A DIVORCE CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12625, 4 August 1904, Page 5

A DIVORCE CASE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court to-day Ida Lilian Dobaon sued for divorce from Collet Barker Dobson on the ground of desertion. The parties belong to the theatrical profession, and were married in Ghristchurch in 1886. Three children were born, all dying young. Petitioner took to teaching elocution in Piuiedin, respondent. goincr to Australia against her desire, in 1898. Petitioner wrote regularly, but received no reply. A friend cabled when she was ill, and a reply came, a letf«r being promised, but none came. In 1901 she received a cable asking for £100, which she sent. She had since heard respondent was living with another woman. A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute after three months.

Tlia Australasian Methodist Conference decided to issue a revised and uniform hymn book for use in the services of the Church. Speaking at Dulwich Hill, the Rev. VV. Halse Rogers (preside/it of the conference) stilted that it was a singular tact that the Methodists were the only religious body in Australia that could authorise the issue of hymn books, such powers having been granted in the Acts in the various States granting the union of the Methodist Churches. During the week ended July 22, the births of 276 children were registered in the Sydney Metropolitan area, and 167 deaths were recorded, of whom xi were from lite country. The record of births is considerably above the average, and the death-roll exhibits very satisfactory conditions. Nine deaths were caused by violence, seven being from accident, and one from suicide. In one case an open verdict was returned. Of the births, 17,' and of the deaths, 27 occurred in public institutions.