Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 15

One of the peculiarities of our judicature, rendered necessary by the fact that there are the native and European races living in New Zealand, is that when difficulties arise in regard to the ownership of land between natives and natives exclusively, the Native Appellate Court nas supreme jurisdiction. It cannot be interfered with by the Judges of the European Supreme Court. This was a defence raised in the Te Akau block 2 case. In the course of argument, much stress was laid upon native usage and custom as to land ownership and seniority of claim to such land. This prompted hie Honor Mr Justice Williams to naively inquire whether “native custom" was a monster —a Frankenstein —created. Counsel would not accede to that suggestion, but admitted that custom and the usages of their ancestors had everything to do with the dealings of natives with each other, and consequently the Land Court could not avoid taking recognition of it. Among the prizes offered by the Paris Academy of Science to inventors is one of £4OOO, founded by Pierre Guzmann, which is to go to the person who finds a way of communicating with the inhabitants of another planet. Another prize —the B reant —awaits an infallible remedy against Asiatic cholera. If the barometer falls as much as onetenth in an hour, or two-tenths in four hours, it is a sure sign that a storm ia coming.

The jewels of a lady of title have just been sold in London, the total amount realised being nearly £25.000.