Charles Booth’s Appeal Against
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
Dismissed With Costs
Charles Booth’s Appeal Against N.G. Court’s Decision
IN the High Court of Australia on April 1, the Acting Chief Justice (Sir George Rich) dismissed with costs the appeal of Charles Booth against a de cision of the New Guinea Supreme Court in an action brought by him against his wife, Doris Regina Booth, in respect of certain mining leases in the Mandated Territory.
Both claimed the beneficial ownership of two dredging or sluicing leases in the Morobe district, known as Cliffside and Clifftop, and the husband claimed the return of £3000 paid by him to his wife.
The Chief Judge of the Territory found in favour of Mrs. Booth on the three claims.
Mr. Justice Starke, in a separate judg ment, said a married woman in the ter ritory of New Guinea was capable of ac quiring and enjoying property as if she were a femme sole or unmarried, Mr. Charles Duchatel, of Sunshine New Guinea Gold Development Co., who has been in Sydney on furlough, sailed for New Guinea by the April Montoro. Dur ing his stay in Australia he was married at the end of March, and with his bride has returned to Wau.