MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 31, 6 February 1925, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. \V. R. MrKeaii, S.M.) SELFISH OBSTINATE WOMAN. ''The complainant is an extremely *elfish and obstinate xvoman. and 1 am not going to make any order for the maintenance of the children," said the magistrate, xvhen Winifred Coles (Mr. Selwyn Clark) was unable to explain why she would not go bark to her husband, Sydney Coles (Mr. A. F. Hogg). "It is a case of a husband providing a suitable home, xvhich his wife will not live in," commented Mr. Hogg. The complainant said she could not lix-o xvith her husband, and xvanted the' children herself. In December she told Mr. Hunt, S.M., that she xvould go back if defendant provided a suitable home. Adjutant Gordon said the husband had certainly provided a very fine home. No one could xvish for anything better. She had written to complainant telling her she should go back, and defendant had continually come to witness for her assistance" but the wife absolutely refused. The magistrate dismissed the information, remarking that the husband had fulfilled his part of the contract by] providing a good home. SPENT MONEY FOOLISHLY. An application by Edna May Williams (Mr. Townsendl for separation, maintenance, and guardianship, against George Alfred Williams (Mr. Moody) was dismissed. Complainant -tilled that she had left defendant on September 24. She had drawn £42 out of his banking account, and had paid £30 away in instituting divorce proceedings, £10 for teeth, and £2 on her children, xvho xvere 2* years and one year old respectively. Mr. Moody submitted that the complainant hail paid her money away foolishly, and defendant was willing to make regular payments to bis xvife. On counsel's, assurance that the payments would be enntinued until the Supreme Court proceedings in connection xvith the divorce suit had taken' place, the case xvas dismissed.

(Before Mr. W. R. McKean. S.M.) A WORKLESS HUSBAND. "Defendant can xvork. but xvon't xvork."' uas the remark of Mr. Selxvyu Clark, who appeared for Florence Gilbanks, when an up-ilication was made fnr a separation order against John Henry liilbanks (Mr. Schramm). Complainant said she had been married 2.l x-ears. and there xvere seven children, all except one nf whom were over sixteen. She staled that for the last ten yeurs defendant bad main-i tamed neither her nor himself, and she objected Io his til'by language. Mr. Schramm submitted that defen-j dant bad been in bud health and that no real trouble occurred until a boarder came into the house last year. The magistrate refused to make an order, remarking that no evidence of persistent cruelty had been submitted. f Before Mr. !•• <■"■ Cut ten, S.M.) lie,-.. Araxva Karaka (Mr. Viulouxl was granted 1-V a xveok maintenance against Putc Maunga (Mr. Grey). The marriage xvas one of a Maori wife io a Barotongan husband, the defence being based upon alleged misconduct of the wife xvith other men. Mr, Cutten, S.M., held that complainant was the wife of defendant and was destitute, and therefore legally entitled to maintenance.