Divorce Proceedings.

Opunake Times, Volume XXI, Issue 750, 23 June 1905, Page 3

Divorce Proceedings.

At the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, on Tuesday afternoon, Flora Elizabeth Brown, of Eltham, petitioned for divorce from her husband, George Brown, on the grounds of desertion and adultery. Mr T. B. Crump appeared for petitioner, and there was no appearance of respondent. Petitioner, who appeared to be in a very nervous sfate, was giving a rather unintelligible recount of her history with respondent, when she fainted. Isabella Mil'er, mother of petitioner, gave evidence. The parties were married in 1895 and lived for some time at Eltham. Respondent went to Papetoftoi leaving petitioner unprovided for. Later she .followed him up and they lived together at Papetoitoi. She was in bad health at tht time and was a patient at the Auckland hospital for some time. Subsequently she joined him again and he ill-used her, failing to provide her with reasonable clothing, and refusing nourishing food ordered by the doctor. There were two children. Her condition was so serious that her mother took her away in October, 1897, and since that time respondent had supported neither petitioner nor the two children. Petitioner was married quite young, and since her marriage she had suffered from fit seizures, and it was unlikely she would ever be able to support herself. Evidence was given of respondent's adultery with a woman at Gisborne, respondent having made the admission in the course of Court proceedings at Eltham. His Honor granted a decree nisi conditionally on it being proved to his satisfaction that respondent was the person served with the citation. Application was made for custody of the children but his Honor said he could hot grant such application till the order was completed.—Herald.