MAN KENNELS IN SYDNEY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 74, 27 March 1878, Page 4

MAN KENNELS IN SYDNEY.

The " Vagabond " has been, doing the common lodging-housea of the New South Wales metropolis, and strongly urges the need of legiflation on the subject The following extracts from his remarks will probably incline even the least fastidious to agree with him : I hnve never been *" on the wallaby," or slept in a common lodging-house ia this country, nnd I don't wnnt to try the experiment. But in Melbourne I have visited such places, and found that under the Municipal regulations everything was generally fairly clean, ventilation was pood, and overcrowding impossible. How different in Sydney ! Here are forfy to fifty dens which are a disgrace to civilization — a positive evil, breeding moral and physical pestilence. We inspected seven or eight houses which hold out signs of "good lodgings and " clean beds." Some of these are shilling houses, others sixpence, others have mixed prices, ranging from a shilling on the first floor to sixpence in the gairei. No opposition was made to oar entry at any of these. There was a difference in degree, but they were mostly abominable in the overcrowding, Iv some of the entrance rooms on the ground floor there appeared an attempt at cleanliness and cheerfulness; but go to the back, ascend the dirty stairs, and the result was the same. In five houses, containing six rooms, each about 12ft by 14ft, there were over seventy people — at least there was accommodation (?) for such, and the inference is, that ofteu these beds were occupied. The lodgers were generally stowed away in the four upstairs rooms. In some places there were seven or eight beds placed side by side, with not room to move between, the occupants having to crawl in from the feet. The beds were all mattrasses on stretchers — the least said about the coverings the better. The ventilation in every case, although windows might be propped open, we found to be totally insufficient. To enter these rooms and see the heaps of stifling and stewing humanity was horrible. The atmosphere choked one with a fearful tasle. Each man lay sometimes almost naked, sometimes all clothed, in a feverish rest which could not fit him for work on the morrow. Those who were undressed had their garments heneath their heads for the purpose of safety. The pencil of GuetaveDore would be needed to draw the different forms and positions. Some tossed about restlessly — others were evidently drunk — those awake hunted for verrnio. And considering that these were not paupers or beggars, but in many cases laboring men and sailors, it war really horrible to think that they could not have any better shelter. What diseases are not contracted in such holes ? It was scarcely comforting to hear that one bed hnd been vacated by "a young man who had gone as cook to the — — -hotel," or to have stewards of inter-colonial steamers pointed out to you here. Of course there were degrees in the abominations, but in all ihe ventilation was most inadequate. It seemed that in every corner where a bed could be placed a man would sleep. In the closets underneath thestairs we always found sleeping places — theße were " private rooms." Id outhouses ia the yards members of the family or "»he servant" took their rest. In one house, in a hovel at the back, I found a naked man aßleep on the stones. The drunken proprietor, who was very profuse in his offers to show U3 everything, stood before this man, and waved the candle on the ground in front that the light might not fall on him. " You see, I'll show you everything," said he, dropping some grease on a frightened cockroach". In the living rooms there were stretchers which appeared to be turned into beds at night, and I think that in a brisk lime twenty to thirty often sleep in these houses. We found in one place two lads— one fast asleep, the other nodding stupidly, waiting till the house was shut up, to take their rest on a stretcher, or where they could. These paid sixpence each for the shelter. . . . . I have only given general details of the disgusting enormities of common lodging-house life in Sydney, To faithfully chronicle each phase would not suit Ihe columns of a newspaper. The bouses we visited, too, are, I believe, not the worst. They say that in Sussex-street there is a still lower grade ; and in establishments which claim respectability great overcrowding goeß on. In a noted restaurant in Pitt-gtreet there is a room where seven men sleep, the beds being placed on the tables which in the day are used in the dining - room. This place is crowded every night, and the weekly income from one room is forty-nine shillings. It is a wonder bow men will coatinue to go to such places, but they have no help for it. la Sydney the eupply of decent lodgings for the poorer class doßs not equal the demand.