A Lesson—A Warning.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 20 June 1890, Page 2

A Lesson — A Warning.

" HOW THEPOOE LIVE.", " How the poor live," Here ia an instance, taken from some evidence recently given in the Hebburn policecourt :— Inspector Snowdon said that he went to Simpson's house, No. 8, Wil-liams-lane, Hebburn Quay, on the loth ult. He had gone for two school board fines winch had not been paid. Simpson was getting some tea. All the children were present. Mrs Simpson came out from the front room She had a few rags on hanging about her, but not sumcent to cover her nakedness. All the furniture in the house was two chairs, one without a back, aud Uto iron bods, one of them in ruins, while there was a mattress back and glazed with filth. The children wi'ie in a filthy condition hanging in rags and swarming with vermin. The house smelt dreadfully. There was no food in the house except a few potatoes. He afterwards went again to the house, but the door wag fastened. He forced the door, aud was led to believe that eorue person had been in the house, but looked all over the house without finding any one. On striking a match and looking up the chimney ha found Georga there resting with his feet on one Bide and his back against th« other side. Thece was no fire on, The boy said he often went ttiere when

any one was coming into the house. The girls told him that they slept in the bottom of a cupboard and the mother on one of the shelves. Yet the father of this miserable family was a carpenter in Armstrong' 3, and his wages sine- 1 the beginning of the year had averaged 25s 7d, a week. Thanks to the " Children's Charter" he and his wife (who is stepmother to all the childreu except the younges'.) now undergoing two months' hard labour. -English Ischange.