MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

A SEPARATION CASE (Before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M.) In the Magistrate's Court this morning Eva Maria Grant, aged 57, sought a separation, maintenance and -, prohibition order against her husband, Ernest Grant, aged 40, who Is by trade a boot finisher. The grounds of the action were that the defendant was an habitual drunkard, and that he was always out of work, and treated complainant with cruelty. George Arthur Baker, a son of complainant by a former marriage, supported these statements as facts. Ernest Grant said he was working as a navvy at present. He had been put off from Murray's boot factory for the Christmas holidays, but did not go.back because it did not suit him. He was willing to pay maintenance to his -wife. He -wanted a separation from her, bnt wonld not consent to have a prohibition order made out against himself. G. W. Murray, boot manufacturer, gave evidence that Grant was a good workman. He was prepared to give him work. His Worship made tbe separation order, fixing maintenance at £1 per week, and cautioned Grant to keep off the drink, telling him to leave the lad Baker alone and not molest him. To this Grant replied ns he was leaving the Court: "I would not be seen talking to him. He is only a lump •of dirt compared with mc." John.Collett was brought up from Christchurch, where be was earning a guinea a day, to appear this morning In nnswer to an action taken by his wife, Blanche Letitia Collett, for separation, maintenance and guardianship of two children. Mr. Allan Moodle appeared for the complainant, who said her husband was a carter before he went away. They had been married in Yorkshire, and had come to New Zealand eleven years ago. Tbe only mouey she had received from him for some time was fl. and this was increased by £40 she had collected on a fire insurance policy when ber house was damaged. She had taken out separation orders against him before, but had allowed him to come back to ber. Tbe last time be left her was on December 22, and he had never returned. A young lady who stayed with complainant corroborated these statements in full. John Collett said he had nothing against his wife. As a carter in Auckland he bad been earning three guineas a week, bnt at Christchurch he had been earning upwards of a pound a day. He had left her only thrice, and each time in order to better himself. His Worship fixed the maintenance at 30/ a week, gave guardianship of the children to tbe complainant, and adjourned the separation action sine die.