A settlement was reached yesterday in a British High Court legal battle over the rightful ownership of a stolen masterpiece worth millions of dollars.

And Bermudian resident and art collector Robin Judah won his claim to title of the Jackson Pollock painting `Composition with Pouring 1'.

The retired stockbroker was forced to initiate the court proceedings against an American widow after she claimed the artwork was stolen from her after Mr.

Pollock gave it to her as a wedding gift in 1943.

Mercedes Matter, of New York, never saw it again until she saw it hanging in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where Mr. Judah had loaned it.

She issued a writ against Mr. Judah in a bid to get the painting back. He said he purchased the painting some 35 years ago from "a reputable London gallery'' and named Mrs. Matter as the defendant in the legal-title-ownership dispute.

A release from Mr. Judah's representative Michael Tulloch of the firm Boodle Hatfield regarding yesterday's proceedings said: "After an application by the representatives of the defendant Mercedes Matter for a adjournment was refused, discussions were initiated by the defendant's representatives.

"Terms of settlement having been agreed, by consent findings were made by the court, inter alia, that the painting had been given to Mrs. Matter and her husband by Jackson Pollock in 1943; that the painting had been stolen from them in 1945 or 1946; that in April, 1965, Robin Judah had purchased the painting in good faith; and that, no later than April, 1971, Mrs. Matter's title to the painting had been extinguished.

"A declaration was made that Robin Judah had good title to the painting.

"Mrs. Matter agreed as part of the settlement not to bring or assert any further claim against Robin Judah in England or any other jurisdiction.'' POST OFFICE CLOSED GVT Post Office closed St. George's residents will use the Ordnance Island Cruise Ship Terminal for their mailing after the Post Office was closed Monday due to emergency renovations.

Postmaster General Cleveland Critchlow announced the closure saying the upper floor had been deemed unsafe, requiring immediate repairs.

"We regret the inconvenience to the public but the situation is critical and beyond our control,'' Mr. Critchlow said.

"All users of that Post Office can send and receive their mail from the relocated office at the Cruise Ship Terminal,'' he added. "Unfortunately, the upper floor of the building has been deemed unsafe and must be repaired immediately.'' Mr. Critchlow estimated the work would be complete by next March and thanked the Corporation of Hamilton for its help in accommodating the Post Office.

ARTISTS ART