BUILDING PULLED DOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19218, 6 January 1926, Page 10

BUILDING PULLED DOWN.

SHOP USED AS DWELLING. '•I • - • TENANT'S REFUSAL TO QUIT. ,It seldom happens that tho threat of a landlord to pull his house down about a tenant's cars is given oflect to so thoroughly as was the case on Monday when a •woman living in the vicinity of Eden Park nub. and watched her, dwelling removed from above and around her, stick by stick. Tho demolition of the building, which was originally built as a lock-up shop, but in which tho tenant had recently made her home, had been threatened for somo considerable time on account of complaints of tho nsa.Jtary nature of tho premises. Tho matter came under the notice of tho Mount Albert Borough Council last October and aa inspection was carried out, while investigations wero - also mado by an officer of the Health Department. The shop housed, a confectionery and soft drinks business, but a small portion was curtained off at the back, behind wjiich cooking and eating took place. There was an improvised bedroom below this, tho earth .itself serving as a. lloor. It was finally resolved by tho authorities that the tenant would have to cease living ©n the premises. Certain alterations were ordered, but it is alleged tho woman refused to movo and later brought her husband in to live .with her. As a last resort a "closing order" was issued, but all efforts to get tho tenants to vacate proved useless. It was, therefore, decided that if tho tenants would not go the shop itself would have to be moved. , ■With this end in view a gang set to work shortly after noon, and as the tenant wa? still reluctant to leavo, commenced to demolish tho shelter from over hOr head as she sat inside. As this strange work progressed and tho tenant inside became revealed to passers-by a crowd collected on tho footpath, Tiy fivo o'clock the building was razed to the ground and by this time the woman was sitting on the footpath surrounded by her goods and chattels and a crowd of curious onlookers. Someone suggested that a collection should be made and on a hat being taken round 10s 9d was collected. At a late hour in tho evening the woman was still fitting on tho footpath, but finally went away, leaving her possessions to be watched by a constable. She returned yesterday morning and had them finallv removed.