A PENSIONER'S HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19041, 11 June 1925, Page 10

A PENSIONER'S HOME.

HUT IN FILTHY CONDITION. HEALTH OFFICER TAKES ACTION. [US iBLEGIIAI'U.-—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] THAMES. WfedtUsday. It would be difficult to imagine a more disgraceful mode of living than Was disclosed yesterday by an inspection of the interior of a shanty, on a section at tho southern end of Pollen Street, Thames South. It appears that for some years tho placo ha 3 been occupied by an old age pensioner, a moulder by trade, who has been following his calling fairly regularly. He is said to be well known in tho vicinity of Thanles South and when not employed, spent most of his time on the verandah of the old Maori Land Court buildings. Late yesterday afternoon a pedestrian found the man lying on tho verandah in a weak and ailing condition, Tho police later received a bint that all was not well with the pensioner, and a constable visited his dwelling and found him Jying on the floor. Later, on the advice of a doctor, be arranged for the ! man's removal to hospital. When the door of the hut was opened those present were sickened by a nauseating odour. A table inside the door was covered an inch deep with an accumulation ot fishbones, and rotten food, among, which were .table utensils, apparently in every-day use, and coated with black verminous-looking matter. On the left was a small rusty stove supporting two or three iron pots. Plates and cooking utensils were lying about in a moss, and a rough bench was seen to serve as a bed. ■Tht>. .'.-.slate of tho bedding was indescribable. . > . A nearby resident says that ho has not seen the door opened on a single occasion within tho past 18 months* The occupant shunned iiis neighbours as much as possible. The matter was brought to the notice of tho Government health officer who, after an inspection, gave the owners of tho hut until iioon to thoroughly clean the building and remove all objectionable matter. The pensioner, himself was given ?n protracted -bath in the hospital and is now fully recovered. - ■ - j