POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9292, 19 January 1892, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

Monday, January 18. — Before C. 0. Kettle, Esq., R.M% „ >iU , >T ! . - • ALLEGED FAILING TO PROVIDE.' | Horace Victor Metcalfc, on remand, waa charged •' with ' failing to -provide- for his wifo and boy, who were in Wellington. • Mr Standish appeared for the defendant. The complainant' was not represented. ' ' ' Mr Standish said that he understood that v was^nb"bne' to" represent the other side, and. after conferring ...wjthihw' client hehaddecide.d tp ask His Worship to remand' the case for a further period so that Mrs' ■Metcalfe, who was in Wellington, could be notified that she must substantiate' 'her complaint that her husband failed to provide for her and her child. After taking, such an extreme step as to get her husband arrested, .on the charge, he thought that I Mrs Metcalfo', should be given a, further opportunity of substantiating the charge. Tho matter, he pointed out, was of groat ! public importance, as the question whether a wiire could leave her husbaud ani go to some other part of tho colony and sue him for alleged tailing to provide was involved. -Sorgtj Duffiu eafd that ho had /been instructed to aslf for a remand to Wellington. ' His Worship asked what had bean done since the case was last before the Court.* Sergi. Duffin saifl ho understood that Mr Jcllicoo would consent to Metcalfe entering into an agreement hero'to provide for 1 his •'-wife and child, but if Metcalfo did riot •consent to that he wou'd auk that he be romanded to Wellington. ; Ilia Worship sai t that tho case waa one of extreme importance, and ho had givpn a great deal of attention to it. It was a j question to consider whether a wifo could ' leave the place, where hoc homo was, go to another part of the colony, lay a charge of failing to provido against her husband, and have him arrested It certainly seemed a haVd case. In order "that the case could bo properly settled, ho would adjourn it to Monday, January 25, and in tho meantime a wire could be sent to tho otner side in Wellington with reforence to proving the charge against Metcalfo The case was then adjourned, tho defendant being liberated in his, own, recognisance.