TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1922, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

i I'll . r.lt • -SHAWMS*. NEW DIVORCE LAW. WELLINGTON, May 8. A ruling under 102-L-U2 amendment to the invoice and Matrimonial Causes Ait, the (first such .ruling) in Wellington, was given by Justice Hoskiug today in a suit brought by ■ a husband against his wito unuer section 4 ot tlie Act of 1920, which, provides that tho fact that the parties had lived apart for it period of three years and upwards, gave ground for the granting of a decree of dissolution. 'I he Amendment of 1921-22, however, has the general elicit of making it impossible for a blameworthy petitioner to secure a divorce against a. blameless respondent, if the respondent opposes the petition. Ihe petitioner is .59 and the respondent ;50.

The respondent proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the petitioner has been guilty of cruelty. Tbe petition was dismissed with costs to the respondent. CASE AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. The premises of Gordon and Clutch < Ltd., publishes were broken into here j last night, and a number of articles j were stolen. No attempt was made to : force the safe. WAIKATO SEAT. CAMBRIDGE, May 8. Colonel Robert Allen of Morrinsville. was presented with a petition at Cambridge asking him to consent to nomi- j nation as a candidate for the Waikato j seat, representing the Country Party, j The Colonel declined the request on j account of ill-health. j MUNICIPAL ELECTION. | MASTERTON, May 8. | The poll for the election of a councillor to fill a vacancy, caused through the resignation of a member, to a seat on the Masterton Borough Council resulted in the return of the Labour can- j didate, Mr James Donn, who defeated j the Citizens’ nominee, Mr A. Rigg. J The voting was as follows: James Donn ‘32 A Rigg 618 j LIVELY COUNCIL MEETING. I NAPIER, May !>. I There was a large attendance of the I public at last night’s meeting of the j City Council which heatedly debated | the sub-committees’ proposals concern- j ing the control of tramway and elec- ; trical departments, it being eventu- j ally decided to dismiss eight officers, j including the tramway manager and j electrical engineer on th grounds of j economy, the Town Clerk to act as j manager of these departments, with an j additional £l5O salary. C’r. W. E. Hill | resigned as a result of the decision and j Mayor Andrew offered to recontest the ! Mayoralty if challenged. Those fav- ; curing the drastic proposal carried the ! day against the Mayor and three other J Councillors. Public indignation is arous- ■ ed and nu indignation meeting is being j held. The crowd attending the Conn- j oil meeting frequently interrupted, and j lae Mayor threatened to clear the j building if they did not cease. Three j policemen assisted in maintaining'brder. j There is talk of further resignations of Councillors.