SEVERING THE BOND

Evening Star, Issue 18807, 4 December 1924, Page 6

SEVERING THE BOND

DIVORCE APPLICATIONS GRANTED. Several divorce cases were heard by His Honor Mr Justice Sim in the Supreme Court this morning. M'KENZIE v. M'KENZIE. .Anna Elizabeth M'Kenzie (petitioner) v. William James M'Kenzie (respondent), application for dissolution of marriage on the ground of desertion. Mr B. S. Irwin, for the petitioner, said the parties were married on June 20, 1920, at Invercargill. Subsequently they lived at Winton, where respondent was employed by a stock firm. In April, 1921, he was dismissed on account of drunkenness. He arranged with his wife that she should go to her people in Invercargill, and that he should go north to get work and find a home for her. When ho went ho took half the proceeds of the furniture, and left her with the other half. Later he asked her to send the other half of the money and she did so. Respondent went from Christchurch to Wellington. After he left Invercargill the wife discovered that he was in debt. One of the debts was for a wedding present he gave her, and another was for his board at Winton prior to the marriage. Mrs M'Kenzie obtained work in Invercargill and kept herself. She had not seen the respondent since he left the south, nor had he made any proposal for her to return to him. She was so ashamed that she earned money and paid his accounts. She was still working. Evidence was given by petitioner and by her brother, (ha former stating that she had not seen her husband since April, 1921. The only money she had received from him since lie left was 20s at Christmas time of 1921. His Honor said the petitioner had proven a case of desertion, apart, altogether from the question of failure to maintain. A decree nisi would, be granted on the ground of desertion, with leave to make it absolute at the end of three months. Mr Irwin said that costs were not asked as petitioner was too disgusted with respondent to ask for them, even if an order were made. WALKER v. WALKER. Irene Nellie Walker (petitioner) v. George Wormold Walker (respondent), motion for decree to be made absolute,— Mr A. G, Neill appeared in support of the application, which was granted. There was also an application by petitioner for custody of the children, but this could not be granted, as there was no affidavit of service. His Honor pointed out that under the magistrate’s separation order, however, (he wife was still entitled to retain the children until they were sixteen years of age.