine claims to the estate,” Mr McConnell said. Manuel Lima, who died in 1903, is said by Dr Biglia to be descended from the sister of Dorn Domingos Faustino Correa, a wealthy Brazilian rancher who died in 1873.

Overseas reports claim that Correa left an estate which is today valued at $lB billion, although more recent reports have suggested that much of the Correa saga is exaggerated. Dr Biglia could not be reached last evening. He is believed to be touring parts of New Zealand. One of the catches of the inheritance is that those who stand to inherit the money may have to go to Brazil to spend it. Brazil is suffering from an enormous inflation rate of 160 per cent a year, and seems unlikely to allow many millions of dollars to leave the country.

Bare-footed children played happily on the dusty drive of Rahui Marae at Tikitiki on Saturday while parents sat enthralled in the smoke-filled meeting house as tales of riches almost beyond comprehension were unfolded by the Brazilian lawyer and his pretty interpreter, Christine Alphonso, the Press Association reported.

Each could receive about $4 million, Dr Biglia told the gathering. All he wanted for bringing such glad tidings was $467.70 from each claimant so that he could represent their interests in Brazil.

Dr Biglia could collect almost $lOO,OOO from New Zealand claimants if all the desendants of Manuel Lima retain him to look after their interests in the Brazilian courts. There is one crack in the vision of the East Cape becoming a haven of millionaires ... Brazilian courts have ruled in at least four separate decisions that the legacy no longer exists, according to overseas newspaper reports. It seems that the family of Dom Correa successfully petitioned the courts in the 1890 s to have the 100-year codicil set aside and the estate was partitioned. Dr Biglia dismisses those reports as lies, even though several of the articles appear to quote the lawyer as saying that he is appealing against the rulings in Brazilian courts. The doctor’s assurances that a glittering prize awaited Dom Correa’s heirs provided they were prejared to fight for it in the Brazilian courts were met with acclamation at Saturday’s meeting. Through his interpreter he outlined the incredible extent of the Correa legacy ... gold and silver bullion, bank accounts in several countries, massive tracts of

ranch land and inner city real estate, whole forests and even a river with its own waterfall. Each new announcement was met with cheers and clapping. There were one or two sceptics, people who believed a report prepared by the United States consulate in Porto Alegre that Dr Biglia was the most prominent of a host of Brazilian lawyers who earned their livelihoods by promoting the story of the Correa fortune.

However, Dr Biglia dismissed the consulate paper as untrue. He could not understand how the consulate had been given such bad information.

He was preaching to the already converted. Many of the hopeful claimants had brought their $467.70 retainers with them and Dr Biglia had to be quite forceful in refusing to take cheques from several of the gathering within minutes of his arrival. The retainers should be Eaid direct to Brazil by anker’s permit, he told the meeting. “I’ve got the money he wants in my pocket, ready for him. I went to the bank to get it yesterday,” said Mathew Tawhiri, who had driven up from Gisborne.

“I don’t know whether we’ll get a fortune or not, but it’s only $460, or $467.70 actually, and it’s worth the risk,” he said.

“It’s like getting a tip on a horse, you put your money on and wait to see if it comes in ... if it wins, you’re rich, and if it doesn’t, well you haven’t lost too much.”

Pine Poi jun., whose six brothers and three sisters are also entitled to lodge individual claims to the legacy according to Dr Biglia, saw his children as the main beneficiaries of the dreamed of millions. “I’ve got nine kids, all that money would be good for us,” he said. “All we have to do is send $460 to this guy and we get the money, eh.”