A TENANT'S SURPRISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 194, 14 August 1920, Page 13

A TENANT'S SURPRISE.

DEMOLITION OF HIS HOME,

OUT INTO A HOUSELESS WORLD

(By Telc-raph.-Own Correspondent.) CHiUSTCnUECH, this day. io wake up to find carpenters demohslung one's house wan the early morning surprise on Wednesday of Ja«. ■Iliompson, proprietor of a large boardin? Jiouec at Kaiapoi. Some six or seven months ago the premises were owned 0y Mr. Urown, who gave Thompson notice to .[nit. The latter, relyin X upon an agreement fa lease and on the prowsions of the war regulations, did not leave. Later the house was sold to Mr. Blackwell, Mayor of Kaiapoi. The buildJUR was very old, and after notice to quit had been given the occupier, the Public Health Department reported adversely on the plaio. Thompson remained in occupation. paying the" rental to Brown. who accepted it. He received notice to quit from BliU'kwell, but still relying on the a.CTeompiit ami on the war regulations, did not move. Blnekwell informed him that !].■ intended pulling the house down on Monday. An officer of the Health Department formally condemned the house .:nd handed a certificate to the Kaiapoi 'Porouch Council but not oeenpier. At a nUTting of the Council the town clork was instructed to write Blackwell authorising him to i-lrmolUl, the place forthwith. Shortly after S o'clock on Wednesday morning the occupiers received the first official intimation that the home was to be demolished by hearing carpenters" hnmmors, nine or ten beinpr at. work. The house wr.s practically ptilled down over the lieadq nf the occupiers. Thompson's solicitors :n riiristelinn-li immediately took steps fo tal<e out an interim injunction. Upon its arrival, however, the JmiTdfnir '.vas tliiw-uuar+ers demolished, end nothi-np could he d.">ne. Aeenrdinsj Io the literal rendinc of the Act tho Viiblir TTenlth Department nctrd quite l.ropevlv. \o oiio'wiiM compelled 1o trive warning In the unfortunate occupier that be whs abruptly to be cast upon a houseless world.