A CASE OF BASE INGRATITUDE (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 23.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 25

A CASE OF BASE INGRATITUDE (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 23.

A little.- comedy in ingratitude, laid in the sylvan retreat of Little Eivex*, has just been enacted. It appeals that James Kelly, drawing the pension of respectable old age, lived alone' in a little hut. It was not palatial, but it made his hearth and home. When, therefore, it was burnt to the ground a little while ago, leaving the old man homeless and unsheltered, the warm sympathy of the community went out to, him, but recognising that "sympathy without relief is like mustard •without beef" his neighbours did not stop at lip service. A meeting was held and a committee appointed, " and it was decided - to, collect subscriptions for the purpose of , putting another roof over the old man's - head.- had 7 the work of collection, in hand, and- £25. was raised. But this*' was riot all.. To- provide funds to, ■ make' the place -comfortable a concert was' organised," and-, this brought in another £10, note, Mr Ait ken being' tlie treasurer. Haying _* raised • -the means ,to ■ pay the .i>uiide£,{_a site 'on. "a "reserve was secured from* -the local • board a tender * was Jet to a" Christchurch firm for rhe erection of the whare. The site selected suited the j beneficiare, and the house was soon put j up, * being a cosy, match-lined crib, much j superior to its predecessor. Then came \ the question of furnishing. Kelly made ] out a list of his requirements, and these j were duly obtained, including playing j cards for the old man to while away the ! tedium of long-drawn winter nights. All j was ready_ for the home-coming now, and the committee, glowing with the consciousness of a- good deed done, waited on the i pensioner and prepared to instal him in his brand new domicile. The deputation j spread out ifs benevolent and collective hands, patted the old man on the back, | and with a kindly beam invited him to go j home and live happy ever after, and, then | came the bolt from the blue. Instead of I thanking his benefactors for preserving his ! grey hairs from the winter winds, Mr Kelly turned on them, rejected their nice new house and all its household goods, '• and demanded payment of the- £35 which | had been collected. It had been subscribed for him, he said, and he wanted the cash j and not their " old house." Of course the i subscribers were speechless with indignant i surprise. The money had been collected to build a house, and the destined owner had., taken a lively interest, suggesting the site' and 'the. furniture. But Mr Kelly was not joking. . He -carried his grievance into'-court and sued Mr Joblin for the £25 collected and Mr Aitken for the £10 netted from the concert. The case was heard at Little River on Saturday last before Mr O. G- Day, S.M., when the facts came out as related above. The magistrate made short work of the case. He gave a verdict for defendants, and expresspd surprise at the lack of gratitude displayed by the plaintiff.