A CONDEMNED HOUSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 439, 20 October 1908, Page 4

A CONDEMNED HOUSE.

A Demonstrative Owner.

Considerable amusement, and perhaps some little alarm, says the Herald, was caused in Timaru on Thursday afternoon, when the owner of a “ condemned ” house in Bank Street took it into his head to demonstrate in a practical way his disapprobation of the action of the Borough Council in decreeing that the building in question should be destroyed, on the ground that it is unsanitary and an undesirable place to have in the He accordiugly posted a notice on the door of the building condemning in terras the reverse of complimentary the action of the Council. This was done in language which it would be unsafe to print. Having done this, the irate property owner mounted to the roof of his building, taking with him a supply of bricks, s me cartridges, and a revolver, and then sat himself down on a chair which he had taken up with him. The bricks, it is understood, were intended for the head of anyone who might possibly go to carry out the instructions of the Council to pull the structure down. A considerable crowd of people, including a number of children, gathered round, and viewed with some curiosity this novel method of defending house and home. Fearing that some harm might come from the revolver, someone sent for the police, and Constable, M’Lean was soon in attendance, but by this time the little exhibition of defiance had ended, and the crowd dispersed wondering what the sequel would be.