DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL. (Before His Honor the Chid" Justice.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 27

DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL. (Before His Honor the Chid" Justice.)

MILLER V. MIL LEE AND AXOTHEB. A husband's ]>etition for dissolution of marriage on the ground of adultery. Mr Hanlcn appeared for the" petitioner, Peter Miller, of Rangiora, and stated that there had been appearance entered on respondent's behalf and answer filed, but Mi Irwin had since sent him intimation that the respondent c!lid nob propose to defer-d. Presumably, therefore, the case wouM be heard by his Honor alone, and there was no need for a jury.

.His Honor dismissed the jury. Theie was no appearance of respondent, Jeannie Christina Miller, or of the co-iespoixlent. Chad Id a Joseph Beamett

Mr Hanlon said the parties had been married at Rakaia on March 13, 1896. They lived together some 15 or 18 months, then going to h'-e at. New Brighton for nearly two years. They lived on ve-T unhappy terms theie, the wife having given way to drink. They confcnlteil a solicitor with a view to getting- 'a Sf-paration, an<s were agreeing upon teirns when tho wife became exceedingly violent, abused thy solicitor, and left his office. Tilings then wcni en as badly as ever. Petrtwner nexß vent to relieve another man at a situation in Eataia, and 'while there was arrested on an application by the wife for maintenance for herself and child. He returned to Christclairch and answered the charge, the magistrate making an order against him for the payment of 15s a. week. Some time later the petitioner heard that his wife had gone away pnd left the child, and! hs tcok possession of tha child, and h?d since ke-pt it. His wife raine to Duaedin, and went init> service hare. Early this year peliticusr heard thr.t his wife ■p. as living in adultery, and had private inquiries instituted, the result being that the information was furnished him that respondent and co-respondent were living in ac"jaltery, that a child had been bom, and that the co-respondent had registered the child as illegitimate

Evidence was given by ihe petitioner ; by Isabella. M'Millan, -who deposed that respondent and co-respondent liveot together as man and wife in a house of hers, a. child being boarr. in December, 1903; by Korah Salmon, nurse, who gave evidence ?s to the birth of t'ho child, aaid who said that respondent had told her she had been married "to Peter Miller, of Eakaia, and had got a Giivorce fiom him ; by Henry Maxwell, registrar of births; and by Robert Bain.

His Honor said the case had been, in his opinion, proved, and he would grant a rule nisi, to be made absolute in three months. As Mr Haulon made no application for costs he would say nothing about them.

Messrs Grace and Wilson inform us that the art wniqn in connection with the r-coenfc bands' carnival will be drawn next week.

Marble headstones are being placed over the graves of the unknown dead recovered from tlia Bulli (New South Wales) explosion.

Mr A. T. Ngata, chairman of tbe Native Council, who has investigated the charges against tohungaism of causing deaths among Maoris on tho East Coast of the North Island, states that the rumours in circulation have exaggerated tl-e facts. The most that can be alleged, be says, is meg'.ect of treatment or exposure.