A MATTER OF RELIGION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1174, 8 July 1911, Page 4

A MATTER OF RELIGION.

THE CONTROL OF TWO CHILDREN. (By Telcgraph-Prese Association.; Auckland, July 7. . An interesting case illustrative of tho result of mixed marriage occupied Mr. Kettle at the S.M. Court to-day. A man named Ivan Tchernegovski was charged with having attempted to le.ivo New Zealand without making adequate provision for his wife and family. Mr. Ilanna appeared for plaintiff, f.nd stated that tho couple were married seventeen years ago, and there wero four children. There were two sons in Auckland, while tho other two children wero at Blenheim. He asked for tho control of tho other two children aud an order of 20s. psr week. Mr. Singer, who appeared for defendant, explained that the two children at Blenheim were being brought ,up as Protestants, and the mother was a Catholic. Mr. Kettle said if the husband and wife were living together he could see no reason for leaving the two children at Blenheim. Witness said the children wero being kept at Blenheim free of charge. Mr. Kettle: What is your real'reason? Witness: The priest interfering. Sho will not allow the children to bo reared in tho Protestant faith. Mr. Uanna: This question of religion is always cropping up in these cases. The wife: He promised that the children should bo brought up as Catholics. That is in writing on the marriage certificate at the church in Wellington. Mr. Kettle: If that is so he should stand by his promise. Defendant: It may be a wrong thing, but I. will try in every way to prevent these children being reared as Catholics. The wife: His promise is written in the church at Wellington. Mr. Kettle: Is that so? Defendant: It is seventeen years ago. I remember a verbal promise. Mr. Kettle: Why do you want to break that promise? Defendant: Because I see things differently now. Mr. Kettle said tho real trouble was that the man wanted to go back upon the promise made at his marriage that any children should be reared in tho mother's faith. Defendant said that as soon as ho could nfford he proposed to institute proceedings for divorce. Mr. Uanna said his client would also have instituted proceedings for divorce wore it not she was prohibited by (ho tenets of her faith. The case was adjourned for a week. The Wellington College Old Girls' Association will hold an entertainment in the Central Hall, Girls' College, Pipitea Street, to-night. An excellent programme has been arranged, and tho entertainment promises to be a 6uccess. '