LIVING IN THE BUSH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5007, 30 July 1926, Page 3

LIVING IN THE BUSH.

FAMILY WITHOUT A HOME.

PLIGHT OF NINE. CHILDREN.

“Have you any children ?” If the answer is in the affirmative it seems that one’s chances of being able to rent a house are small, but if one confesses ,to a family running nearly into double figures the chances are nil. Yet a married man with a large family must have a roof of some sort under which to shelter, and Mr C. H. Taylor, whose present postal address would be somewhat indefinite—- “ The Bush, Ngahuaranga,” might find him—has solved the problem temporarily, writes a Wellington correspondent to an Auckland exchange. Ten weeks or so ago Mr Tay loir an his wife, who are blessed with a family of nine sturdy childern, were living in peace in a rented house on the Hutt Road, a mile or so beyond Ngahauranga. This was handy for ms employment at Ngafiauranga, where he has worked for'the last 30 years, but the house. was sold over their heads—not for other folk to live in, but to be pulled, to pieces, which seems like adding insult to injury. Having no capital to buy, the TaylOrs set out to rent another house, but 'from every agent they met with the same reception. The agents were quite sympathetic, but it spoil became clear that one cannot have a, large family and expect to be able to rent a house at the same time. Temporary accommodation was found ?tt Rona Bay by the Public Trustee, but this house, too, was almost immediately sold over their hea.ds. Driven by necessity to provide some sort of shelter for his family, Mr Taylor betook himself to the bush on the hill side of the Hutt Road. Finding a site used, previously by spme nomad, he erected a shelter of old corrugated iron to serve as a “living” room. A bedroom for the family was made up from an old tent, and that completes the “home.” But another; bombshell has been dropped on this unfortunate family, for the Makara, County Council has given notice to the family tel quit by Tuesday next, camping not being allowed in that locality.

What Mr Taylor is going to do he does not know. He cannot get a house within reach of his work, and that is not through lack of effort on his part. Many friends and neighbours and some of. the Ma,oris, have endeavoured to find him accommodation, but without success. The three younger children, whose ages range frolm three to eight years, are being cared fer.-by the Society for the Protection ot Women and Children. This relieves the parents of a certain amount of anxiety, but does not help in the solution of the more pressing problem df finding a house.