A Domestic Difference.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume 17, Issue 858, 2 October 1896, Page 3

A Domestic Difference.

A court of law is hardly tlie place to look for a scintilla of humour as ;i rule, the proceedings usuallybeing o£ a most prosaic order. The cise ot' Galvin v. Galvin, which came before Mr McCarthy, S. M., last Friday, however* afforded the spectators considerable merriment, Avhicli was intensified, when Mrs GalviuV. comfortable figure and good-natured features appeared in the witness-box; and also when her husband presented himself to ventilate his grievances. Although the proceedings were under the Destitute Persons Act, there did not appear anything destitute or neglected about Mrs. Galvin, nor did her evidence betray much to the contrary. VVith the utmost g >od humour she related ,that she had been married to the defendant over 20 years ago at Danediu, a-d had nine children. They lived happily Until three years ago, when, through some trifling misunderstanding, her husbaud and children left her, and built another house by■ in which they went to live! They left her in the old house. She had not spoken' to her husband siuce, 1101 he to her. She never intended to go to live with him again, Ou account of his treatment of her. She. got her groceries and • goods at M Kay s store, and her husband paid for them until lately, when he refused to pav for the drapery slie got and required. She made some money by her poultry, and lived 111 liei hnsband's house and section, and had a buggy and pair of horses of lier own ; bat she did not thmk this sufficient, and she wanted £1 a week to do what liked with.-Mr Galvin's evidence (for defence) was interesting He said his wife had the store open to her to get all requisites, but the bill was getting higher every year, and this year it was considerably higher than last year ; therefore, he declined to pay it all. He minutely described his means of income from his farm, and lrid also received some money for playing the bag-pipes. He described a trip he lately had to Sydney, together with the trouble and cost ot obtaining certain musical instruments there—Annie and Bridget Galvin (daughters) also gave evidence.—Though there were many apparent signs of consideration and good feeling towards each otliei indicated in the evidence, there was sometimes a little side-light let in, which showed that in matters of social etiquette Mr Galvin et uxor held different opinions, as where Mrs Galvin humorously related that on one occasion " I made the sugar and meat fly at my husband's head." —Mr M'Carthy held the defendant responsible, and made an order for 15s per week for the maintenance of Mrs Galvin.