"AMAZING."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 6 April 1911, Page 4

"AMAZING."

LIFE IN A LOOSE-BOX. (By Megra'Dh.-Spccial Correspondent.} Auckland, April 5. An extraordinary state of affairs was disclosed at an inquest yesteruay toucuing the dcatli of Win. Uunmngnam, an eiueriy man who (licit suddenly eariy un Mommy morning in a pluce oil Cook street, benuul tlio Market Hotel. James Dunn said ho had lived with doceased for (lie past two years and a hatf, in a loose-box at the rear or Hie Market' 'Hotel. Ho thought tins loose-box bolonged to tho owner of tne Market Hotel. Tlio police report stated that tno bony of deceased was in a disgusting state. Tno stable hut where ho lived in company with Dunn was filthy. It smelt badly and appeared to require the immediate attention of the Health Department. "Tiiis is an amazing' state of affairs," remarked the coroner, "with health officers' and snnitary arrangements. I want the jury to realise the manner in which, these oiiicers perlcrm their duty." A juryman: How can these people live in such 'places ? (To the last witness) Did you pay rent? Dunn: No, but I worked for the hotel peoplo now and again. The coroner: It is a shocking state of affairs. It will bo for tho health Department to say whether a man was ever told- off to visit- this place. It is quite evident that it has not been visited for years by a sanitary inspector. A juryman: I would class this loosebox as a dog-box. In accordance with tho medical testimony, a verdict of death from fatty degeneration of the heart was returned. Tho jurv added the following rider:— "We desire to call the attention of Ihe Hon. the Minister in Charge of tho Health Department, and also the attention of the Mayor and councillors of the city of Auckland to the loath'soiiK' and"in«anilnvv condition of tho loose-box or stabli situated off Cleave's Avenue, at Ihe Kick of tho Market Hold, Auckland." When questioned by a _ reporter - last evening in connection with the above rider, "tho District Health Officer said: "Tho inspection of all the premises in the. citv, which such a rider implies, requires inspectors, and inspectors require money. If Ihe citizens of Auckland wish to have such inspection made, let litem elect on their loen.l bodies men who are prepared to spend Hie nece*p:\vy ensh and tho inspection will bo carried out."