House Moving.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1797, 12 January 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

House Moving.

Fate seems to ordain that most people have to indure the misery of change of residence from time to time. The attendant troubles of these Sittings are generally so numerous that; it is only kind to impress Punch's advice of 14 don't " on would-be movers, mord especially as it is generally the male members of the' family— who take no part in the work, who, are the restless ones, and, to the terror of the comparatively contented members of their households, are constantly suggesting that' the family roof-tree should be transferred elsewhere. E ven if a mo ve is conducted eri prince, and professional packers shift and rearrange all the contents of the "house, while the inhabitants are in lodgings, the plqcem uxor knows quite well how hopelessly she will search for many of her possessions in the new quarters. But people moving in this luxurious manner are amongst the lupky ones

of the land. By far the greater number have, in order to effect the transfer of their goods and chattels as inexpensively as possible, to undergo a great deal of hard work and real bodily fatigue. To a certain degree this may be minimised by doing a definite amount of packing daily, and this should be carried out, if possible, in some back room which oan be spared. Three or four weeks before the projected departure ornaments, books, &0., should be packed gradually, for which purpose sews papers should have been collected for some some time previously. As empty tea- cheats can be bought for a shilling etch, and wineoases too, it is really as cheap to buy them as to hire cases, as tho wood always conies in usefully for many purposes. These cases should have a number nailed outside, an'd the corresponding number written in a small book, with a list of the contents. Anyone then superintending the unpacking of a van can, by referring to the book, direct the men exaotly into which room to take the cases whioh saves a great deal of unnecessary labor. The pieces of paper in whioh the small things were enveloped must be stuffed into a sack, and used up gradually for lighting the fires. As it is always desirable, to get the work done as quickly as possible, the superintending lady should give a little ground plan of the principal rooms, roughly drawn in ink,, and having marked on it the position of piano, cabinet, writing table, &c. This will enable the oarmen to plaoe the articles of furniture aj once in their places ; and, although' she necessarily would often be called to give information, still it prevents a good deal of hindrance, and so enables work to be got on with in another part of the house, and avoids that hopeless ohaotio appearance which the attendant men are generally so successful in producing. An apron with a large pocket in front, containing string, scissors, *c, should be worn. Tin tacks, a small hammer, matches, needles, and thread should be in a bag and hung up. The first load of things should consist of kitchen appliances and bed-room furniture ; and a hamper containing a piece of cold roast beef, butter in a jar, brrtid, eoap, candles, tea, sugar, towels, dusters, a few plates, and knives and forks, should never be forgotten, for exhausted nature always requires a great deal of sustenance on these occasions. If the rooms are polished round the wall, some sacking or an old mat should be laid down inside the door, to prevent it becoming scratched by carrying in the different articles of furniture. These polished boards are suoh an improvement to rooms, and so advantageous, by preventing the accumulation of dust, that, if it is considered too expensive to have a painter to do them, the most active members of a family are strongly advised to stain and varnish them with their own hands. The width to be done must be carefully measured and marked off, and the boards stained with the mixture sold already prepared that does not require varnishing. Beeswax and turpentine, well rubbed on once,a week, is the best for preserving the polish ; and in those places where the color wears light, it can always be deepened in shade by rubbing in a little raw linseed oil. Too much care cannot be taken in airing a house, ■which certainly will in most cases oocupy a period of ten days or a fortnight, if it has been unoccupied for a few months. Coke is the best fuel to use for drying rooms ; and, besides throwing out great heat, possesses the additional advantage of not popping out hot pieces like coal, and so running the risk of setting fire to the place. It is necessary to air all bedding well before it is used. While on the subject of fire, it is well to impress the reader, that before transferring furniture and general household effects from one house to another, it is absolutely necessaary to givo timely notice of euch projected change to the office, in whioh the various articles are insured, stating the new address, and date of removal, so that an inspector may be sent to survey the new premises, and notify alteration of address on the policy. A copy of the letter to the office, giving such information, should be carefully kept. Without these particulars are given, a claim might well be disputed in the event of a fire ocouring during the process of moving, which has been known to occur through the carelessness of the men, with regard to matches, while so much straw is about. To return to the commissariat department, a tin of condensed milk should be put in the hamper ; and it is well, in order to avoid the exasperation of little bills dropping in afterwards from stray tradesmen who have supplied necessaries, to bring supplies of all kinds of food and drink from the old home for at least two days. — The Queen.