The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1886. A PUBLIC SCANDAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1435, 18 December 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1886. A PUBLIC SCANDAL.

The condition of fhe institution yclept the Old Men’s Horae, as revealed in the letter signed S. T., published in yesterday’s issue, is nothing short of a public scandal. When that letter reached us, so surprising were its allegations that we at once concluded that the writer must have been misinformed and declined to publish it until we had made enquiry into the facts. Having done this, we find that S. T. has in no way overstated the case as we have ascertained beyond the possibility of doubt, that the buildings are infested with those disagreeable insects known in London lodginghouses under the pseudonym of “ heavy dragoons,” and that to such an extent that sleep is often impossible for the unfortunate inmates. Such a state of things is a downright disgrace to the authorities and ought to be remedied at once. The idea of aged people hiving to leave their beds and walk about outside at two o’clock in the morning because they are too much tormented to sleep, is simply unendurable in a civilised country. We do nut mean to say that the management of the Home is responsible for tbe origination of this state of things—indeed, we believe the contrary to be the fact, for the buildings now used as almshouses for the aged poor were formerly the immigration barracks, and probably their presently too numerous tenants were introduced from shipboard—but, at first sight, it would appear that the management must certainly be to blame for its continuance. It is natural to imagine that some chemical or other preparation could be employed which would rid tbe premises of the filthy insects with which they are infested, but we are assured that all sorts of things have been tried carbolic acid, kerosene, chloride of lime, etc. —and all without avail. The insects get into the chinks of the timber, and under the roof, and cannot be dislodged. So plentiful are they that a man repairing the roof the other day, on stripping off some of the shingles, found them in large numbers, and the inmates have to move their beds away from the walls, and even then have the disagreeable v sitors drop upon them from the roof. The Master and Matron (Mr and Mrs Fox) have done their utmost to remedy this state of tilings, and that there is no fault upon their part is abundantly evidenced by the admirable manner in which the whole premises, within and without, are kept. Neatness, order, and cleanliness are everywhere apparent, but it is found impossible to get rid of the insect pests which are such a source of annoyance to all the inmates, of whom there are, we find, no less than fifty-seven. There seems to he nothing for it but that these dirty old buildings should be cleared away altogether and a new one erected, in which decent people can live and sleep in comfort. This indeed is really what ought to be done. The old wooden premises were never designed for the purpose to which they are now put, and though better than nothing are at best but a make-shift, being draughty and inconvenient besides being, as we have seen, disagreeably populous with the most unwelcome of small deer. There is also the greatest possible risk of fire as, were any part of the premises once to ignite, they would burn like tinder and disappear altogether in a very few minutes. The situation is a good one, and a home f>r the aged poor is a manifest necessity, and this being so it would be well tbit an effolt should be made to secure the f red ion in place of the present rotten and dirty old rattletrap of a commodious well-designed comfortable and substantial edifice in Mount Somers stone or in brick or both. The matter is really one which deserves attention and we commend it to the consideration of the County authorities and of the member for Ashburton.