LAW QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 47

LAW QUERIES.

[Answered by a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be addressed to “LEX,” c/o Editor, Otago Witness, Dunedin.] Farmer writes; —“A and B are neighbouring farmers with only a cattle fence between them. A keeps sheep and cattle, B keeps cattle only. Does A require to make the whole fence sheep-proof, or can he compel B to assist him?” Answer: A should serve a notice to fence on B. If no cross notice or objection is made by B within 21 days of the service of the notice, he must contribute to the erection of the sheep-proof fence. If B makes objection within 21 days of service of notice to fence upon him, the matter must be decided by a magistrate. Life. —The sentence in both cases lasts until the death of the prisoner. D. C. asks: —“What is the estate duty on the estates of deceased persons?”—— Answer : Final balance of estate; Exceeding £SOO, but not exceeding £IOOO, 1 per cent; exceeding £IOOO, but not exceeding £2OOO, 2 per cent; exceeding £2OOO, but not exceeding £3OOO, 2J per cent; exceeding £3OOO, but not exceeding £4OOO, 3 per cent. The scale progresses with the amount of the estate until on an estate of £25,000 the rate is 7 per cent. On estates of over £25,000 the rate per cent is higher still. Subscriber for Twenty Years asks: —“If it is legal for a neighbour to cut down a macrocarpa- fence to about five feet high without first obtaining the neighbour’s consent ? The fence was about nine feet, and kept trimmed.” Answer: If you or your predecessor in title planted the trees since 1896 without obtaining the consent of your neighbour he is at liberty to cut down the fence. Otherwise he can only cut down branches overhanging his property. Curious asks: —“Can a man marry again after his wife has deserted him for seven years, or must he obtain a divorce?’ Answer: The man must obtain a decree absolute in divorce before he can marry again, otherwise he will be guilty of bigamy.