WHEN YEARS HAVE ROLLED BY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 9 March 1909, Page 2

WHEN YEARS HAVE ROLLED BY.

THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST. Dynamite and fire will soon convert the Old People's Home into smoko and ashes. The old land-mark ia Waimea-street will soon be no more, and the land will settle down to ordinary business. The old men have for a good many years found rest, attention, and kindly care in the old building in 'Waimea-street. It has had its day; but it has lasted out many an old man. Old age soon puts its finger on a man when he has passed his prime, and he must bo cared for them by others if he cannot himself provide for the declining years. There is something pathetic about an old men 's home, yet. it is intensely sweot. Old age Joolcs through kindly eyes. It knows not the ■ grabbing selfishness of earlier life; its wants are few. Exceptions there are, and many of t belli; but in the main old age looks kind. The old lady who sits contentedly in the old arm chair, -vhich has brought rest and comfort to her aged bones for years past, lovingly clasps her hands. Her world is there. The frail fingers slip round hollow places between the stiff joints; but the clasp is gentle. The old stick is worn by constant use, and this the fingers clasp "with loving ease.". George Eliot draws an imperishable picture of old age. "His blue handkerchief was spread over his knees, as ; was usual indoors, when it was noti hanging over his head, and he sat watching what went forward with the quiet outward gaze of healthy old age, which, disengaged from any interest in an inward drama, spies out pins upon the floor, follows one's minutest motions with an unexpected purposeless tenacity, watches the flickering of the flame of the sronbcams on the wall, counts the quarries on the floor, watches even the hands nf the clock, and pleaws itself with detecting a rhythm in it." But the old age in an Old People's Homo is not the same as this quite. In Pome cases life if hanging on with aching fingers; but all is done that can be done. The Charitable Aid Board, together with its officers, see to that. Some old raon develop into an unsatisfied selfishness, and nothing can please them; but most old men are thankful for tho mercies they receive. The quiet walk where stiff knees and aching hips can be exercised a little, refreshes the body some, and helps the mind to pass a little of the time away. ITS FORMER USE. But the Old People's Home in Wai-mea-ftreet was not always used for its present purpose. As the older settlers know, it was built as an immigration barracks by tho old Provincial Government. Mr Greenfield, Provincial Secretary until the abolition of the Government, was amongst those who had charge of the building when it was utilised for its former purpose. One thing that Mr Greenfield can remember is that the building was then full of bugs. Considering that bugs are primarily the cause of the proposed demolition of the building, it Is interesting to note this former observation. Some of tho "animals" must be getting on in years. No doubt they come of a hardy strain. Tn their youth they «iw "life on the ocean wave," and they found "good living" on the .-.ld transport ships. It is well known that some of the vc-33els which convoyed the immigrants to New Zealand in the earlier day? were not all that could be desired in many ways. Nowadays most people would not risk a trip to \{otueka in one of them if they lmd remained in use. The trip tci NW Zealand was generally one of the last voyages of these ships and the immigrants, at least many of them, disembarked with moj-c property, especially live stock, than the-v-__ embarked with on tho happy - shores of England. Mr Greenfield stated yesterday that the huilding had often to be fumigated in those days. A bug is a bug, and always will be a bug when it takes up comfortable qua£ ters in a building; but soon they will be roasted. There is. yet time for some enthusiast to make a 5-tudy of these bugs. It would be interesting to know whether they resemble in any way the bugs that exist elsewhere It a careful study were made it might be ascertained whether or not the bugs, peculiar to tho Home, oonshtute a distributing ocntre. But fire will find them all out, and a tiny puff of smoke will be all that will remain of them. The Charitable Aid Buard adopted the only wise couiso in deciding to destroy tie building, for it is the only way by whioh it can be ascertained that all the bugs will be killed, and tho land quite f re . from the "undesirablo immigrants.''" THE NEW AEEIVALS. The immigrants used to arrive i n pretty largo numbers i n the seventies and eighth, and they use d to be quartered in the i nimigration fe •■•u'ks un,l suitable "employment could be. tonnd for them. This was nnder the control primarily of The Afl.snn Provincial Council, -and this erwtul preparation and care for tbo immigrant on his arrival is i n striking contrast the present policy of Hie -\w Zealand. Government, which makes very little provision for tho '-ar.' of the immigrant when he riches ihf..,, Morris. It was often ,^'m,^ time bef.ire many ..f the ueweomers could fin,] employment that wa« suitable* for then,; "but in the m.'ni.l.me they found comfort and "" '" < h * immigrants' barracks They <>ame out in those days in much II o same manner as immigrants do at tho present time, only the journey now is luxurious compared with what ■t was then. Nowadays they t«v" hird-class, mostly in the stern of a large ocean liner, and the time taken on. the trip » comparatively very V U UIC Car 'y aa >' ? so ™ of tho intending settlers wore granted free passages, whilst others „a,d a 4rfai n sum or gave a promissi-y note for the passage money. V.'ben the immigrants arrived they wi-re ca-vfuHv looked after, as described. All this v^as organised and carried out by the Nelson Provincial Council itself. All Itinds of tradesmen and settlers came out, and domestic servants formed no mean quantity. The 3" were .then as eagerly sought after as they are now. Often before the ship had been in tho harbour an hour all had situations. Most of the immigrants proved splendid settlers. As' is tho ease in all things, some did very well, whilst others found it difficult to make more than ordinary living. Many could not repay the money advanced to them, and the Government, when the provinces were abolished, wiped off the bad debts. Hard times occurred .just about then, aud the Government's action, it is stated, was mainly because of this. But later mi the immigration poliev was abolished, and there was no use for the barracks. There were old men in the land -already; but theY were quartered in the Mental Hospital grounds. As the result of negotiations the Charitable Aid Board acquired the barracks, and converted them into the Old Peopled H.o'me; Since the growing requirements have led to several addition* to the Home; but now it has done i*s work, and the old men are shortly go.^ ing to emigrate to n sunnier olime.