on 10 Jan 2012 'myuserid' asked me
... 'I've been trying to complete some family history on the Fletcher family. I wanted to ask if you have any further information relating to Grace Beatrice Fletcher? I'm hoping that her father is Robert Michael Fletcher who married Manu SIU but passed away in Neiafu, Tonga back in 1918'

on 30 June 2010 she had also posted
Looking for descendants of Robert Michael Fletcher who married Manusiu AFU (in Tonga)
... I am trying to fill in my family tree. I'm looking for the grandchildren, great grandchildren of Andrew, Robert, Michael, Grace or Rose Fletcher. I've been told by family members that Robert married Manusiu and they lived in Tonga and when the children started school they moved to NZ. The family moved over in the early 1900's due to Robert passing away

so, will post here what can be find on the family (as found)
'myuserid' also thinks there is probably a link between the Sir Robert STOUT & Eric STOUT who married Grace Beatrice Fletcher. yes there was Right Honourable Sir Robert Stout, KCMG, MP. was the 13th Premier of New Zealand on two occasions in the late 19th century and later Chief Justice of New Zealand. He was the only person to hold both these offices. He was noted for his support of liberal causes such as women's suffrage and for his strong belief that philosophy and theory should always triumph over political expediency. AND, he was also the half-brother of Eric Stout's father, William Anderson Stout

from the EVENING POST 16 June 1920
(anything written in red is my addition)

An application was made by the Public Trustee to the Chief Justice Sir Robert STOUT 1844-1930) at the Supreme Court this morning, for an order construing the will of the late Robert Michael FLETCHER, merchant, of Neiapu, Tonga, and determining four specific questions in connection therewith.
Mr G. G. ROSE appeared for the Public Trustee and infant sons of the deceased (Michael (1918-1937?), Robert and Andrew), Mr A. W. BLAIR for the daughters (Grace (1901-1966) and Rose), and Mr C. H. TREADWELL for the widow of deceased (Manu Sui YEATON, now a married woman)
- * 3 infant sons sounds like triplets???

During the hearing of the application, it was explained that deceased died at Neiafu, Tonga, on 9th March, 1918, leaving a will dated 18th November, 1913, of which probate had been duly granted.
Deceased left surviving him his widow and five children

His New Zealand assests proved to be worth ?8,222 12s 7d, (about $691,380 in 2011) and his Tongan assets worth ?5606 11s 5d. Under the will the deceased gave to his wife Manu a cottage at Masilamea, Vava'u, will all his furniture, his pony and trap, and ?50 per annum, to be paid half=yearly; to his daughter Grace and Rosie a life interest in ?2000 and ?3000 respectively; and to his three infant sons the balance of the estate, to be divided among them equally when the youngest reached the age of twenty-one years.
The will further provided that on the wife's death her interest in the state (income and property) should be divided equally among his children then living.

THe Public Trustee asked:
1 whether the gift to the testator's wife of his cottage at Masilamea, Vavau, and of his furniture, his pony, and trap, was for the term of her life only, or for her own use absolutely
2 at what period were the two sums of ?2000 and ?3000 bequeathed to testator's daughters, Grace and Rosie respectively, upon trust, to be set aside and upon and subject to what trusts were such respective sums to be held
3 what was the nature and extent of the beneficial interest taken by testator's sons, Michael, Robert, and Andrew, in his estate under the provisions of the will
4 what was the effect on the assets in the estate of the direction in the penultimate paragraph of the will that upon the death of testator's wife her interest in the estate (income and property) was to be equally divided among the children then living
The case was argued at considerable length, and his Honour reserved decision

_________
Grace Beatrice FLETCHER (1905-1966)
- married Eric STOUT in 1930
Eric was the 10th of 12 known children of:
William Anderson STOUT (1863-1938) & Louisa Helen STRACHAN (1864-1955)
- lived in Invercargill

- the 12 children of William ANDERSON & Louisa Helen STOUT
- click this link for a lot more on the following children -

1889 - 1972 Ruth Anderson Stout
- Ruth married Arthur Wellesley SIMPSON (1891-1945) in 1914

1890 - 1944 Dorothy Stout

1892 - 1918 Thomas William Stout
- Private 29880 NZEF 19th Reinforcements Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company
- KILLED IN ACTION WWI in France aged 28

1893 - 1963 Ernest Thorval Stout
- served as Private 6/153 with Canterbury Infantry Battalion

1894 - 1981 Elsie Margaret Stout
- Elsie mrried Herbert Simms MITCHEL, in 1911

1896 - 1985 Anna Louisa Stout
- married John Alexander? SLOAN, 1 July 1936

1897 - 1981 Edith May Stout
- did not marry

1899 - 1958 Kenneth Stout
- married Barbara Jean BASSETT, 17 April 1933

1901 - 1966 Robert Stout
- married Catherine McEWEN, 11 August 1956 in Timaru

1902 - 1989 Eric Stout
- married Grace Beatcice FLETCHER in 1903, as above

1904 - 2001 Constance Menzies Stout
- married Fred Druce YOUNG in 1926

1906 - 1943 Marjory Priscilla Stout
- Private 823109 with the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)
- DIED IN SERVICE WWII aged 37

PHOTO
Thomas William Stout
he was a Lawyer prior to serving