Madame’s Tenants

Tahiti Case Goes To Paris

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Dec. 15

THE prosecution of Madame Pierson foi ejecting tenants from her house is likely to become a cause celebre. The case has been sent to Paris, for attention.

Mdme. Pierson is held in high respect; She is the daughter of a former French naval officer, Mons. Simon, at one time Port Captain here, and she is the wife of a well-known citizen. She owned a two storey apartment house, occupied by Tahitian and Chinese tenants. The Health Department claimed that the building was unsafe. For two years Mdme. asked the authorities for per mission to eject tenants not on the ground of non-payment of rents (al though that could have been a ground): but because she wanted to repair and re model the building. When the Health officials inspected, they found that some of the tenants were keeping pigs and fowls in the building.

The tenants would not move; so finally Madame, with the approval of the Health Department, put the tenants and their chattels out into the street (Rue du Marche). The tenants went right or residing in the street, which was blocked for two weeks, until the Mayor found places for them elsewhere.

Then the authorities prosecuted Madame for ejecting tenants without s Tribunal order; and it is claimed that, the prosecution addressed insulting lan guage to her, in court.

When Senator Lasalle-Sere was here the other day he heard some details of this case, and now the matter has gone on to Paris, with a complaint against the prosecuting attorney.

Mr. C. O. S. Dawe was recently trans-i ferred from the Melbourne branch of the; Union Steamship Co., to Lautoka, Fijii Mrs. Dawe was formerly Miss Annette; Coster, member of a family well-knowh in Fiji-