HUNTER ESTATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 84, 9 April 1938, Page 15

HUNTER ESTATE

MORE LITIGATION

TRUSTEESHIP QUESTION

APPEAL BEGUN

Upon the ground that judgment of Mr. Justice Smith in the case involving (he trusteeship of the estate of the late Sir George Hunter was erroneous in fact and in. law the former trustees of the estate, Cyril Paul Hunter, of Akltio, and Thomas Percy Hunter, o£ Porangahau, began an appeal against the judgment in the Court of Appeal ■yesterday afternoon. The respondent in the case was Edith May Hunter, widow of Sir George, whose nephews the appellants are. i The hearing was adjourned until Monday morning. ! In June last Lady Hunter began in the Supreme Court in Wellington an action for the removal of Cyril Paul Hunter and Thomas Percy Hunter from the trusteeship of the estate, alleging mismanagement, which they denied. After a hearing which occupied twentyfour and a half days, extending over five weeks, Mr. Justice Smith found in favour of Lady Hunter and made an order removing Cyril Paul and Thomas Percy" Hunter from the trusteeship of the estate and Cyril Paul Hunter from the executprship of Sir George's will, and. appointing in their place the New Zealand Insurance Co., Ltd., as trustee and executor. It is against-this decision, that the former trustees are' now appealing The appeal is being heard by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers), Mr. Justice Blair, Mr. Justice Kennedy, Mr. Justice Callan, and Mr. Justice Northcroft. Mr. C. H. Weston, K.C., and Mr. D. R. Hoggard are appearing for the appellants and Mr. J. D. Willis and Mr. R. L. A. Cresswell for the respondent EXTENDED HEARING LIKELY. The case last year was believed to have been the longest civil case to have occupied the attention of a New Zealand' Court, and the present appeal is expected to be argued at some length. There were only seven and a half sitting days between the start of the case this afternoon and the beginning of the quarterly Supreme Court sessions on May 2 and it is likely that the Hunter appeal will be unfinished on the latter date.