Disposition of an Estate.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9047, 20 April 1898, Page 3

Disposition of an Estate.

A CURIOUS GASE.

AOOKLAWD April 19. A somewhat curious case occupied the attention of His Honor Mi Justice Conolly in Cliambers at the Supreme Court this morning. The case involved the disposition of the estate of a deceased person named John Leith, a native of Scotland, who died in Auckland about 18H, at the age of 42 years. Leith was an engine driver by calling, and appears to have led a wandering life, as he was at different times reported to havelived in England, India, Western Australia. North America and elsewhere. When in India he was employed on the Government railways in the Bombay Presidency, and be afterwards went to Coolgardie for a time. . Eventually he came to New Zealand, and after a visit to Rotorua, died here, leaving about £2,100 in money. His brother, Alexander Leith was executor, and he endeavoured to ascertain the proper heir to the deceased's estate. Mr W. J. Napier, instructed by Mr Gilchrist of Te Aroba, communicated with India, and ascertained that -.there was a daughter of the deceased in the Bombay Presidency, by a Eurasian mother, but so far he has not been able to obtain prcufs of a legal marriage there. Another daughter of the deceased by a previous marriage in Scotland, now came forward and claimed the estate. It is stated that the Scottish wife was subsequently divorced by Leith, who was said by coun3el to have been a much-married man. At the Chambers sitting" today Mr Napier, on behalf of thedeceti^ed's brother, applied for leave to deal with the estate and hand it over to the danghter in India if she should be proved to be legitimate. Mr 'J. P. Me Alister (of Tola and MeAlister appeared on behalf of the daughter in Scotland- After argument had been heard, His Honor ordered that advertisements should be inserted in leading English and native newspapers in the Bombay Presidency in order to ascertain whether there were any next of kin there besides the daughter mentioned