MARRIAGES DISSOLVED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21111, 19 February 1932, Page 12

MARRIAGES DISSOLVED.

UNDEFENDED PETITIONS.

SMALLEST TOTAL FOR YEARS.

WIFE DISLIKES DOMINION.

EARLY RETURN TO CANADA.

A considerable proportion of the divorce petitions set down for hearing in the Supreme Court yesterday was not proceeded with, and altogether 22 were dealt with by Mr. Justice Herdman and Mr. Justice Smith. This is the smallest number heard on the quarterly divorce dav for many years.

A dislike that she conceived for New Zealand was given by Kenneth Sutherland Mackav as the, reason whv his wife, Neta Mercila Mackav, left him more than four years ago. Mackay said ho was married to the respondent in-Montreal in December, 1920. lie came to New Zealand in 1925, and in May, 1927, sent, for his wife and child to join him. They did join him, and lived here for three months.

His wife then said that she did not like the country, and determined to return to Canada. She left for Vancouver with the child in August, 1927, against, his will, as he had determined to remain in New Zealand. After her arrival in Vancouver he received a cablegram from her stating: "Your future, is of no further interest to me." He knew that she had re-entered commercial life, in Vancouver and was carrying on business on her own account. After a witness had corroborated the evidence that Mrs. Mackay refused to return, His Honor issued a decree nisi, to be moved absolute after three mouths. Separation Alter Many Years. Evidence of an agreement to separate after 31 years of married life was given by Grace Wood Anderson, who sought divorce from George Anderson on the ground of that separation. She stated they were married in Glasgow in April, 1897, aiid for the last 25 years had lived jn New Zealand. There were four children. On November 19, 1928, they decided to separate, and a separation agreement, was signed. A decree nisi was issued.

The statement that her husband and ehe found they had no common interests end that relations became strained and eventually unbearable, was made by Millicent Stuart, who sought divorce from Harold Ivan Stuart, on . ihc ground of mutual separation. They were married in October, 1926, and a child was born the following year. An agreement to separate was entered into in September, 2928. A decree nisi was issued.

"One evening four years ago I came home and found that my wife had left the house, taking all her furniture," said George Birch, who applied for a divorce from Ada Birch on the ground "of desertion. Petitioner, who tendered evidence to show that his wife had not returned since that time, was granted a decree nisi. n . Cases of Desertion. Desertion was successfully pleaded by petitioners in the following cases, and decrees nisi were issued, to become effective after three months:—Kenneth 1. M. Clark against Constance Marjory Clark; Grace Lily Clegg against Stanley Jacob Clegg; Florence Glenn against Alexander Donaldson Glenn; Alice Flora Grey against George Grey. Decrees nisi were granted to petitioners in the following cases on the ground that the respondent had failed to comply with an order for the restitution of conjugal rights : —Thomas G. H. Chamberlain against Dorothy Priscilla Chamberlain; Gordon Henry Sills against Edna Edith Sills; Vivian Charles McMinn against Mary Ellen McMinn; Wilfred Golt against Agnes Hartwell Emma Gott. .On the ground of respondents' misconduct, decrees nisi were issued to petitioners in the following cases: —Phyllis May King against David Joseph King; Florence Violet L. Field against Charles Edward Field: Robert Crooks agjinst Myrtle Ellen Elsie Crooks; John Gilbert Jones against Vera Rosella' Jones. The separation of the parties for more than three years was the ground on which decrees nisi were granted in the following cases:—Ella Florence Terry against "William Harold Terrv; Elsie Emma Young against Edward James Young; Mabel Alice Sutton against Alfred James Button.