SUPREME COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1925, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

WHITE GLOVES FOR JUDGE

His first visit to Greymouth yesterday as Judge in the Supreme Court, should give Mr. Justice Alpers a good impression. There being no criminal, cases for his attention, His Honor was presented with the customary pair of white gloves, the presentation being made by the Registrar (Mr. C. W, Carver). In congratulating the district upon the absence of crime, His Honor humorously hoped, in the interests of the Law Society, that there might be a criminal case occasionally; otherwise such presentations would become too frequent. IN BANKRUPTCY. William McLean applied for his discharge from bankruptcy. On the request of his counsel (Mr. W. J. Joyce), however, the application was struck out. Mr. F. A. Kitchingham applied for costs on behalf of the Colombo Tea Company, and these were allowed, (£2/2/-). Neil Joseph Bruce Culling, through Mr. Joyce, made a similar application. Mr. Joyce stated that bankrupt had paid 11/1J in the pound. A discharge was granted. IN DIVORCE Matilda Mary Turner, Greymouth, applied for a divorce from James Turner. The case was undefended. Mr. Joyce represented petitioner, who said that she was married at ' the Registry Office at Nottingham on August 22, 1903. She was deserted

by her husband in 1919. While he was at the front she received a certain allotment from his pay. He had never supported her. There were no children. Henry Kirk, secretary of the Greymouth Watersiders’ Union, said he knew the respondent, who rejoined the union on his return from the war. Respondent had written to witness from England stating that he did not intend to return to his wife. The latter had been living by herself for three years, to his knowledge. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute in three months. James William Patterson, of Reefton, applied for a restitution of conjugal rights against Myrtle Constance Patterson. Mr. I. Patterson, who represented petitioner, stated that an admission had been made of refusal to grant conjugal rights. , Petitioner stated that he was married'at Nelson. His wife left him at Huntly in 1912 and went to Auckland. Since then they had not lived together, despite several efforts on petitioner’s part to induce his wife to return to him. For some time past she had been living at Dannevirke under an assumed name. In August last she again refused to return to him. He was prepared to provide a home for her. A daughter of petitioner, aged 15 years, said that she visited her mother • at Dannevirke at Christmas. The latter was living under an assumed name. Hex- mother had written to witness and another daughter, and these letters were handed into Court. Her father lived with her grandA mother at Reefton. Witness knew that her mother and father had lived apart for some years. His Honor said he was satisfied that the petitioner was honest in his wish to have his wife back. The application would be granted.