CURIOUS UNKNOW IGATION

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 286, 3 December 1915, Page 3

CURIOUS UNKNOW IGATION

: OVEIt A I >HESMNT TO CAPTAIN" j HALSEY. I The slab of greenstone which was ■given by Orakei Natives to Captain . Halsey, of H.M.S. New Zealand, i w"hen he was in Auckland, has now got a^ far as the Supreme Court, which confirmed the .judgment of Mr Kettle, S M., in awarding the heirloom to Mary Paul, of Orakoi, wlio made the pretsenMtion to Captain Halsey. Henare Kaihau, who claimed1 tlie stone as iv gift of some farback ancestor, appealed against the decision of Mr Justice Hosking, who heard) the appeal, give his decision on Monday. The judgment had been appealed from on fact. The Judge reviewed the evidence and Raid he w:>» not able- to satisfy him<-?lf tint tlni defendant's history of the stone ami how it came into her family \v:is intrinsically vot worthy o? c'jodit- or that it was inconsistent with t!ie facts, common to botli sides. The appeal was dismissed with costs. An odd feature about this contentious heirloom is that everybody wants Captain Halsey to have it, the i only point at issue be.iug who shouW b;;ve the credit of having presentocl it. Who.i a slight I;itch arose over tit^ gift, Captain U.-Usov. the innof^nt cause of nil this !i!vi<iation. hiuvdo.rl the stone to the Maviiv of Auckland until suen lime it'- its descent and ownership shoiiid be decided.