Extraordinary Divorce Suit.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 227, 4 September 1884, Page 2

Extraordinary Divorce Suit.

[Per United Press Association.] Auckland, September 4. Considerable surprise and regret have been occasioned in local religious circles by the receipt of letters from America conveying intelligence of a divorce action, which immediately concerns several highly respectable families in this city. The respondent in the action was George Hem us, formerly proprietor of a boot factory in Upper Queen Street, and superintendant of the United Free Methodist Sunday School in Pitt Street, and also an indefatigable local preacher in connection with evangelistical work. His wife was a daughter of Mr. B. Keane, and one of the grounds advanced in support of the petition was that after the advent of Mrs Hampson to Auckland, Hemus, fired by her influence and example, conceived the idea of consecrating his life, abilities, and means to the work of evangelism. With this project he sold his business and went to America, where he was laboring with more or less success. It is alleged that Mrs. Hemus was opposed to the relinquishment of her husband’s business, and held strong opinions upon the desirability of family interests taking precedence of evangelistic work. This would appear to receive confirmation from the fact that the ground relied upon for divorce was neglectAt the same time it requires to be stated that Hemus has informed his friends here that on his side he had stronger reasons for favoring the intervention of the Divorce Court. In point of fact he allowed the action to be decided against him through default of appearance. Mrs. Hemus therefore secured a dissolution of marriage, as well as a verdict of £2OO damages, while the respondent was ordered to provide for the maintenance of his four children.