A PECULIAR CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4538, 9 November 1882, Page 3

A PECULIAR CASE.

[By TmBOBArH.] [FBOM OUB OTTIT OOBBBSPOKDBfIT.] The following details appeared in our later editions of yesterday. . . WELLINGTON, Nor. 8. An interesting caee came before Justice Biehnr.ond in Banco to-day. It appears that a Mrs Freebody left her husband in Berkshire, England, about eight years ago, and came to this Colony, bringing with her a female infant. She became addicted to intemperate habits, and soon after her arrival she took up with a Maori named Winiata, living in Hutt County. She subsequently left Winiata with the child in his possession, and he has brought the girl up to speak Maori instead of English, at the same time giving her a fair education. Recently, Miss Freebody, a sister of the child, came from England, empowered as her father's agent, to regain poaiossion of the girl. Winiata, who is in a decent position, resists all efforts in this direction, and Miss Freebody accordingly applied to the Supreme Court foivtt rule calling upon Winiata to eho-w cbubo why a write of Mabeas corpus should not iBBUe. Tho mother is in Wellington, and is also desirous of getting the girl out of the hands of the Maori. The rule was granted, and was made returnable on Saturday next.