NO BUILDING PERMIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21252, 4 August 1932, Page 12

NO BUILDING PERMIT

- ORAKEI MAORI FINED HOUSE ON CROWN LAND An Orakei Maori, J. Paul, appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday charged with erecting a small house near the Maori settlement at Orakei without first obtaining a building permit. The solicitor for the City Council, which brought the prosecution, said when the case was called last week it was adjourned to enable defendant to obtain the council's authority for tho construction of the building. Defendant had called at the Town Hall and mado application for a permit,, but it could not be granted to him because it was ascertained that the land was not even his own property, but belonged to the Crown. Also, the timber used in the building was very much second-hand and could not be passed. Evidence was given by Harry Donald, chief building inspector for the City Council, that the house was only partially erected, the timber being taken from a demolished dwelling formerly occupied by defendant. Defendant protested that the property was native land and that he had lived there for the past 20 years. "The house is a little bit shaky," he added. " It is too shaky altogether," remarked i the magistrate. "If you want to build a | house it must be of proper timber. If you ! do not pull this house down it will be 1 pulled down for you." j In imposing a fine of £1 and costs Mr. i Hunt told defendant that the regulations ; were in the interests of public health and | i that a building erected of old_, rotten timj ber might result in sickness in the Maori i settlement.