GREYMOUTH NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 3

GREYMOUTH NEWS.

GREYMOUTH, October 2. WATER IN BUTTER. On a charge of having about G per cent excess of water over the 10 per cent allowed by the “Pure Foods and Drugs Act,” the West Coast Funnels’ Co-operative Dairy Company, was yesterday fined £5 and costs in the Magistrate’s Court.

Mr Joyce, for the Company, in entering a plea of guilty, said that the greater part of the Factory’s trade was export. The butter was shipped from Grcyinoutli and graded in M'ellingtim. No complaints had been made, and the analysis showed fairly dry butter throughout the year. The .Factory staff was short at the time. The only way the moisture could have got into tile butter was when the attendant was called away from the churn to the telephone. William MeNab. dairy manager of the West Coast Farmers' Co-op., said the sample of butter was purchased irom their storekeeper. The moisture must have got in when tly churn was left by the attendant to answer a ’plmne ring. A defective thermometer might have caused it' also. To Sergeant Fiver: Moisture in the cutter would, not he profitable. To the .Magistrate: On the day in question 5.1 ewt. of butter were churned. Water was addeil to the butter and worked for 10 or 12 minutes, when a sample was taken by the inspector there was nearly 22 per cent of water or about G per cent excess. If the water was cold it took a longer space of time to work in. The excess of water was purely accidental. All the s.lcwt. churned on this day was put tin the local market.

The .Magistrate said that the defence was that this was the only occasion on which water had been in excess in the butter. The excess, however, seemed to him to he very great. The legislation looked it as a serious offence and the penalties were heavy ones. He would inflict a fine of £5 and costs. CHARGE OF ASSAULT. James Bernard Hefferuan brought an action for assault against Leslie \Yillian Marshall. Police Constable, stationed at Grovmouth.

Alter hearing lengthy evideifce, Mr Mcldnim S.M., said that there had been a great deal of evidence taken about incidents in tly past. but all that really concerned him was what occurred on the morning of the Rith. The other evidence showed that bad blood had existed. Cullen’s evidence was that he heard a shuffling of feet a,ml that when he and 1 ianibleton walked over. .Marshall and informant were both lucre. Ilambleton had struck a match and seen llefi'ernan's face cut. Mnishall said there was no assault and that llefl'orim's face was not cut as far as he could see. He did not think that a serious assault had been eominitied. hut there was some seullle. He could come to no other decision than that llell'eniau had been struck a blow by the ilel'i’iiilant. He had no sympathy with I lelfernan for he thought that Hefferuan had brought the mailer largely on himself, lie would inti id a minimal fine of Cl. Each parly was ordered to pay his ow n costs. ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT.

On a charge of alleged indecent assaull, Georg,. Frederick Burke (Mr W. J. Joyce) was remanded until Friday next. The offence was alleged to have Imen committed against a small relation at Carrytiiivu. Bail was allowed, self in £SO and one surety of £SO. THEFT.

On a charge of stealing £ll Os Od I rein his mate F. Stuart. at Stillwatei r.duaril .lames Finch w;i, emvieted and lined C2 and ordeied to rehind tho money stolen. He was given one week in which, to pay.

Two seamen of the s.s.- Knrori. named Yietor Gustive Nelson and Homy Silver were charged with stealing two photographs from the dwelling ol Charles M'aslcv on Sunday afternoon. Sgt. 11. Fryer s.'id that, the theft seemed more of i drunken trick than anything. The two men saw the window ol' the house on Richmond Quay open anil one entered through it and stole the photographs valued at 10s. The Magistrate said that the accused were being dealt witli leniently. Hi* would convict and fine them £1 each giving them until mid-day to-day to pay.