OBJECTION TO THE WILL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1931, Page 9

OBJECTION TO THE WILL

ESTATE OF SIR G. HUNTER

PROVISION FOR ONLY DAUGHTER.

LADY HUNTER GIVES EVIDENCE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. ✓ Wellington, Feb. 17. The Hunter will case was continued n the Supreme Court to-day, .with ~ r ' Giescn still under cross-examination w the witness-box. Among tlie replies he made to-day was that his estimate of Sir George Hunters mentality was not made on his own observation on the occasion of his visits, but primarily on investigations made by Sir George’s own medical man. “He was not my patient,” declared the witness.

Witness drew a distinction between the kind of mentality required to dismiss the matter of tlie price of land and that required in the making of.a will. “No one,’’ he said, “knew the value of his land better than did Sir George Hunter himself.”

. Lady Hunter afterwards entered the witness-box. She said the marriage was in February, 1922. The only child of tfie marriage was horn 15 months later. Sir George Hunter’s feeling towards the girl was of intense and idolising affection. They botli lived for her. Tlie Dixon Street house was bought after Sir George had declared the Bolton Street house unsuitable on account of its environment not being fitted for the child and tho : Morehouse Street house was bought because Sir George wanted a comfortable home for his little girl. The house had formerly belonged to Sir George’s grandfather. ..The whole house was altered and destined for the child. Lady Hunter said Sir George was very proud' of what he had done. All his life had been given to everybody else and the purchase was his only extravagance. Witness alleged that after Sir George died Mr. Dunn told her he had made no intimation in his will regarding the house for Betty and she had better put the x child in a school- and go to live in England. At the first meeting of trustees they said Betty would get only £lO,OOO when sho . Wils forty and would be lucky if she got that.

Witness said she herself was sub-' stantially interested in all three wills. She had received no money from the estate since her husband died. During her married life he made no settlement ou her, though he said he would. Hewas short of money during the last few years of his life and her money and his was used as a common account. He promised to pay her back some time. At one time he owed Air. Dunn £23.000 and was simply crazy about it. He lived really on selling pieces of land occasionally. . , / ’ , ' Lady 'Hunter' said -she remonistratqd when she heard the morning previous to the signing about the ..October will. Sfie said Sir George had already' made a will with Bell and Gully and she telephoned Mr. AleKenzie, of that office. Air. McKenzie called, but refused to have anything to do with the will. Later Sir George said he had left witness everything, and she objected because that meant,,double death duties would have to be’ met. It had always been understood that the- Dixon Street property would be made over to Betty when finally paid for. At the time-the will was made witness did not know that Betty had no right to live in the house .until she was 21. Before Sir George’s illness it was planned that, providing Betty had no children, tlie Dixon Street house and Porangahau station should eventually go to charity. ... /' Answering a question concerning lemon farming on 300 acres at Porangahau, Lady Hunter said it -was ridiculous. “I.have never had to sit arid listen to so much nonsense' as. ■:!. have in this court,” she declared, “not only about a lemon farm but about a number of other things,” She said she knew nothing about the arrangements for signing the November will until the actual ceremony. Air. Dunn did not read the whole will. - Witness stopped him because Sir George was fatigued. Air. Dunn and she ofteii. discussed business in Sir George's presence. Sir George was very distressed about land prices and the proposed super tax “nearly drove him crazy." "> •

To His Honour witness said she objected to the November will because it did not give effect to What she had been planning’. Betty was to have received £lO,OOO before she was 40- and to. have Dixon Street and the station home.

The court adjourned till to-morrow.