ALIEN LAND OWNERS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13932, 14 July 1917, Page 8

ALIEN LAND OWNERS.

APPEAL COURT'DECISION. I'er Press Association. % ■ WELLINGTON, July 13. The Full Court gave judgment this morning on an originating summons in the caso of the Public Trustee v. Heitlemann. The questions put in the summons were;— ' 1. —Whether the defendant, Joiin Henry Hcidcmnnn, is entitled to acquire and hold for .his own benefit a freehold property in the estate of Elizabeth Jane Rainham, deceased, devised to him under the will of the said doceased. 2.—Whether such freehold property vests in the Crown. The Court hold that the Public Trustee hold the land by virtue of a will, in trust for lleidoinann, an alien enemy, but the Crown was entitled to claim the benefit of . the trust, Tlio Court also held that in disputed cases the Crown could take action in tlio Supreme Court, but that, if he so desired it, an alien enemy was entitled to have the question of his nationality determined by a jury. In the present case, as defendant submitted to the decision of the Court, the latter has jurisdiction to make an order that the land be held in trust for the Crown, No costs were allowed,