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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2129, 11 July 1907, Page 4

A curious case of child-adoption came before Mr. W. P. James, o.M. at Mastorton, recently, when dixies Arthur Braggins and his wife, \ lolet Braggins, were charged with a breach of tlie Infants bile Protection Act, inasmuch as they kept a child for a longer period than three days without having a holder’s license. It appears that Mrs Braggins, who was fretting over the loss of her own child, answered an advertisement in the livening Post offering a child for adoption. She came to \\ ellington and a woman handed the baby to her in a lavatory at the Government Kail way Station, giving her three £5 notes and £1 to cover the expenses of tho journey. His Worship said that this was a case directly contemplated by the Act. A parent had evidently parted with her child without any enquiry whatever as to the character or circumstances of the people to whom she was entrusting its life. He did not imply any ulterior motive to Mrs Brnggins’ action. believing she was bona fide in hoi desire to look after it. However the circumstances were not such as to warrant his doing otherwise than imposing a penalty oil Mrs Braggins, who had contravened the statute, and ordering the child to be committed to the Wellington receiving home. He fined Mrs Braggins £1 and 7s costs, and instructed the police to make diligent inquiries to ascertain who tho parents of the infant are. The case against James Braggins was dismissed.