S.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4736, 2 June 1894, Page 3

S.M. COURT.

MASTERTON - SATURDAY. (Before Mr T. Hutchinson, S.M.) George v. George. — His Worship inquired whether any settlement had been arrived at. Mr Pownall replied that the parties bad not been able to agree in the matter. Defendant had given complainant the choice of two offers. First, a comfortable home with Mrs Owen, at Tenui ; secondly — if she preferred to live alone—a cottage in Alfredton, near the defendant's accommodation house, together with the necessaries of life, furniture, and a daughter to wait upon her. Complainant however, had refused both of these offers. His Worship said be would have to decide the case on the facts. A husband was bound to maintain his wife, But if she left his house without sufficient reason the obligation ceased, The complainant's testimony went to show that there was good cause for her leaving her husband —- that she had been subjected to cruelty. The evidence of the defendant explained her absence from home as voluntary, their disagreement to a strangeness in the complainant's manner. The husband's protestation of affection for his wife was not consistent with his admission, that during her absence of five years, he had not once corresponded with her or made an effort to find out her whereabouts. Again, according to the complainant's uncontradicted statement, she had not, since her first departure from home, received a single penny of her husband's money, He would therefore, make out an order for maintenance at the rate of 20s per week, payments to be made monthly, beginning on the 30th instant, Mr Jackson applied for costs, which His Worship allowed in the sum of two guineas, Elley v Elley, - Mr Pownall stated that this case had been withdrawn. The Court then adjourned until 11 o'clock, On the Court resuming, Frank Cassidy (aged six) was charged, on the information of Sergeant McArdle with being the child of indigent parents who were unable to provide for his support. After hearing some evidence His Worship committed him to St Mary's Industrial School until he attains the age of 15 years, and ordered him to be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, The Court then adjourned.