HUMBLE HOME OF FAMILY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18317, 6 February 1923, Page 6

HUMBLE HOME OF FAMILY.

NOT A PROSPEROUS MENAGE. FATHER'S VARIED CALLINGS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Monday. The house where the New Brighton poisoning tragedy occurred is what is known as a "bach." There is only one large room in it, and this is partitioned off with a curtain, one portion being used as a living room and the other as a bedroom. There is a large double bed where Mr. and Mrs. Cook slept, with one of the dhildren. The room ajso contained a dressing table and one rocking chair. In the kitchen there is a couch, which the eldest boy used as a bed. In a- sun porch on to which the only door in the house openn there are two cots, which were evidently used by the younger children. Two of the girls slept in a tent. It is evident from the appearance of the home that Mr. Cook was not in very prosperous circumstances. On the kitchen table there were to-day a number of dishes which had evidently been used by the family at the meal at which it is supposed they were poisoned. Lying on a chair in the kitchen there was a box of apricots, purchased from a local fruit mart. These apricots came from Alexandra,: Central Otago. . The health officers have taken some of them for examination, as the family had some for tea on Friday night. The health officers also took samples of sugar, tomatoes, cornflour, milk, and other goods found in the house. •,,, -~, ,;In addition to his milk round, Mr. Cook had an ice cream cart, which he took ; out on to: the beach on fine days. He made the ice cream, on the premises in a small porch -openingj. off : the one where the cots are. , This part of the house .was; very clean, and 'all the utensils were spot- : lessly clean. : The health officers do not consider that the poisoning was due to any ; ice cream that the family may have eaten.. V < / > . »•• • ";,. '. -.' Mr. Cook was a" glass-blower by ; trade, and started in business i many years ago with his father -in Manchester .; Street. After leaving : the glass-blowing business he was for some years a newspaper run-: ner in New Brighton, and lately had con'ducted a refreshment , room and milk round. He is spoken of as a patient and persevering man of good character, whose business enterprises have not brought him a great deal of good fortune. ' Pathetic interest is added to the tragedy by the fact that 'the little girl, Maud, now dead, took part in the recent queen carnival competition held ;^at- ; : South Brighton, arid also participated in : the crowning ceremony.