QUEER MAINTENANCE CASE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 December 1901, Page 4

QUEER MAINTENANCE CASE.

(pee press association.) Lnvkrcargill, Dec 12. A singular maintenance case came before the S M. to-day, an elderly man making application for an order to compel his two sons to contribute to his maintenance. He said he was married in Scotland, his wife and he emigrating to America. There five children were born to them but all died except one of the defendants. He acquired property there and when the civil war broke out he was called on to service in the Northern army. To avoid doing so he made over his property to his wife and went into the mountains. His wife returned to Scotland and they kept up a correspondence in Scotland. The second defendant was born and the lads grew up and came to New Zealand with their mother. Complainant was informed by a friend in Scotland where they had gone and corres : pondence was renewed. Both defendants wrote to him as their father and induced him to come to the colony. They paid his passage and took him to their farm, where the mother recognised him as her husband. She had since died, and he had tried to get maintenance from his sons but they replied they would not recognise him and said he deserted his wife and children and never contributed a peony to their up-bringing.

Counsel now said the defendants were prepared to contribute, but wanted proof that he was their father. After complainant had given evidence they consented to give 4s each per week.