DREADFUL PLACE OF ABODE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1364, 15 February 1912, Page 4

DREADFUL PLACE OF ABODE.

SECOND DEATH IN IT. (Ej Tflccraph—Press Association.! •Christchurch, February 13. A week ago a fireman named Michael Collins gave evidence at the inquest on a fireman named Hccligaii, who died in a "bach" at Ly.tteltou. This morning Collins died at Uie same place. He was about fifty-six years of age. During the last few days lie hail been attended by a doctor. ltis illness became worse yesterday, ami the doctor decided to scud him to the hospital. This morning when the police went to the "bach" with a cart to remove him to the station, they found the man dead. At the inquest Dr. J. A. Newell gave evidence that when Collins was attended he was found expectorating arterial blood, and his removal to hospital was ordered. In reply to the coroner (Mr. 11. \Y. Bishop), witness .-aid the "Ixjch" was a dreadful place. It was absolutely unfit for human habitation, and should not bo allowed ta exist. . , Mr. Bishop: That is the priiiffip.il reason for my holding this inquest. 1 have heard a lot about this place, ;.nd 1 wonder that the municipal authorities liuvo not taken action with regard to :t. Dr. Newell said the insanitary condition'of the place was found to <auso a>ptic conditions. Mr HWiop: That is so. U seems tr. bo a harbour for every low-down vagabond that saturates himself \yth liiui-i, and "oes there for nothing else but to make" a beast of himself. Uncn lvmn live in such places they become worse than animals. ~,,,, Tlio coroner returneu a verdict that de-itli wa< due to .syncope, by ir-tr-riiil haeniorrhaac' He instructed SerRoant Uynu to write t,» the Mayor of Lyttollon lwirdinj: Uie state of the firemon s "hnclir.-," and tho insanitary condition of those places. •\ ;ei uter went (o Ihe "bac'.i" atlrr dm ini i i"t, and found the owner \n the ■α-i nf tcarinß Iho place down. It wn-s indeed a horrible den, and it was hici.ncrivable that human beiiips Mad I'vor been perm ill e<l to live in such a place, 'ihr wretched hovel measure:! i>l)out t>ll. s(,\iaro. It was built of gnlva ii« 1-ijoa and makh-lined with limber.