Lord Shaw of Dunfermline:-

These are two appeals and two cross-appeals, all consolidated, against two judgments pronounced by the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Southern Nigeria on 22nd April 1911, varying the judgment of Osborne, C.J., pronounced on 14th March 1910. For the sake of convenience the Attorney-General for Southern Nigeria is hereinafter referred to as "the Crown" and the opposite parties us "the respondents."

The proceedings relate to certain lands in the district of Olowogbowo, in the island of Lagos, which became a part of the Colony of Southern Nigeria. The lands consist of five plots, all of which are situated on the shore of the lagoon. As commerce has developed, these lands, and especially the frontage thereof to the sea, have become of considerable value. They adjoin each other; and in the view which is to be taken of these appeals the facts as to the different plots may be sufficiently stated as follows : The respondent firm of Holt and Company were in occupation claiming as freeholders of (1) William's land and (2) Dunkley's land, and as tenants of the executors of the Reverend James White, who were the freeholders of (3) White's land. The respondents MacI