WEST COAST LAND TRANSACTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6695, 3 May 1883, Page 5

WEST COAST LAND TRANSACTION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —FBESS ASSOCIATION.] Wancanui, Wednesday. The Supreme Court civil sittings commenced to-day. An action was brought by Major Kemp and others, the owners of the JJangipo block, against Messrs. Studholme and Morrin to recover £3376 rent, from 1874 to 1881, prior to its being passed through the Native Lands Court. Mr. Travera appeared for the plaintiffs and Mr. Bell for the defendants. Mr. Bell brought forward the section of the Native Lands Act rendering void under the said Act contracts or promises entered into in respect of land where the title is not put through the Court. The issues of fact were agreed between the parties, and the amount claimed admitted by Mr. Bell, subject to large advances on account, and to payment being conditional on one and all the native owners signing the lease. The Chief Justice ruled in favour of Mr. Bell, and directed the jury that the plaintiffs were not legally entitled to recover. A verdict was accordingly entered for the defendants, with leave to plaintiffs to move in their favour. In the second action, brought by Major Kemp against Messrs. Studholme and Morrin to | recover £400, agreed to be paid him for his services in obtaining signatures to the leases, the defendants admitted the agreement, and the case resolved itself into one of accounts. It was found that Major Kemp had been overpaid by £5 13s, and the jury returned a verdict for the defendants for that amount.