A QUESTION OF SUCCESSION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 33

A QUESTION OF SUCCESSION.

♦ Auckland, November 4. At a sitting of the Native Lands Court, before Judge Dunbar Johnston and the Native Assessor, Mita Taupopoki, tho matter of succession to the late King Tawhaio in respect of certain tribal lands at Mangere was the most important business. Since the appointment of certain children as successors i'l November, 1894, two of those appointed have died, and application is made by tha remaining children for a division of succession interests of deceased. There is also an application by Chas. Searaneke (half-caste), on behalf of his wife, eldest daughter of Tawhaio, claiming inclusion amongst tha successors in the present division, in placa of one Te Heuheu, who, the applicant held, was not really a son of Tawhaio. Tho evidence went to show that the mother of Ta Heuheu (one of Tawhaio's wives) was unfaithful to her husband, the offspring being alleged to be a half-caste. While not wishing to exclude Te Heuheu from the original succession, applicant claimed that ha should not further participate in any succession that may fall to those originally appointed. After careful consideration and the answering of the challenge of tho objections by Mrs Jane Brown, the Court dismissed the application made by Searaneke. The applicant expressed his intention of withdrawing all the other applications, and taking proceedings to enable him to exclude from succession tho child whose paternity is disputed.