DIVORCE CONTESTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 13

DIVORCE CONTESTED

HUSBAND SECURES DECREE A husband's petition for divorce based on the ground of an agreement to separate was contested before Mr. Justice in the Supreme Court yesterday. The petitioner was Charles Chegwidden, car salesman (Mr. R. S. Burt), who was married to the rer spondent, Abigale Laulii Chegwidden (Mr. Hogben), in Apia, Samoa, in June, 1919. There are three children. The respondent alleged that the separation which had existed between them since March 1. 1937, had been brought about by the wrongful acts of the petitioner. Mr. Burt said there was clear evidence of agreemnt to separate. Mr. Hogben said the wife had £4OO or £SOO of her own when the marriage took place, and the trouble arose only when that ran out. The respondent. in evidence, said that she had contributed £977 to household expenses from the time of the marriage. His Honor said the petitioner had established that the parties did enter into an agreement for separation, and that it had been in operation for three years. Mrs. Chegwidden had failed to establish that the separation was due to any wrongful act on her husband s part,'and he would be granted a decree nisi. The respondent was allowed £l6 16s costs and disbursements.