THE POOREST PLACE IN THE WORLD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 804, 22 December 1881, Page 3

THE POOREST PLACE IN THE WORLD.

In the opimon «.*f Capiain Speight, one of the Government Inspectors, the Union of Swineherd, county Mayo, is without an equal in any part ot the 'world for poverty and wretchedness A succession of bad seasons have left the n without clothing, bedding, or anything in the world but the miserable huts in which they live, and which generally consist of one room only, wnth very lo'.v wails, and very imperfectly thatched roof. The only covering of the family at night is in nice cases out of tea an old quilt, too bad to be pawned, or a few bags. ‘‘ I have found,” Captain Spaight adds. ‘‘the mother and children sitting on the mud floor, eating the small, wet, illgro vn, potatoes off the floor, with a little salt, and nothing else —not a stool or a plate being in the House. The male portion of the population are awtry all the summer, ;nd this year their earnings have not been as good as usual. A large portion of the district is in the hands of middle-men, there being no resident landlords or gentlemen, with one or two exceptions.”