RENTAL OF HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 10

RENTAL OF HOUSE.

CASE OF 0. F. NELSON. ADJOURNMENT OF HEARING. EVIDENCE BY DEFENDANT. The hearing of the case in which Mrs. Josephine Alice Wilson-Smith (Mr. L. Adams) is claiming £300 from the Hon. O. F. Nelson (Mr. Hall Skelton) for damages alleged to have been caused to a Remuera home during the latter's occupancy of it from December, 192S to March 14 last, has been adjourned until Monday.

The case for the defence was opened yesterday afternoon, when Olaf Frederick Nelson, the defendant, gave evidence. Describing himself as a merchant, he said that when he arrived from Sydney with his six daughters, the plaintiff was very anxious to have him and what she called his " charming family" occupy her house in Mt. Hobson Road. He had not occupied the place long before he asked the plaintiff to effect certain repairs. When he made requests' of that nature she always told him a hard luck story. Eventually he got sick of it, and had the repairs done himself. These included the fitting of handles to doors, general repairs, and attention to the leadlights, at a cost of £7 15/. When a man was called to fix the caliphont lie took buckets of dirt out of it, and observed that it had not been cleaned for years. The same thing applied to the fireplace. Trouble was experienced over the drain, and two chairs had to be re-covered at a cost of £5. The plaintiff was always at witness' house, and at times Avas embarrassing. On one occasion she said how pleased she was at having been given an opportunity to meet High Chief Tamasese. Photographs were produced to illustrate the cleanliness of defendant's home in Samoa. " I have lived in fiats and homes in many places, and have never been questioned about the manner in «rhich my family used the furniture," added Nelson. "We have always been welcome again." Defendant proceeded to describe the state of the furniture when he took possession of the house.

Mr. McKean, S.M.: You say it is practically the same now as it was when you took possession? Defendant; Subject to fair wear and tear.