JUDGMENT

Thomson CJ:

[1] These appeals concern the distribution of the estate of one Loh Toh Met who died at Johore Bahru on 21 July 1958.

[2] The deceased was survived by three women with each of whom he had entered into a relationship of a connubial nature in accordance with Chinese custom which for convenience I shall call a Chinese marriage. These were Mdm Kong with whom the Chinese marriage was contracted in Singapore in 1932, Mdm Yong with whom the Chinese marriage was contracted in Johore in 1940 and Mdm Chan with whom the Chinese marriage was contracted in Johore some time between 1953 and the death of the deceased. All of these women are parties to the present proceedings. The deceased was also survived by his father Loh Peng Heng who is also a party to the proceedings and by eleven children. Of these, six named Anthony, Philomena, Charlie, Daniel, Emmanuel and Rosa are the natural children of the deceased by Mdm Yong, all born in wedlock, one by name Francis is the natural son of the deceased by Mdm Chan, born in wedlock, and four by name Mary, Lucy, Annie and Bartholomew were adopted by the deceased and one or other of his wives at various times.

[3] The deceased died