MAORI LAW COURTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 May 1927, Page 9

MAORI LAW COURTS.

AN ECHO OF THE PAST.

CLAIM TO A CHIEF’S ESTATE

A- most unusual case occupied two days of the sittings of the Native Land Court at Hawera last week, Judge J. W. Browne presiding. One of the most influential chiefs of the Patea district, Ngawini Rakete, recently died, and the contest was as to who should 'succeed to his estate. Rakete was one of the most influential- chiefs supporting Te Whiti at the Bryce raid in 1881. The Broughton family and the W-hanau -family, for whom Mr P. O’Dea (Hawera) and Air T. E. Roberts (Patea) appeared, claimed that deceased had left no children and that they were the nearest- of kin. Two voun-g men, Moana and- Pitau, for whom Mr J. B. Jack, of Wanganui, appeared, claimed that they were the .sons of the deceased. It was admitted that deceased had had no children by his wife, Kurawai, whom he had married just after the Bryce raid and who survives him. The mother of the allegedl sons gave .evidence as to paternity, and she was supported by Tupito, chairman of the Maori Council, and others. Asked why she had. not taken action against Rakete while lie was alive, either under the Maori Councils Act or before the European magistrate, the mother replied that lie was “too big a man.” Mr Jack relied strongly on resemblance to the putative father to establish paternity. Mr o’Deai pointed out the dangers of such evidence, -stating that Scotch law did not allow such evidence;.the Irish and English Courts did, hut with great caution. In America some of the State® allowed it and some did not. and Continental jurists were all against its admission. He pointed, out the danger of allowing it- i.m the case of the Maori, in whom ran the blood of both . East and West. In any case tlio evidence of resemblance was disputed.

Judge Browne reserved his decision, stating that be would -deliver it in writing at- Wanganui. During the hearing the court was crowded with natives, and' after the conclusion of the case the rival parties could be heard in wordy warfare near the precincts of the court.