Emily Eva Eileen SITTAUER [4491]

  General Notes:

1904/1272 NZ Birth Sittaner Emily Eva Eileen, Emily Alice, John Thomas (7 May 1904)
1966/47892 NZ Death Ericsson Emily Eva Eileen 62y

Hutt Valley Independent 16 Dec 1916
UPPER HUTT SCHOOL
Certificates were presented at the "break-up" on Thursday afternoon by Committee-chairman Greig who was accompanied by Secretary Guthrie and R. C. Dick and B. B.Elliott; . . . .
Standard V.-Leo Benge, Louis Greenwood, Merrick Peareon, Zita Cudby, Gladys Field, Grace Judge, Emily Sittauer, Ellen Wills.
Standard VI. George, Qottle, Edward Harris, Cyril Mitchell, Jessie Blair, Mavis Brown, Doris Mudgway, Gladys Sittauer. Pupils of the senior classes presented
Headmaster Connell with a Stud box, and Assistant Master Rodgers with a cigarette case and a match-box. An interesting programme of songs and recitations was randered by the children etc. . . . .

NZ Truth 17 November 1927 page 5
FARM LIFE
HUSBAND'S DENIAL
THE BENCH DECIDES
Emily Comes Back To The City
(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Rep.)
The lure of the dance caught Edward Wilkes one night, and to register a break in the tedious monotony of life as a compositor for a daily paper in the capital city, he entered into the spirit of the thing and stepped lightly across the boards with some fair partner. THAT night proved to be the turning point in his bachelor career, for among the fair damsels present he met his future partner in life. They were married a few months later and everything for a time went along swimmingly. Emily Eva Eileen Wilkes, however, did not take too kindly to life in a boarding-house. Brightly vivacious and, energetic, she decided to take a job to help her husband along. Came a time, though, when Edward was not enjoying the best of health, and ultimately, according to his own story, he became the victim of lead poisoning. That was in 1924, and when he discovered the cause of his ill-health he decided to make a break for the country. Emily was apprised of this decision on her husband's part and made no demur about sharing his fortunes back among the hills. Edward knew something about sheep and cattle, having worked in the country before. He took a position as a married shepherd. In the Wairarapa district Emily worked with her husband, but later returned to her mother's place in Silverstream. Edward secured another position as a shepherd near Wairoa, his wife cooking for the men. Several other jobs followed, Edward ultimately renting a forty-acre farm near Waipukurau. But in the meantime Emily's allowance was not all it should have been. When, at the Waipukurau farm, he told her he was up against it and that she had better find work, she did as she was told to the extent of getting out. She returned again to her mother and remained there for five months until she brought an action against her husband in the Wellington Magistrate's Court for separation, maintenance and guardianship on the grounds of failure to maintain. In answer to her counsel, Lawyer Percy Jackson, she told Magistrate Salmon that after the Wairoa job she came home and her baby was born in September 1926. She was home on that occasion for about eleven months. Edward had sent her several cheques, but not nearly sufficient to pay her board.
Later, when she joined him at the Waipukurau farm, the house was in a neglected condition. Her husband told her that she "had better get out and get a job." She returned to her mother at Silverstream and had been there for the past five months. Edward had only sent her £2 during that time. To Lawyer Heine, who appeared for Wilkes, the wife said the house at Waipukurau was poorly furnished. There were eight half-starved dogs tied outside the window and their "yapping" nearly drove her mad. Wilkes denied that he had failed to maintain his wife or that he told her to go out and work while they were at Waipukurau. On one occasion she had refused to go out to a job he secured near Glenburn because she said it was too quiet and too far away from town. They then went to Wairoa, but his wife did not like the life and refused to cook for the men. Lawyer Jackson wanted to know why Wilkes had left the farm at Waipukurau. Didn't you leave the place because you didn't know how to run it? No. Aren't you a dreamer and a theorist? NO. Aren't you a wanderer? That is not so. You left the farm because your wife returned home? Yes. Why didn't you write and tell her that if she didn't return you would have to leave the place? I thought it was her place to write. I took It for granted she would know that I would have to give up the farm if she didn't comeback. How long after your wife left was it before you also went? A fortnight. It didn't take you long, did it? No.
What have you been doing since June? Very little. As you always have been? I beg your pardon! No. Further questioned, Wilkes said he had been working for his brother in return for his board. In his opinion, said Magistrate Salmon, no doubt Wilkes' health compelled him to give up his work in town, but his wife's health also had not been good during the vicissitudes of following her husband about the country. The S.M. could not understand why people in their position should come to court and fight the matter out. "One would think a separation would be welcomed by the parties when incompatibility of' temperament arises, he remarked." The wife was entitled to "the orders asked for" and he granted them accordingly, fixing the maintenance at £1 a week for the wife and 10/- for the child.

Evening Post 2 May 1931 page 15
DIVORCE CASES
Amongst the fairly long list of divorce fixtures is only one for hearing by a Judge and a jury. Four other actions are defended. The list is as follows:- Before Judge alone (undefended) . . . . . Emily Eva Eileen Wilkes v. Edward Wilkes, alleged separation;

Evening Post 11 May 1931 page 11
DIVORCE
UNDEFENDED CASES
Undefended petitions, for divorce were dealt with in the Supreme Court today by (Mr. Justice Blair). Decree nisi on the grounds stated were granted in the following cases:- . . . Emily Eva Eileen Wilkes (Mr. Gillon) v. Edward Wilkes . .

  Other Records

• Divorce: Decree Nisi, 11 May 1931.

Emily married Edward WILKES [4492] [MRIN: 1476] on 13 Sep 1924 in New Zealand. The marriage ended in divorce on 11 May 1931.

  Marriage Notes:

1924/4188 Emily Eva Eileen Sittauer, Edward Wilkes

Emily next married Living