FROM WHITE TO BLACK.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2793, 7 March 1882, Page 3

FROM WHITE TO BLACK.

SECOND EDITION

At the Kaiapoi Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, James Rickurs, a halfcaste well known in South Canterbury, was charged on the information of his wife, Eliza Rickurs, with living in open adultry with one Hannah Solomon Poiho ; also with deserting his wife and children, and leaving them without means of support- Mr Holmes appeared for the complainant, and Mr Button for the defendant. Mr. Holmes, in reply to Mr Button, said that the information was laid under the “ Married Women’s Property Protection Act, 1880.” The following evidence was taken—W. ■H. Ovenden, surgeon and physician at Kaiapoi, deposed that Mrs Rickurs was a very good, careful mother. Eliza Rickurs, sworn, said that she was married to defendant on Nov 10, 1868, and that he lived with her from that date to June, 1876, when he deserted her in company with Hannah Poiho,; a Maori woman. .. At that .time she had four children. Defendant came back •in a fortnight and stayed with/ her for two months, when he went away again and lived at Waimate at the Maori Pah. Defendant is a half caste. He had come frequently to see her and he stayed with her at these times. She had had two children by h|m since 1876, and had never been guilty of improper conduct. 'ln 1876 a proper deed of settlement had been drawn up, and figned by defendant, according to which he was to pay £2a week for the maintenance of the four children, and provision was made for the furnishing being kept by her. . The money had not been paid. She believed he had had three children by Hannah Poiho, which fact he never concealed from witness, but told her about it when he saw. her. Last December be came to see her with flome of the Maories, and attempted to take one of the children —a girl—to W aimate, and he also took a chest of drawers. He had been a good husband up till 1876, though he had been with the Maories a good deal, and seemed very intimate with some of their women. Since then he had threatened to take the children and throw her out on the road. *At this stage learned counsel consulted, and asked the Bench to grant an adjournment for a short time, as it was quite possible that an arrangement might be entered into. At the expiration of half an hour, Mr Holmes said they had arranged first for the order to be granted; secondly, for the maintenance of the four eldest children ; and thirdly for the settlement of fourteen acres of land and a house, together with other leaseholds. He asked the Bench to grant an adjournment of the order for a month to allow of these arrangements being completed. The adjournment was granted accordingly.