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CBV 0007 OF }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 2002}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 ON THE APPEAL FROM THE FIJI COURT OF APPEAL IN THE CIVIL APPEAL }{ \b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 NO. ABU0012 OF 1992S. \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 BETWEEN: \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 NATIVE LAND TRUST BOARD \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 APPELLANT \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid3152050 AND: \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 MESULAME NARAWA}{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8079419 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8079419\charrsid13829785 \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 RAITUBE MATANABUA \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 RESPONDENTS \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 \par In Chambers:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8079419\charrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Hon. Sir Rodney Gallen, Sitting as a Judge of the Supreme Court \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Hearing:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Thursday, 29th August 2002, Suva \par \par Counsel:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Mr T. Bukarau with Mr. G. Leung for the Appellant \par Mr I Fa for the Respondents \par \par Date of Decision:}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785\charrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Thursday, 29th August 2002 \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 DECISION \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 On the 31st of May 2002 the Court of Appeal gave Judgment in the case of Narawa and Matanabua against the Native Land Trust Board and Others.}{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 The Native Land Trust Board now wishes to appeal against that decision but for reasons which are set out in the af fidavit filed in support of the present application it did not take the necessary steps within the time contemplated by the rules.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 There is some disagreement between Counsel as to what the appropriate times were in any event.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 But there can be no doubt that which ever rules are applied the time limited has now expired. \par \par The rules of the Supreme Court incorporate where appropriate and mutatis mutandis the rules of the High Court.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Those rules include a power to extend time in appropriate cases.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Sitting as a J udge of the Supreme Court I arrived at the view this was an appropriate case to extend time.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Mr Fa for the intended respondent in opposing that leave be granted drew attention to a number of disadvantages to the respondent, not the least of which was a fur ther period of delay in resolving a dispute which has now been outstanding for a period of years.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Mr Fa also made it plain in his submissions that he contended there was in any event no right to appeal in this case.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 He submitted on the basis of authority that the decision of the Court of Appeal was not a final appeal in a sense which would allow an appeal to the Supreme Court.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 He also contended the grounds on which the intended appellant ruled did not meet the criteria for granting leave.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 \par \par The questions raised by him seem to me to be of some substance which ought to be explored in greater depth than was possible in a Chambers hearing.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Immediately before the expiration of the present sittings of the Court of Appeal. \par \par I accordingly came to the conclusion that it is appropriate to grant leave extending time in this case and the substantive questions}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 as to whether or not an appeal }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 lies at all can appropriately be determined when the application is heard.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Leave will therefore be granted extending the time within which the applicant may file a petition for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court from the decision of the Court of Appeal in these proceedings}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 The time is extended for a period of 14 days from the 29th of August 2002 and the necessary documents must be filed within that period.}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 The respondents represented by Mr Fa are entitled to costs on this application which I fix at $500}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13829785 }{ \lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 together with disbursements to be fixed by the Registrar. \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Hon. Sir Rodney Gallen}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid6578091 SITTING AS A JUDGE OF SUPREME COURT}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid6578091 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid13829785 {\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 \par }{\b\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Solicitors: \par }{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid13829785 Legal Officer, Native Land Trust Board, Suva for the Appellant \par Messrs. Fa and Company, Suva for the Respondents}{\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid1596713\charrsid8079419 \par }}