BUYING A WIFE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2541, 10 February 1923, Page 3

BUYING A WIFE.

WITH VALUELESS QIIEQUES. AN UNIQUE CASE. Auckland, Last. Night. A case said to be unique in New Zealand law annals, was heard by Mr Cutten, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, when an application order was sought, by a young married woman against Rangipouri Ma.rumaru, described as a first-class licensed interpreter, who did not ap-

pear. Counsel for complainant stated that, both complainant and her husband were white. The husband was engaged by defendant at £6 a week to work on his farm at Rata, near Marton and was given the house on the property. Her husband made constant, reference to being in love with a woman in England, and frequently urged his wife to go to defendant so that he could go to the other woman. About August, 1920, the two men met at the cottage, spending several hours in settling an extraordinary transaction, namelv that the husband should depart, and leave his wife to defendant, in consideration of, a large sum of money, believed to be £4OO. The husband left, but about two o’clock on the fourth morning he returned, entering the cottage through a window, the Maori and the woman having meanwhile, lived as husband and wife. The husband stated it was no good to him, as the cheques had proved to be valueless. The two men spent the remainder of the night in conversation in the kitchen, /complainant passing the time crying in bed.

The husband then resumed his former relationship with his wife, but in May, 11)21/ a child was horn, which was ail obvious half-caste. After complainant had given evidence on the lines of counsel’s statement, the Magistrate adjourned the case for a fortnight, to allow the husband to be notified of the proceedings.