MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1926, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

[Australia Cc N.Z. Cable Association.] LOVERS’ LAW. LONDON, March 18.

Justice MeOardie giving judgment in the Sollar breach of promise case, laid down a new lovers’ law. Counsel for plaintill' bad argued that a man was not entitled to the return ol an engagement ring. Justice ileCnrdio in deciding the girl was entitled to retain the ring, pointed out that the 17th. century law; made it permissahle locally for either to break - of! the engagements for reasons which unhappily constituted a, valid excuse to-day. Halshury's Laws of England set out it was no defence in a breaeh action to show that before the promise plaintiff was unaware that delendant had been insane, also no disease short ol absolute incapacity to avail him or her was a defence, even though it were proved that iho performance of conjugal duties would endanger life. Breach actions were not allowed under flic Homan law which hail been developed by (Modern continental nations, and dollied v. i 11 1 obvious features of commercial disputes. Should a woman not fuliii her promise after receiving a ring, she must return it. On the other hand if a man did not fulfil the promise he could not demand a return of the ring. Should the engagement he mut-

ually dissolved in liie absence of agreement to the contrary, the ring and gifts should he returned to each party. Should a marriage lo solemnised, the ring brume the absolute property of Ihe recipient and was not affected by a subsequent divorce. Just id? MeCardie handed the ring to counsel for the girl. state advances. \\ DLL INO TON . .March 20. 1 lie'.Minister of Finance has issued •figure;, coveiling the vleven months ol the financial year, which illustrate the activities ol the State Advances Department during that time. J.nan.s have I,jen authorised to 1)885 settlers amounting in all to a sum of if-1 I 075. The number of workers who re(O'Ved loans were 2707 amounting to T2.JJO.Bi 2. I hose sums include 2705 loan- amounting t „ £2,.|2(;.(j>Jo f or t |, c . erection of hulls:,,, ■Bl IT KOI? DIVORCE. DON DON, .March 10. I.adv (iilhov is petitioning for a divorce from Sir V,’alter (iilhey, a prominent, .sportsman, after being married tni tt-two years, on the grounds of mis eondu<;i with .Mistress Ethel Mavor. C*i l!jc*\ s counsel mlinitteil misconduct had been <roinjr on for twenty years. Ihe hearing was adjourned. “A CHEAT A DYK.Vn'RH." t.O.VDON. .March if).

Sir Oliver l.oclge in an address upon death at Christchurch. C reyfriars. urged people to dismiss the idea of death as gloomy, ft. was really a great, adventure. “ L'c do not. ’ fear to emigrate hut limit forward Lo new conditions with interest” lie said, •'so should we look forward to death. Our souls arc now enclosed in body matter, which is a nuisance to get rid of. I here are no dead in the churchyards. I. have never seen my son Haymnnd’s grave in Erauce. He asked me not to. T know there is no extinction because. I frequently talk with people who have gone. The matter looms too big in our attitude. We .should greet the unseen with a cheer.” A B Eld I lAN'S VIEWS. lilt CSS EDS, .March 111.

Speaking to nressmen on his return from (loncva. M. Vandeiveld recalling M. Briantl’s remark about a revision of the constitution of the Dengue pointed out there were provisions in flic Covenant which would he dillienll. if not impossible to revise. ile -contended that permanent seals should Ce held by Cowers with general interests. If the 'idea, of permanent seats for lesser Cowers wore admitted, it, would he impossible to know where to stop. He declared the result of I lie Geneva crisis was a check. nni a

catastrophe. The resignation of Belgium was unthinkable. If the question of additional permanent, seats of the Council came up again, ho would give full weight to Belgium's numerous claims for a. nermanent scat.