EVIL SMELLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 14 May 1912, Page 6

EVIL SMELLS.

<j NOT WANTED IN PETONE. IND USTRY OR COMFORT ? Bad smells and noxious trades were discussed by tho l'ctcne Borough Council and two deputations last night. Messrs. D. A. Fay and Co. applied for a license or permit to conduct the business for trades oi' fellmongering, woolscouring, and boiling-down in the borough of Tetone in the premises situated on the Hutt River, the property of the Gear Company, until recently used by tho company as manure works. Mr. Macilonald, a member of the firm of D. A. Fav and Co., formed one of the deputations. He stated that the company intended to instal the latest and most up-to-date machinery and appliances for the conduct of the business, the principal part of which would be wool-scouring and fellmongering. The main part of the boiling-down business would be tallow refining, but the raw material would also be dealt with. He urged that the industry would employ about 50 hands, and stated that the buildings and the drainage would be put in thorough order, to be. used as works for thisse trades, and that there would by the up-to-date methods lo be followed he no objectionable smells. A counter-deputation of residents of the borough waited upon the council to ask that the application bo not granted. Mr. Findlav said that the linn making tho application wcro evidently inclined to be law-abiding, but lie hoped the eoiflieil would consider the matter thoroughly before granting the permit. Residents in that locality congratulated themselves when the Gear Company left the works, and they wero exceedingly anxious that no more'works of the sort should be established there. The works v.ere old and broken down. If the council were to permit this trade to be carried on in this locality, they were going to lose fully JilOO a" year for rates. People would not build there if there was going to bo any smell. Air. P. Cairns thought likewise. This industry might bring 50 hands to Petone, but it 'would probably drive 400 people away from the town. Mr. W. Palmer said that the council were thinking of tramways, but what would be the use of them)' W"er<? people going lo run the gauntlet of two evil smells to get to the town? They wero going to build a sea. wali to make the place attractive, but this business would keep people away. The Mayor read a letter which he had received from the District Health Officer on the application. The Health Officer stated that it would be necessary for the company to submit plans, etc., before the license could be granted. The Mayor said that it seemed to him that the building was entirely uasuitrd for works of this class. Much of the limber had been attacked by the borer. The drainage was bad, and did not extend far enough. For much of the time it was discharged into dead water, and spread by tho tide into the enclosed arm of the river. These industries were no doubt a necessity in cverv community, hilt they must not be established in the main street of tho town. He referred to the influence of certain trades at Kaiwarra and Ngahaiiranga. He thought the council could not at any rale grant a permit until the company interested had presented full plans of buildings and details of machinery and other accessories required for the industry.

The council took the same view of the business as the Mayor had taken, and no action was taken in regard to the application. The- company must now withdraw the old application, and submit a new one, supplying with it the details required. Veslerday morning Mr. \V. G. Riddel I, held' an inquest concerning the dentil of u baby who was found dead in his cot at a local receiving home on Saturday. The evidence given "us to the effect that the child had been found lying on its face, quite lifeless. The verdigt returned was one of death from suffocation. "Ho is always fighting," said constable of a young man with u heavv jaw who was charged' before Mr. Paul Taylor at Maryiebone. "If he cannot tight his wife, lie tights iiis brothers and sisters." Aged 1011, Bridget Coughliu, a native of Ireland, but for many years u resident at t'astleford witii her husband, a miner, has died at Poutetraot Workhouse Intinnary. Her husband, a Crimean veteran, is lilt years her junior.