COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1932, Page 8

COURT NEWS

MOORCOCK DIVORCE CASE. WIFE’S CROSS PETITION GRANTED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, September 16. A settlement was to-day reached in the case in which Thomas Moorcock, farmer, of Wairarapa, brought a petition for divorce from his wife, Alice Frances Moorcock, based on a written i agreement, entered into by the par-| ties in April, 2929, When the hearing, of the action was resumed, to-day, • counsel for respondent asked for leave' to amend the answer to the petition to include a prayer for relief follow--ing the form of a cross petition, on the ground of mutual separation. Counsel for petitioner had agreed to the amendment, also to allow the evidence, he had already given to go in support of the cross petition, and a decree nisi to be granted in respondent’s favour, interim alimony up to September 19 having been agreed upon at the rate of £2 10s a week, and from that date at the rate of £2 5s a week, with liberty to either party to apply fori variations at any time. Justice Ostler made the order asked' for and granted a decree nisi to respondent, who was allowed costs on the highest scale. His Honour expressed gratification that such a settlement had been ar- ' ranged. GOLD BUYER PROSECUTED. SURRENDER OF LICENSE AVERTS CONVICTION WELLINGTON, September 16. Although his decision loft untouched the question of whether or not defendant was entitled to carry on his business without a second-hand dealer’s license, Mr Page, S.M., in >a reserved judgment, delivered to-day, dismissed three charges against Spira Barbedes, gold and silver buyer, that being a licensed second-hand dealer, he purchased goods after six p.m., that he failed to have his name and secondhand dealer printed on the premises, and failed to produce his license on demand by a police constable. Acting on a decision in another case, defendant had returned his license for cancellation by the City Council. Mr Page held it had been validly | cancelled and surrendered, and as the charges were applicable only to the holder of a license, the information had to be dismissed. ELECTRICITY FRAUD. FARMER’S RUSE. TE AROHA, September 16. On a charge of fraudulently extractting electricity from the Thames Valley Power Board-s supply, Charles F. Stratton, farmer, of Waitakaruru was fined £l2 by Mr Platts, S.M. Defendant bridged a switch at a cowshed obtaining a supply of electricity for a water heater during milking hours. R. Sprague, manager of the Board, stated that the low flat rate of £3 per annum for water heaters was conditional on the supply being cut off during milking hours. By bridging the switch, electricity worth about £l2 a year had been obtained. The practice of interfering with switches meant the loss of thousands of pounds annually, and offences were difficult to detect. The Magistrate intimated that if fines were insufficient, terms of imprisonment would be imposed.