CHINAMEN'S GARDENS

Southland Times, Issue 16786, 14 July 1911, Page 2

CHINAMEN'S GARDENS

A MAYOR’S WRATH, The Mayor of Parnell (Auckland) was particularly wrathful when describing the condition and practices discovered in Cinnamon’s garden. He said: — 1 will pass over one or two other places we visited, but I must mention the Chinamen's gardens. In a hovel In which seven or eight Chinamen were domiciled we found worse even than at the other place. It was reeking with stencli. The thought of food that was to be eaten by the people of Auckland being handled in such a place was intolerable. That place, also, was condemned by Mr Makgill. Then a little further on we came to a creek which had been dammed, and in the dam were turnips, watercress, radish and other vegetables, while a little higher up some men were engaged at work on a drain, the sewage from which drained into the creek. I say this is a most disgusting sort of tiling to go on. Upon seeing these abominations T thought that If I possessed the power I would let Lionel 'Terry out of the asylum.” Mr Thomas: “Steady, Mr Mayor! Steady!” The Mayor; “Well, gentlemen, I tell you I feel sore on this point. It is this sort of tiling that we as public men are doing our utmost to suppress, and I say that if I had the power I would give Terrv not a revolver but ft gatling pun. (Councillors: “Hear, hear.”) I propose that we authorise our officer to carry out rigorously the decision of tiie health officer.” (Applause from councillors.) Other councillors supported these statements, and the Mayor’s motion to give effect to the recommendations of the health officer was unanimously carried, ns was a vote of thanks to tiie borough inspector of nui •ances.