A KAITI NUISANCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 421, 21 May 1902, Page 2

A KAITI NUISANCE.

THE CASE OF •• SOAPY TOM

HE WANTED TIME TO REMOVE HIS VALUABLES.

From time to time during the past two or three years the attention of the public has been drawn to a nuisance wha n has existed on the Haiti beach, caused by an accumulation of rubbish on the premises of Mr T. S. Gumming, who is perhaps better known by the sobriquet of “ Soapy Tom.” All attempts to remove him have failed, and he had been several times before the Court, when the maximum penalty was imposed, “ Soapy Tom” still continues to carry on a prosperous business as a rag, bottle, and rubbish collector. His habitation, if such it can be called, consists of several lengths of weatherworn and torn tent material, and a number of old sacks, propped up by a few old battens at a height of three or four feet from the door, the latter being part of a sledge-house. The interior of this so-called tent is so crowded with rubbish that one has to crawl into it on hands and knees, and it is hard to imagine how a human being could be content to sleep in it. For some distance round the tent is a vast accumulation of old tinware kitchen utensils, rags, bones, bottles, old ironware of all descriptions, boots, sheepskins; tins full of grease, and an accumulation of rubbish which is absolutely disgusting, and a disgrace to any civilised community to have in thoir midst.

Yesterday morning Sergeant Siddells waited upon tho Borough Sanitary Committee in regard to “ Soapy Tom’s ” dwelling, stating that the Borough Inspector and himself had visited it. On several occasions the man bad been before the Court, and had been fined upon three occasions. The District Health Officer had sent an urgent wire some time ago, and insisted on the stuff being removed, but the place was in just as bad a state as ever. It seemed to him, as an officer representing tho police, and having special

instructions to assist the local bodies in carrying out the provisions of tho Act, that it was absurd compelling householders to clean up their yards when right in the entrance to the borough such a nuisance was allowed to exist. If plague was brought to the town he would be inclined to think that it bad been caused by this very nuisance, which was simply abominable.

Cr Harding (Chairman of the Haiti Road Board) said as far as the Haiti Road

Board were concerned they intended to at once abate the nuisance. Mr Nolan, the Board’s solicitor, had advised that a certain course should be taken, but the speaker did not know what position he held in the matter, and he wanted to consult Mr Barton and Sergeant Siddells. The Haiti Road Board intended to take the responsibility of removing the nuisance. Shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon Messrs Harding, Bright, Sergt. Siddells, and a Times representative visited the Haiti beach and inspected “ Soapy Tom’s ” humble abode. The latter was found busy at work amongst the rubbish, and in answor to a question from Mr Harding stated that he did not intend to sell his belongings. “It is all valuable,” remarked Tom, as ho cast his

eye over the lot, “ there is a ton of old brass here, and everything is of value.” “ How long is it since I gave you notice to get out of this ?” asked Sergt. Siddellß.

“ I do not know,” was the reply, “ you have been here so many times. The wet weather has prevented me from getting the goods away.” “ Why, man, it is over two years since I first cautioned you about this state of things,” said the Sergeant. “ The place is a perfect fever-bed, and if wo get ofi with a couple of us having typhoid fever we Bhall do weli.” “ Soapy Tom ” assured his interviewers that there was nothing unwholesome about the rubbish. “ Well, Ido not know that it is of any use telling you what we intend to do,” remarked Mr Harding ; “ but several carts will he sent here to-morrow, and the whole of this stuff goes over the breakwater.”

“ Over tho breakwater,” exclaimed “ Soapy Tom,” as the horrible truth of the situation dawned upon him; “surely you don’t intend to take my things away. You might allow me time to shift them; I must get it packed up.” Mr Harding: You have had ample time, and we intend to shift you this time, once for all. Time is the essence of the contract. You will have half-a-dozen carts here, and by this time to-morrow I hope to see the place clear. “ That is not at all fair,” replied Tom; “ I must have time to get it together, and ship it away. I applied for right to squat here, and you cannot shift me in this manner.” “ You will see about that,” replied Mr Harding ; “ the Haiti Board intend to take all responsibility in that direction.” Sergeant Siddells: There is no excuse for you at all. You will be paid for anything of value. What is that you have in the tin ? “ That is axle-grease that I have made out of fat and Stockholm tar,” replied the man; “ everything here is of value to me.”

