AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 34

AUCKLAND.

"At the Supreme Court, in the divorce case, M'Kinnon v. M'Kinnon, a wife's petition, a decree nisi was granted. In the case W. Alfred Strachan (petitioner) v. Ellen Jane Strachan (respondent) and Jabez lArmour (co-respondent), a petition for a decree nisi for dissolution of marriage, there ..was no appearance of respondent. Petitioner, a butcher, gave evidence that three years ago he heard she was in Dunedin. Evidence taken on commission in Dunedin was read to the effect that respondent and co-respondent had been, living together in Dunedin; that she had been convicted .of drunkenness in Dunedin; and that iArmour had finally left her,- and she was desirous of getting him to supports child. Lately traces of them had been lost. His Honor granted a decree nisi, with costs on the lowest scale against the co-respond-ent, leave being given to apply for the decree absolute at the expiration of three months. At the annual meeting of the Door of Mope the report showed that 214 girls and women had passed through the institution since it started, and 55 during the past year. The home, valued at £1000, is free of debt. It is worked on unsectarian lines. It was resolved to apply to the Premier for a subsidy, as one is given to rescue homes in other parts of the colony. Mr I J. J. Holland, M.H.R., is to be entrusted nvith the application to the Premier. The body of the man who committed Suicide in the cemetery gully has been identified as that of John Ninnis, a labourer, aged 60 yeers. A verdict of " Suicide" was (returned, and that there was nothing to in- i "dicate the reason for the act. Alfred James Wellington was caught stealing books from the Free Public j Library, Jjhree volumes being found on •him, and five books had been sold to secondhand dealers. At the Police Court accused ,-was asked if he had anything to say, and replied: "I tried to get work, and could not get any. I was on the verge of star,vation. I gave the librarian every help to get the books back again from the secondhand shops, and all were recovered." Mr Hutcheson, S.M., asked the prisoner why he had not applied to some charitable institution, and the prisoner replied that he had been to several, but with what result he did not state. He had tried gum digging, but could not make a living at it. At the Police Court Frank Hills and Wil- | Jiam Perrin, two members of the Onehunga (Volunteers, for challenging their superior to fight, were bound over to keep the. peace in the sum of £10 each, and ordered to pay costs. The trouble arose over one of Ehe defendants being fined £1 for insubordination. A Native woman, named Wiki, In the J£ing* Country, was recently' charged at Te Awamutu, before Mr Jackson, S.M., ;with selling rum to Nikora, a Native constable, at a Native store at the Maori settlement Paemako, between Te Kuiti and Mbkau. Accused, who was undefended, pleaded guilty. Evidence was called to show that defendant had sold a glass of rum, and also a bottle of rum, for 9s. A quantity of liquor was seized under warrant. Wiki was convicted and fined £10, with costs (£9), and the magistrate ordered the 'liquor taken by the police to be confiscated.