THE COURTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16254, 3 July 1918, Page 4

THE COURTS.

SIIPIvEME COURT. IN CHAMBERS. In Chambers, at fho Supremo Court, yesterday, beforo Mr A. H. Holmes, Registrar, leave was. granted to call up and demand principal and interest due, and oxercise power of sale on and after October Ist, 1918, in the case of John Elder (Mr Acland) v. Thomas William Belcher (Mr L. Dougall). MAGISTI3BIAL. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. A male first otieuuer was iined ss, in default *'/! Jiours' imprisonment. MAINTENANCE. W. A. Buntiag, tuo lauier of an illegitimate cuiiu, was oraeiocl to pj»y maintenance at tuo rate ot ma od per week. Mr Opnaiu (ior iur ±tayinouU, iV.tj.) appoaiea ior applicant. Atter ucanng tUe ovitleuce, lus Worship sentenced Harvey Roland Birch Allies, tuo rattier or an illegitimate child, to '21 days' imprisonment ior disobedioiico of an order ior maintenance, which was in arrears £6 10s.

Grace JdaitueU applied ior a separation from Walter (Jnas. Hartnell (M.r Upham), and for maintenance. Applicant alleged habitual drunkenness on tne part of the respondent, and also failure to maintain. Respondent domed the allegation of habitual drunkenness, and stated that he had never been ctrunk for a weelr," as alleged by applicant. He stated that he had been two years at the front, and was a cot case 'when ho returned. Ho expressed his willingness, if ho got work, to maintain his'wife, but did not want to live with her. The Court adjourned the application for a fortnight, in order to see what the. Pensions Board would do in regard to a pension for respondent. Anna Gordon (Mr Sargent)*, applied for an order in respect of arrears of maintenance duo by Robert Gordon (Mr Mallev). Mr Sargent said it was common ground that there existed no arrears if tho wife's allowance from tho Defence Department was taken into account. Counsel contended that it should not be taken into account, because it was in the nature of a gift from the Government, that it was not paid by defendant, who contributed nothing towards it, and that it was in the nature of a bonus. His Worship remarked that though defendant did not pay directly, his wife had got it indirectly • from him, owing to tho services he had rendered to the country. He thought that the allowance _ ougiit to count. Defendant, in evidence, stated that he had been on home service, but had to leave camp, owing to lumbago and sciatica. Since ho left camp, and in seven weeks, he had only earned £6 15s. His Worship cancelled the amount of arrears due by defendant when he went into camp last August, and ordered him to bo imprisoned for 14 days, the order to be suspended if defendant pays off arrears (£7 17s 6d) at the rate of 5s per week, and keops up the payment of tho original order, £1 2s 6d per week.

RANGIORA. (Before Mr V. G. Day, S.M.) John Hugbey, for allowing cows to wander at largo, was finod 10s and costs. Charles McGrath, for allowing a horsa to wander at largo at Cust, ws fined os and costs. In a civil James Judson (Mr van Asch) v. H. Rountree, claim £10 17s. Judgment was given for plaintiff by default. • KAIAPOI. (Before Mr V. G. 3>ay, S.M.) Arthur Watkins, cliarged with not stopping after colliding with a motorist on the Main North road, was fined 10s and costs. Harry tMeKay, for riding a motorryclo along Pcraki street footpath, was fined os and costs.