HANNAN'S HOUSES.

NZ Truth, Issue 250, 9 April 1910, Page 7

HANNAN'S HOUSES.

Bngs the Bagbear.

! John Henry Hannan is an Auckland | landlord who has become a familiar figure m .the S.M.s Court ax Aucklaiid, and,/ as he makes a practice of appearing m person m support of his claims for rentj it can readily be understood that due harmony does not always prevail. On Thursday, March 31, Hannan, who, by the way, isr. a J.P., appeared m sup- ; port of. a claim for ten shillings, alleged: to be due for rent of 21 Baker-street, Auckland, from one George Arthur Hastings. Mr Kettle,' S JMLy, presided, and both litigants conducted their own cases. Hastings, with his wife and' an infant, secured the house m question for ten! shillings a week, but found after the first night that it was infested with bugs, whereupon they decided to leave forthwith.. Hannan sued . for a week's rent, m lieu of' a week's notice. His Worship, said tiiafc a tenant was justified m leaving a house infested with vermin, despite Hannan's loud protestations that, vermin or no vermin, he expected judgment on his agreement. His Worship had to severely admonish the plaintiff for making things uncomfortable, and he recommended Mm to retain counsel m future. Hannan., threatened to consul a solicitor .....regarding . the bench's .treatment ,o£ ,ninv where-' upon. Kettle, S.M., told Hannan that his conduct was ■ unbearable, and that, if ,if were not due to * ignorance, he, would commit him for contempt of court. Eventually the Case was adjourned till the- following day m order to: permit oi Qic premises being examined. Before tbe people left , the court, Kettle, S.M., addressing Hannan, said :— "TMs is the -last time I shall submit to insult from you ; it's the Very last time. If you dare againto .act as you have done to-day, though I don't care a, jot myself what you say, I must uphold the dignity of this court and will most certainly commit you for contempt. „ Now .see that .you "behave yourself] m future." The following day, a penitent . and very respectful Hannan appeared and asked for a further adjourn-: ment until the ' afternoon, which was granted, and then Mr Bloomfield appeared for him. His Worship then decided to invoke,. the aid of the Public Health -authorities, further ■• adjourning the case pending & t departmental icport. • ; • When the , case was- resumed, contradictory on the question of whether the house was verminised was given: The Healtfi Department's report was Ito the effect .. that the house ■ was fairly clean. -• ■ Mr Kettle, was not satisfied that :it was dangerous for people to-be bitten by bugs, and adjourned the case""- to hear Dr. Makgili, the Government Health Officer, on the subject. • On the doctor giving evidence, he said he .saw the house ,m the daytime^ and it looked tenantable. Bug bites were dangerous, and the vermin were the means of disseminating- disease. JThe magistrate . reserved his decision holding , that : if people were unable to live m premises owing to the presence of yermin,- he considered they should leave; as quickly as possible. However, the case was of considerable public interest, especially Iron* a health point of view, and he would give it careful consideration. A