MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4343, 25 March 1882, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

OHRISTOHUBOH. BATUBDAY, Mabch 25. (Before B. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Dbunkknxbsß. — Four first offsnders. for thia offence wero fined sa, or 24 haurs.

Disobstino AN Obdbb.— Honry Goodly, brought up on warrant, waa changed with diaobeying an order of the Resident Magistrate's Court in not providing for his wife and children. Mr Joyce appeared for tho wife of the prisoner, and stated that tho case waa a peculiarly hard one, as his client had only the aid afforded by the Charitable Aid Board to maintain heraelf and family. Thia aid waa threatened to be withdrawn, aa an order had beon made by tho Court that the prisonershould contribute so muoh to Mb wife's support, which order up to 'ho present timo had 'oe-Mi sntirely ignored Bobocoa Goodly, tho wife of the priaoQSf, on b.p(ng called, a'tated. tfcat

she was the mother of seven children, fire of whom were girls;'- Her earnings wereveryuncertain, and if it was not for the assistance she received from the Charitable Aid Board it would be impossible for her to keep herself and family. An order had beon made by the Besident Magistrate's Court for her husband to pay her a certain sum weekly for the support of herself and the girls. Subsequently to the order she went to Dunedin, and brought all the children back; having taken the two boys alao from the ouatody a* the priaoner, aa she did not consider he was a proper person to have charge of them. She would sooner struggle on for a living than prosecute the priaoner only that the Charitable Aid Board had threatened to withdraw their support. The prisoner said he would not part, as "it was contrary to the word of Qod " In answer to the prisoner, she denied leying a charge of habitual drunkenness • against him some months ago. A letter (produced), she acknowledged writing to prisoner. The Benoh, wishing to see the letters she received from her husband, remanded the case to Monday, to enable them to be produced. Appeal. — An application waa made by Mr Bruges to appeal against the decision of the Court in the case of Cooksbn v. Beatty, heard on Thuradaylaat,aßthe question be intended to raise waa an important one in law. The Bench considered that, in the interests of his client, it would be inadvisable- for Mr Bruges to appeal against the deoiaion, and refused the application.