MUCH MARRIED.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3546, 6 August 1920, Page 6

MUCH MARRIED.

HENARE .I\L7\II{AU’S “WIDOWS.”

AUCI{LA'ND, Aug. 4.

Yesterday Judge Gilfedder, in the t'Na.tive Land Court, heard 9. most. in-.teres-ting argument concerning the worldly possessions of the late Henare Kaihau, formerly ALP. for the Western Maori District_, who left an estate valued at t‘2(l.00O. Kuihau had many Wives, and :x;~-2 illese.w‘iEio-ws came forWard to zxp;»l_v for a shame in the estate, to \\‘hi:'h -they "are no‘: absolutely entitled vnder native law, much intteresting: light was cast upon ‘he marriage <"r~:-:In1::;- of the Maoris. Dl‘. Bamfc-rd, witli Mr G. Kent-, appezired for the “iirs‘r" widow of the deceased, and submitted evidence in support of her claim for a shin-e in the estate. As mnler rnaffive iilaw. she could'no“t bsubvceed as a, Widow only’, counsel also represented six children of the niarriage. Mr J. J. Sullivan appeared for one Maori widow, and he also represented a son by still anotherg Maori marriage. In the course of the case it was necessary to Cali ’§@t. another Maori wi'cTow, but her evidence ‘showed that she was now debarred from participation under native law as she had married another Maori before Kaihan’s death. This was shown to have been the case with still another “widow,” so she. too, was debarred from a.'sl'lare in the estate. During the case counsel «submitted proof of various .marriages of the deceased under Maori’ custom, which appeared in the case" of Mao:-is of rank to ‘be dependent upon the consent of the parents or chiefs of contracting parties and the acceptance of the bride by the husbands’ tribe. After evidence was submited. the Court allowed ‘the “first” widow £l5O per annum for five years, and the use of a house. and ‘one more Wi(io\V was allowed £IOO a year for life. and the remainder of the estate is to" be divided ‘between "seven children. The court appointed the Public Trustee'a<lministrator of the estate, and trustee of ‘the infant children. " _, .