The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUAT 17, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 194, 17 August 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUAT 17, 1874.

Accident.;-- As the steamer Lady Barkly was leaving Motueka this morning, a man, whose name we bave been unable to learn, who was at the time in & state of drunkenness, fell off the wharf and waa rapidly being floated out to sea, but fortunately he was seen from the steamer's deck, and a boat was lowered which reached him just as he was on the point of sinking. The want of sufficient house accommodation in Dunedin has of late given rise to consequences unpleasant in themselves aod highly inconvenient to those immediately concerned. Tbe subject was taken notice of a few days ago in the Resident Magistrate's Court, io connection with a claim preferred by a landlord for double the amount of the stipulated rent, in consequence of the tenant having failed to remove from the premises when desired to do bo. The defendant pleaded that he had done his utmost to secure another house, and bad even offered to take shelter in an empty shed, but had not succeeded in his endeavors. With the present rush of incoming population, matters are likely to become worse instead of better, and this of itself should be enough to -attract serious attention to tbe subject. The cottages recently erected by tbe Government, at Kensington, bave been subdivided so as to make one cottage serve two families, and yet the demand is far from being satisfied. Of these, twenty four-roomed cottages bdve been erected and let in two apartments. They realise 8s eacb, making a net rental of 16s per week. The cost of construction was £2200, so that we bave here a rental which will, in less than three years, cover the cost price of the buildings. If that is not a good investment of capital, we are at a loss to know what.it can be called.