AGE V. YOUTH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 6

AGE V. YOUTH

A MAORI DIVORCE SUIT. The plea of an elderly Maori woman against a young Maori for divorce, on the ground of adultery, was heard in the Supreme Court, yesterday, before His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). Ninewa Hererniah Hohepa (Mr. O. Beere) asked for divorce from Teoti Hohepa. Her counsel said the parties had been married in 1918, but there were no children. Petitioner and her husband had gone together for a trip to Kaiapoi, where she saw the respondent with another woman, late at night. She was very angry, and “pulled some hair out of the other woman’s head." Petitioner said she met her husband yesterday, and had promised him £5O to go home with. He had no means and she had always kept him. There had been a hint of a reconciliation yesterday, but nothing had occurred. “Why did you give him £50?” asked counsel.

“So he would agree to have the marriage annulled,” answered- the witness. At this stage the husband appeared in court, and said he had no objection to the divorce being allowed. His Honour said the woman had married a man young enough to be her grandson. The Native mind had to be considered, and there was no doubt the young man had misconducted himself. There was no collusion as far as the £5O gift was concerned. A decree nisi was allowed.