CHICKENS IN THE HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 6

CHICKENS IN THE HOUSE.

A LANDLADY'S COMPLAINT. TENANT COUNTER-CLAIMS. A dispute over the condition of a house came before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court on Wednesday afternoon, and was continued this afternoon. Mrs. Rosa Maria Hannaii (Mr F. D. McLiver) sued Ernest Edwards, greengrocer (Mr. Hall Skelton) to recover .114 4/. value of damage alleged to have been done to a house in his occupation. The defendant counter elainieel for £5 dnruages for alleged wrongful distraint, and also claimed 311/ for repairing a fence on the property, 10/ feu- fitting two water-taps, and 12/6 for tram fares alleged to have been vvrongfiillv demanded by the plaintiff. The plaintiff stated that she let the house, which was situated at Morningside, to the defendant in July. 1015, for 13/0 a week, paid at her husband's shop in town, or 14/ a week if collected at the house. The tenancy was terminated in 'April last, after the bailiff had been twice put in. She had frequently collected the rent herself, and the extra charge of tid a week for tram fares was never disputed. John Henry ITannan. husband of the plaintiff, said' that the house, when the defendant went 'to live in it, was _ in thoroughly good order and condition. When the" trouble arose he wont to see it. ami found it in a disgraceful condition of neglect. About a dozen of the window-panes were broken, there were sacks of potatoes ill some of the roonifi, and chickens wandering about indoors. One of tlie doorsteps had gone, the hearths in two rooms had been smashed. and a mantelpiece had been hacked, as with a knife. The wallpaper was in a filthy state, ami on one wall lie found a set of harness hanging. The storm water foaklioles in the grounds had been blocked up. and the drainage was flowing over tlie' ground. Tlie fences were very dilapidated, and a number of shrubs hail been removed. He had the bailiff put in in order to get the defendant out. Cross-examined, the witness said that the internal woodwork of the house was laken from on old building which he had bought for removal thirteen years ago, hut lhe external timber was then new. The old timber had been iiseel under the supervision of the Health Department officials. He did not give the defendant any instructions to repair a fence or do any work or. the place. He was told at one. time by the defendant that an outbuilding had been blown down, and lie replaced it. though he believed that its Collapse was due to Edwards' horses. The repairs to the property, he estimate 1. would cost _:ifl. probably more.

In answer to a further question, the witness said that about a fortnight after Edwards left he re-let the house. It had not then been repaired, but he gave a guarantee that repairs would be made. Be-fore the present tenant went in he hail some plumbing seen to. Tlie tenant was carrying out other repairs, witness supplying the material. He denied that he mad" any arrangement with the defendant that the latter should make repairs on the place.

(Proceeding.)