ABANDONED GROUND.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2662, 2 June 1908, Page 5

ABANDONED GROUND.

A DECEASED WIFE'S PRO

PERTY.

A peculiar point cropped up at the Warden's Ooart, Paeroe, N. 1., recently, when no applicant applied for a residence ate aa abandoned ground that had formerly been owned by his wife, now uVmcsod It appeared that since his wife's death applicant had occupied the boose on the section, bat had not taken oat any letters of administration. Warden Bargees said he doubted if the site had been really abandoned as applicant bad been occupying it as the representative of his deceased wife. Mr Porritt, who appeared for the applicant, said that it has been the custom for thejhusband or wife of the deceased owner to obtain possession by applying for the ground as abandoned ground. Mr Moresby said that this was a moat important question as there were many applications of the same nature made on the goldfields. No letters of ad ministration were taken out, as in some fflin the cost would be more than the property was worth. The Warden said that it seemed that this was a means of " getting round the law." Whether the property was a valuable one or not, the principle was the same. Mr Moresby said that if the ground was not really abandoned a man could occupy bis deceased wife's property and not pay any rent The Warden said he did not wish to inflict any hardship on applicants, and as the matter was an important one in that district he would take time to consider it The application would therefore be adjourned.