HOSING OF CATTLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5088, 14 February 1927, Page 2

HOSING OF CATTLE.

OBJECTION TO LOCATION.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT EXPLAINS

Not infrequently complaints of a varied nature engage the attention °’f the members of the Paeroa Borough Council. At the council meeting on Thursday evening last a rather unusual complaint was received from Mrs A. Miller, Hill Street, whose property is close to the railway watertank near the. Hill Street crossing; Mrs Miller wrote stating that recently the Railway Department hosed down a truck of cat-ile at the rear of. her. residence. The day w,as a very hot one, and the ■smell from the beasts which permeated her residence was nauseating and disgusting. She asked that the council take fsjjeps to prevent a i-e.petit.ion of the offence. The Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) explained that a truck of cattle had been forwarded from Whangarei, and on arrival at Paeroa it was found that three of the beasts were down in the truck. Wi<h the idea of reviving them, the truck containing the cattle was shunted along to the water-tank and 'ffie cattle, were hosed down. Two o'f the beasts were, resuscitated, but the other one succumbed. On receipt, of the complaint, said the Mayor, he had sent foreman to investigate. The foreman'reported that, he had looked, into the matter and had f°'utod the position as was sta'tjed. The cattle had been hosed down, but the act had left no objectionable af.tei’-effects or smell, so far as he could ascertain. The stationmaster had explained that the case; ,was .an urgent one, and as the northern end °f the station yard was busy at the .time, the Hill Street, tank had been used. An assurance had been given that there would be no repetition of the offence.. The Mayor moved the following resolution:— ‘‘That ,a copy of the letter be forwarded fco the chairman of the Railways Board pointing out that it is recognised by the. council tha* there were special circumstances in this instance, and that, it is of rare occurrence ; but that added to the continuous disability under which the complainant lives, it really becomes the last straw. Further, this council would respectfully submit to the Railways Board that it considers a great hardship has been inflicted on tjhe aged couple by the. circumstances in .which they are forced to live owing to the removal of .the railway station, and that we earnestly solicit on behalf of Mr and Mrs Miller a further consideration of their position, with a view of giving some relief if a reasonable agreement can be reached, and that the communication be forwarded through Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P.”

in seconding the resolution, which was carried, Cr. F. E, Flatt said that it, should .cover the position. If the department was not favourable to dealing with the complaints the council should consider taking further steps.