Mr Harding repeated his warning to Tom, and advised him to have everything of value set aside before the carts came on the following morning. Tom complained to our representative of the short notice he was receiving, and expressed disappointment that 'the Magistrate had not visited him as on a previous occasion. “ What does your stock principally consist of, Tom ?’ asked the reporter. “ Well, 1 cannot tell you exactly all

that 1 have here. Many of the kerosene tins are full of whitening, lime, and soap. There are iron bedsteads which I intend to put together, and quantities of zinc and brass which I shall ship away." “ What value do you put on it ?” “ I would not take twenty pounds for the lot.”

“ What nonsense,” remarked Sergeant Siddells; 11 what is the good of ihat ?” at the same time kicking a sheepskin. “I got that off a sheep that was washed

up on the Haiti beaeh yesterday,” replied Tom; “it is quite fresh. I can sell the wool and skin.” Sergeant Siddells : “ You are warned to take what you consider of value from the heap. Mr Harding does not wish to see you sent to gaol ; but this nuisance must be abated at once.” Mr Bright : “ And remember, Tom, that wherever you go, you must live like a civilised being, or you will not be allowed Do live at all." Messrs Bright, Harding, and Sergeant Siddells having withdrawn, the Times representative was left with Tom, who, in answer to the first questioi/put to him, replied, “ As a rule, I earn a pound a week, and work about eight or nino hours a day.” “ And what does it cost you to live ?”

“ I can do very well on about a shilling a day ; I buy a shin of beef, and that lasts me for several days. I thought that they would have given me a little longer notice to get my things together. I have from £5 to £lO worth of zinc hero, and they tell me they will throw it over the breakwater.”

“ You will have to put all the besl articles aside by to morrow morning,’ resumed our reporter.

“Then I shall be pretty busy until the morning. It is impossible to do it in the time specified.” “ How long is it sinco you started as a collector of these odds and ends ?”• ‘‘.l have been in the business for over a couple of years, and when I cannot get my price for the goods I put them aside. If I cannot get a price to satisfy me in Gisborne I send the stuff away. Do 30: think it would be any use my going to see the Magistrate ? It is t! 0 Court that has everything to do with it.” "I am afraid that it is of no use, Tom,” said the reporter, “ They Bre determined .that you shall go to-morrow. l r ou inigh' as well let your collection go out to sea; you can do m thing with these old boots (about a nundred pair) and those tins.” “ That is where you make the mistake. I can wear the boots, and all those tins are full of paint. See, there is the paint,” and then Tom produced quite a number of tins full of all sorts of stuff, which be represented to be paint. “ You don’t mean to say that is valuable ? 1

11 Of course it !«■ It ted lead and

white lead.” “ Why don't you get a decent sort of dwelling, and live like any ordinary mortal ?" “ T" they are anxious to see me live like : ha- J not the way to do it by taking all my valuables and throwing them in the harbor. It is all right for them, for they have plenty of money.” “ And from what 1 can gather, you have also a good stocking, Tom.” “ No, I have been able to save very little; they have had it all from me. I have paid about £l7 in fines and Court expenses. This is about all I have got,” and tho old fellow cast his eye over the mass of rubbish in front of him. Our representative left the bottle merchant rummaging amongst his stock for things that he considered of value, but one article was so like another that it was a hard task to judge as to their relative worth. One thing, however, the reporter was convinced of, and that was this—that

if Tom only has time before the carts arrive to-day ho will have shifted the whole of his stock, and the latter, in the eyes of the residents of Haiti, will still remain the same old heap of rubbish, and an eyesore to the place.