DIVORCE CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 54, 5 March 1898, Page 2

DIVORCE CASE.

ANDERSON V. ANDERSON

A divorce suit in which the petitioner and respondent are both half-castes came on for hearing ab bhe Supreme Court this morning. The petitioner was Benjamin Anderson, bhe respondent Maria Anderson, and tlie co-respondent James Lynch. Mr Theo. Cooper appeared for the petitioner. There was no appearance of either respondent or co-respondent. Benjamin Anderson said his Maori name was l'ene Aneane. His father's name was Anderson, but being a cooper by trade, he was called by the Maoris Kupa. On the 10th January, 1883, he was married to a half - caste girl called Maria Dihars, daughter of a Frenchman. He was married jn the j\laori English Church by Rev. Wiritnu Turipona, After six years he separated from his wife because she had been unfaibhlul. She admitted to him that she had improper relations with the co-respondent. They then-separated. The co-respondent stopped at witness' place for a week and knew that respondent was the wife of witness.

Peter Lynch, bush cbntracbor, deposed he resided at the Thames. The co-respon-dent James Lynch was his son. Witness had a place ab Ohiriemuri in 1890-1. Mrs Anderson paid a visit bo them six or seven years ago. He noticed an intimacy between his son arid Mrs Anderson growing, and ordered her to go home. lie did not see anything actually improper. Witness told Mrs Anderson it was not becoming for ber to knock about so much with a young fellow like his son. Mrs Anderson then went home. Shortly afterwards witness 1:, son ceased to live at home. Some years afterwards his son came to work lor him' ab V. hangamata. His son and Mrs Anderson were then living together in the same wharc as man and wife. Witness knew his sou was aware these proceedings had boen instituted. Witness knew petitioner treated his wife very well.

Joseph Dihars deposed that Maria Anderson was his sister. He lived at Waimata. Si.c was living wibh co-respon-dent, at Waimata. Witness was present when the sui.Hi.ons was served upon them to attend this Court.

His Honor granted a decree nisi with costs againsb co-respondent. Leave was triven to apply for decree absolute after three months.