NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 544, 26 June 1909, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

'- (By Toleeraph —Press Association) , v , 1 1 DIVORCE COURT. ' ' Napier, June 25 , InHhe divoroe Court to-day a decree nisi was 'granted in the case of Margarctta Crooks y; James Arthur Crooks, wife s petition, on t the" grounds of bigamy and misconduct. 1 Marie Emmoline Ethel Hapota, a young European woman, petitioned on the ground *f desertion for dissolution of her marriage with Hoani Hapeta Thero jvas no appearance of respondent. Petitioner said that marriage at Otaki respondent took her to hia father's place among the Maoris He knocked ner about, and did not support hor, spending bis money m drink. Mr. Justice* Chapman granted a decree nisi with an interim order that the wife should have custody of the only child of the marriage. / 1 ANTI-RITUAi.!SM. i

> * Auckland, June 24. A meeting of tho newly-formed Laymen's Loaguo was holdto-roght for the purpose of presenting the vigorous 'manifesto recently drawn up. Tho chairman (Mr. J. Dawson) said one of the main objects of,tho league vii to defend the rights of tho laity against encroachments of ecclesiasticwm m matters of'ohuroh government and churoh ritual. Mr. W. Ji Speight referred to the gradual creep- 1 ing'in of Romanism into the Church,, and said, the league would mako every effort to combat that. Thoy were going to fight against Tituausm. The meeting, which was an en- > thusia&tic one, adopted tho manifesto submitted. ) SHEARERS COMMEND MR. HOCC. ' Timaru, Juiie 25. The executive of the Canterbury Shearers' Union to-night passed a resolution expressing admiration of Mr. attitude in stand- ' irtg *% Labour legislation! 1 and hopes that Labour will return men of this calibre as their representatives -, HOP BEER. ' ; Mastcrton, June 25. , In tho Magistrate's Court, Benjamin Bodie, v cordial manufacturer, was fined £5 foY manufacturing hop Deer of greator alcoholic strength than allowed by law. ,' * ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Nelson, Juno 25. Aj mari named Geo. Alldndgo attempted ' suicide at Manu to-day by cutting his throat IHo lies in a serious condition in Nelson Hospital. He had been despondent lately.