MAURI MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 13

MAURI MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.

INVALID IN BRITISH LAW.

AUCKLAND, September 7. A Maori marriage contracted according to Native custom does not carry with it the benefits or disabilities of the Destitute Persons Act. So decided Mr Kettle, S.M. at tho Police Court to-day. The matter which raised the point was an application for a rehearing of a cas«» in which a maintenance order had been made against Paho Pai for the support of his wife :md family. His Worship gave it as his opinion that the court's jurisdiction was confine! to marriages solemnised ac?(rding to Now Zealand and British law. Maoii marriageb were levognised in the Native Land Court. He ad\iped the N,-ithes that they should apply to th^ir member to biing ths matter before the Hou=« if they desired an alteiation in the law. While tlie c"sp. was be : i;a di-cups-ed, .•s Nikorima, who was acting as interpreter, received a tele. lvm ii\,m the Hon. J. Carroll, and when the magistrate lead it. he said his opinion was suppoited by that of the N.itive Minuter. The rehearing was granted ynd the proceedings quashed.

Hr'd hatl bronchitis several tirrcs, His doctois ordered "warmer climes." But then, alas! the man wh poor, Or he'd have ,?one away before. "Do this do that," 'tis" eas ; ly said. But poor men have to earn their bread. Thank~ bo, they may become f-sci re 'Uain=t coa^hs "an-d colds by Woods' P-'-yp^r-mint Cure