SUPREME COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2684, 12 July 1894, Page 4

SUPREME COURT.

At the Divorce Coni t, Wellington, suits were made absolute in the following cases : Skinner v. Skinner, husband’s petition ; Rowe v. Rowe, husband’s petition ; Kitchen v. Kitchen, w'Vs petition, petitioner to have charge of the children ; Gallyhawk v. Gr.' , yhawk, husband’s petition. At Wel'ington judgment was delivered in the case of Skey v. the Mutual I'fe Assurances Association of Austxvln-ia, in which plaintiff sought to recover £ISCO, the amount of a policy on the P’o of hi* son. Mr Justice Richmond said that the policy as he read it make ; it the undertaking of the association to pay subject to a condition that no premium bo overdue at the death of the arsurcJ. in th.’i case the premium was overdue at the t ;, xxo of death, and judgment was given for defendants. At the Supremo Court, Christchurch, Mr Justice Deunistoun gave judgment in the application for permission to employ Mr Gomgo Harper as a clerk, which was opposed by the Canterbury Law Society. His Honor said that ho saw no reason to i

doubt the good faith of the application or anything to justify him in concluding that the ground of objection by the Law Society was sufficiently warranted by the facts to oblige him to forbid the applicant from earning a livelihood in the only way under the circumstances open to him. Mr Fisher moved for an order to set aside the rejection of the proof of claim of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company in respect of a call of £22 10s per share on 525 shares of the old company, a total of £11,812 10s. The proof of debt has been put in by the local manager on behalf of the official liquidator. After argument His Honor ordered the proof to be admitted. Costs were not allowed. Sitting in Banco at Dunedin Mr Justice Williams had before him a test case as to the meaning of the words “ next before ” in section 74 of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act. The case is brought by the Otago Benevolent Trustees against the Southland Charitable Aid Board. A man named Moore, his wife and family, living at Queanstown, were in destitute circumstances, He represented that he could get permanent work if he went to Dunedin. The Mayor collected £ls for him. Moore reached Dunedin on the 18th October. He applied for relief on the 9th November, and the Southland Board repudiated. After argument His Honor said : Whatever the decision of the Court may be, I am not satisfied about it. It cannot be satisfactory. The section is so drawn that we can only guess what it means. 1 would suggest that the bodies concerned should unite with other local bodies and get the legislature to amend the section and say what they do mean. I will take time to look into the matter and see if I can make any thing out of it, and give judgment in a day or two.—On Tuesday Judge Williams gave judgment for defendants.