HUNTER WILL CASE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 18 February 1931, Page 10

HUNTER WILL CASE

LADY HUNTER IN BOX

PROVISION FOll DAUGHTER

(By telegraph—Pre*a Association.)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17. The Hunter will case was continued in the Supreme Court to-day, with Dr. Giesen still under cross-examination in the witness box. Among the replies he made to-day was that his estimate of Sir George Hunter’s mentality was not made on his own observation on the occasion of his visits, but primarily on investigations made by Sir George’s own medical man. “He was not my patient,” declared the witness. Witness drew a distinction between the kind of mentality required to discuss the matter of the price of land and that required in the making of a will. “No one,” he said, “knew the value of his land better than did Sir George Hunter himself.” - Lady Hunter afterwards entered the witness box. She said the marriage was in Februarv. 1922. The only child of the marriage was born 15 months later. Sir George Hunter >s feeling towards the girl was of intense and idolising affection. They both } lived for her.' The Dixon Street house was bought after Sir George had declared the Bolton Street house unsuitable on account of its environment not being fitted for the child and the Morehouse Street house was bought because Sir George wanted a comfortable home for hi.s little girl. The house had formerly belonged to Sir George’s grandfather. The whole j bouse was altered and destined for, the child. Lady Hunter said Sir George was very proud of what be had done. All his' life had been given to everybody else and the purchase was his only extravagance. Witness alleged that after Sir George died Mr Dunn told her be had made no intimation in his will regarding the house for Betty and she bad I better nut the child in a school and go to live in England. At the first meeting of trustees they said Betty would get only £IO.OOO when ishe was 40 and would he luckv if she got that. Witness said sbe berself was snDI stantially interested in all three wills. She had received no money from the estate since her husband died. During her married life he made no settlement on her, though he said he would. He was short- of money during the last few years of his life and her money and his was used as a common account. He promised to pay her back some time. At one' time be owed Mr Dunn £28.00 and was simply crazy about it. He lived really on selling pieces of land occasionally. Lady Hunter said she remonstrated when she heard the morning previous 1 to the signing about the October will. She said Sir George bad already made a- will with Bell and Gully and she telephoned Mr McKenzie, of that office. Mr McKenzie called, but refused to have anything to do with the will. Later Sir George said he left witness everything, and she objected because that meant double death duties would have to be met. It had always been understood that the Dixon Street property would be made over to Betty when finally paid for. At the time the will was made witness did' not know that Betty had no right to live in the house until she was 21. Before Sir George’s illness it was planned that, providing Betty had no children, the Dixon Street house and Borangahau station should eventually go to charity. Answering a question concerning lemon farming on 300 acres at Porangahau, Lady Hunter said it was ridiculous. “I have never had to sit and listen to so much nonsense as T have in this court,” she declared, “not only about a lemon farm but about a number of other things.” She said sbe knew nothing about the arrangements for signing the November will until the actual ceremony. Mr Dunn did not read the whole will. Witness stooped him because Sir George was fatigued. _ Mr Dunn and she often discussed business in Sir George’s presence. Sir George was very distressed about land prices and the proposed super tax “nearly drove him crazy.” To His Honour witness said she objected to the November will because it did not give effect to what she had been planning. Betty was to have received £IO.OOO before she was 40 and to have Dixon Street and the station home. The court adjourned till to-morrow.