Polygamy Tabu—So
p. 47 · Read in the full issue
Native Killed His Wife
From Our Own Correspondent
Rabaul, July 2.
THERE w r as much criticism and bicker ing at the beginning of the year when the N. Guinea marriage laws were amend ed to make it impossible for a native to contract a European or Christian marriage.
In introducing the bill, the Government Secretary (Mr. H. H. Page) said that the majority of natives were not able yet to understand the obligations of matrimony.
In the Supreme Court last month, an interesting case showed the significance ascribed by natives to marriages made ac cording to mission rites.
A native, Sangar, was charged with wil fully killing his wife. He explained, as his
defence, that he wanted to take another woman as his spouse, but having been married by a missionary was unable to do so. He told the court that he solved the problem by murdering his wife!
Sangar was sentenced to death.
Captain A. S. Fitch, of Steamships Trading Co. Ltd., returned to Samarai, Papua, by the Montoro from Sydney on July 29, after a month’s business visit.