MAINTENANCE CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1919, Page 3

MAINTENANCE CASE

! UNUSUAL FEATURES. ! * TLVIAHC, December 18. A maintenance case having unusual features®came before Mr S. McKean S.M., to-day. A retired farmer named Patrick Fahey was sued for maintenance by his wife, whom be left in Melbourne with .four children eighteen years ago and came to New Zealand. For a year or two lie wrote to her, and sent small sums, the wife said only £2. He also asked her to come to New Zealand; but sent her no money, for her passage. She replied that she would come if lie sent her passage money. Sfjioe then she had heard nothing more of or from him until recently, and had to get her own living by wash- | ing and charing. She had suffered in . the influenza epidemic, and a doctor advised her to give up work if she could. Defendant admitted that he had £2OOO in war loans and £IBSO on mortand had bought the house he occupied in Timaru, his income being about £4 per week. He had sent nothing to his wife for fifteen years. He came to New Zealand with his wife’s consent, and would have made a home for her if she had come over. He did not wish her to live with him now. Miss Walker, a cousin of defendant, gave evidence that she all along disapproved of defendant’s neglect of his wife and children, and had tried to get the wife’s address, and only recently succeeded. It was due to her that the wife was here now to bring the action. \D(pendant had always had a housekeeper and sometimes a housekeeper with children. Witness had no grievance against defendant except his neglect of his wife and cliiU dren. The Magistrate made an order for £25 in respect of past maintenance, £1 15s per week henceforward, and a deposit of £2OO or a bond of £2OO, to ensure compliance.