A STRANGE CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 38

A STRANGE CASE.

Ckristchurch, December 12. At the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Justice D-uniafcon guve judgment in the case Bllmera v. Etlmers, an appeal from the decision of the magistrates. In this case the wife had takea proceedings against her husband for nmntenanoe. The husband had denied liability on the ground that in 1886 the parties had entered iti»o a deed of separation whereby in consider** tion of £300 the wife agreed that her husband might live apart from her as if he were a tingle man, that she would not attempt to compel him to allow her any alimony or maintenance) and that aDy future incontinence on his put should be no ground for complaint or for any proceedings by her against him. During the present; year a suit for judicial separation and a petition for alimony, brought by her againßt defendant by reason of his adultery subsequently to the deed oE separation, h*d been disniisßftd on the ground that by tha term> of the deed she had connived at such adultery. Mr Beethaca, S.M., had determined that the deed of separation afforded no ground of answer or defence to the wife's complaint and had made an order for the payment by EU«eri of 16s per week towards her maintenance. His Honor eiiid that though a married woman might contract herself out of her common law right*, obligations were created by the Destitute Persons Act of a totally different character. The object of the statute was to prevent a wife from being a burden on the State while sha had a lmaband able to maintain her, and 00 contract between tho paities could ralieve the huvbiuid of that duty. He upheld the magistrate's decision, dismissing tha appeal with costs.

A salmon is said to have been seen in the Gray riv. r, Preservation Inlet.

At a North Island station this mouth six Hhearerrt, with m* chine shears, put through in de and a-h*lf days 4485 sheep. For the best day's wo' k the tally was 993, two of the men nhearing 224 and 223 respectively. Two of the hands were u»iog the shears for the first time. The working hours of the ehed were from Q a.m to 6 p.m , but the actual time spent in working was 8& hours.

During the Premier's stay in Auckland he was eucc* 83ful in effttttinij & settlement of the i«sues between tha New Zealand Ammunition Oomp&uy and the Government in respect to the contract for the supply of Martini-Henry ammunition. The company wanted the term of five years fixed for the contract to be without any reduction of price, but th« Premier adhered to the original contrast;, in which provision it made for tha price being lowered from time to time ; £5 6a to be the m*x ; mmn, unless in case of Great Bri'ain going to w*r, in which case the A*ent-gen«ral and the experts may raise the prioe if tho circumttauces justify it.