DIVORCE COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18756, 9 July 1924, Page 13

DIVORCE COURT.

FOUR DECREES GRAFTED.

VARIOUS GROUNDS ADVANCED.

Four petitions in divorce were heard in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mi. Justice Stringer. A decree nisi wus

granted iin each casc> to be moved absolute in ihree months.

Leonard Vernon, Smith (Mr. Finlay) brought a petition against his wife, Edith Smith (Mr. Singer), on the ground of

desertion. A petition by the wife was withdrawn. The husband stated that- the

marriage took place in Tasmania in 1911, and the parties later came to New Zealand. In 1915 his wife left him and went to Tasmania, taking the two children with her. He gave her all the money he had when she returned for a short period to New Zealand. He enlisted in 1917, but he had not lived with her since his return in 1919. While he was at tho war his wife drew 10s a day-and lie drew Is a day. The two children aro to remain with their grandparents in Tasmania.

Mutual separation was proved by Elizabeth Piper (Mr. jSimson), who sought a decree against George Robert Piper. The marriage took place in Englaad in 1907, and the parties lived there till 1914, when they came to Auckland. In 1920 they separated by mutual consent, and had lived apart ever since. The two children are to remain with the petitioner. In the case of Edgar Claude Granger (Mr. Singer) against Elizabeth Lucy Granger (Mr. Matthews), a petition by the wife was withdrawn, as was also the defence to the petition. No order was made regarding < the custody of the children, three of whom aro at present with the husband. *

Persistent drinking on the part of her husband, James Nicholl „ Davidson, was alleged by Annie Davidson (Mr. Cahill). She said that after they were married in 1918, her husband was employed as a barman at Cambridge, but he \was always under the influence of liquor. Consequently his health broke down, and he lost his employment. He was shell - shocked at the war and was addicted to

drugs. For the last five years be had left her wi£hout adequate means "of support and she had earned her own living..,