LAW QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 47

LAW QUERIES.

[Anstoered by a Solicitor of the Supreme Caurt •/ Kew Zealaiid. Letters and Telegrams must be addressed t» "LEU," c/o Editor, Otag* Witness Dunedin.]

L. H.— lt is not illegal to have a butcher's shop and dwelling-house combined. 601. — Yes, the- insurance office would have been liable tinder the policy. "Wife. — You may recover from the husband the value of your separate property disposed of by him without your consent. Fkee-wheel.— The answer to both queries is No. If sued, the youth should enter a plea of infancy in the prescribed form. Commercial Traveller. — If the I O U contain an agreement that it is to be paid on a given day or on demand, it will be a promissory note, and must be stamped as sudi. Stallion.— The owner of the stallion is not liable for the reason that the owners of the mares have been guilty of contributory negligence in allowing the animals to stray on the road. Bushman.— (l) The landlord. Damage by fire is excepted from the covenant to repair by section 84 (sub-section b) of "The Property Law Act, 1905." (2) The sum due at th© expiry of the month's notice. (3) Yea, you may claim compensation to the extent ol the damage sustained. Ignoramus. — (1) The new members should be elected by a public meeting before the cx"piry of*-the present license on May 31 next. (2) He may impound the cattle if he is one of the holders of the license. (3) The fact that*two members of the committee have left the district should be reported to the Land Board. (4) Yes. An Old Subscriber — Your query is answered by section 17 jf "The Fencing Act, 1895," which runs thus: — "If any person becomes the occupier of any land separated from any contiguous land by a. fence made by the occupier of such contiguous land, such person is subject to the same liabilities in respect of such fence as his predecessor was subject to when he relinquished occupation." Thirty-two Years' Reader. — (1) Yes. voluntary resumption of cohabitation discharges the order for maintenance. (2) You may petition tho Supreme Court for a divorce if for four years or upwards your husband has been an habitual drunkard and habitually guilty of cruelty towards you (3) It will 15a necessary to employ a solicitor. (4) The cost will be matter of arrangement with the solicitor. There is no fixed scale. Ploughman. — Until the jury finds a verdict of "Guilty" on the facts, the Crown prosecutor is not permitted to read out a list of the accused's previous convictions. But if the accused give evidence on his own behalf, he may be questioned as to whether he has been convicted of any indictable offence. Jid, upon being so questioned, if he either denies or does not admit the fact, or refuses to answer, counsel for the Crown may prove such conviction. Creditor. — It is noi illegal fur the lwnkrupt to commence business rgui;: But if before his conditional order of discharge takes

effect the bankrupt obtains credit to the extant of £20 or upwards from 1 any person without infohn?.ig such person that he is an undischarged bankrupt, then he (bankrupt) is liable to a maximum punishment of two years' imprisonment with hard labour. It is bankrupt's duty until the condition is satisfied to give the official Assignee from time to time such information as that official may require with respect to bankrupt's after-acquired property. The bankrupt has also to lodge with the assignee not less than once a year a statement showing the particulars of any property or income he may have acquired subsequent to his discharge.