SOLD HIS WIFE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 August 1924, Page 5

SOLD HIS WIFE.

MAORI THE PURCHASER. SUM OF £4OO PAID. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 22. I‘lhis is a most extraordinary case/ 7 said Mr Hunt, S.M., in delivering judgment in the Magistrate’s Court to-day in respect of an application for a maintenance order made by Elizabeth Jane Barnes against her husband, William James Dix Barnes. The Magistrate said that in August, 1920, an arrangement was made by which the defendant surrendered his wife to a Maori. The Maori paid defendant £4OO, a/nd as the wife was agreeable defendant left the house. Some days later lie returned and resumed cohabitation with his wife, and the Maori left. The parties then went to Wellington, where the complainant subsequently gave birth to a halfcaste child, which was taken by the Salvation Army. In October, 1922, complainant left her husband and took possession of the child. In February, 1923, she obtained a maintenance order against the Maori, but very little had been paid under it. Since the complainant left her husband she had maintained her-, self and the child, but she was now in ill-health and was in receipt of charitable aid. The husband w-as willing to provide a home for complainant on condition that she did not keep the child. Mr Hunt added: “I am of the opinion that the wife’s refusal is reasonable. The husband bartered her away to a Maori and connived at her adultery. He should not be cruel enough to separate her from the child, of whom she is so fond. Her health is bad, and she cannot perform household duties.” Defendant was ordered to pay maintenance at the rate of £] os per week.