High Court Expected

To Hear Yarzin Land Appeal Soon

The Australian High Court is

low expected to hear an appeal

n the New Guinea Varzin land ase either in Melbourne in Oc ober or in Sydney in November. rHE HIGH COURT granted leave last December for several >arties to appeal against the udgment of P-NG’s Chief Justice, dr. Justice Mann, and the case was hen expected to be heard in March >r April. However, pressure of work >efore the Court has so far delayed he hearing.

The High Court decision in the :ase will be of great importance in Guinea because it is likely o affect titles to other properties resides those to the Varzin plant ation, near Rabaul.

The Varzin case, which has a long listory (PIM, June, 1963 p. 11) nvolves the question of whether and ownership claims, dating back :o before the introduction of the Forrens titles system in New Guinea ifter World War I, may be re examined.

Mr. Justice Mann, when he sat as i court of appeal in mid-1963 to icar a challenge on the validity 3f the Varzin plantation title pre sented by the P-NG Public Solicitor Dn behalf of Tolai natives, held that the claims could be re-examined.

This decision meant that one-third □f the 1,200 acres which comprise the Varzin plantation belonged to the Tolais and not to the European interests to which it was sold by the Expropriation authorities after World War I.

The Varzin title is currently held by Mrs. N. E. Richards, of Rabaul, who was one of the parties given ■eave to appeal in December against Mr. Justice Mann’s decision. The ather parties are the P-NG Admini stration and the Custodian of Expropriated Property. • The incidence of leprosy in the New Hebrides and the Solomons remains as high as ever, according to the Lepers’ Trust Board (NZ).

A recent report from the Fauabu Leper Hospital, BSIP, received by the board, referred to the arrival of 25 new cases from the Reef Islands and Santa Cruz.