THE BOROUGH BY-LAWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 978, 11 April 1911, Page 3

THE BOROUGH BY-LAWS.

SHALL THEY BE ENFORCED ?

At last night's meeting Mr F. Spiers, who was introduced by Cr Coley, waited on the Council in connection with a notice he had received from the Inspector of Nuisances to remove a cess pit on his premises in Raveusworth Place. He staled that the pit had cost him £5 to construct and was yfl. deep, 6tt, long and sft. wide. There was also an air shaft 10ft. high. When he received the notice from the Inspector the pit had never been used. There were a number of other cess pits iu the borough which the Inspector had allowed to remain.

The Mayor mentioned that iu this case a complaint had been made to the Inspector and in consequence of same the notice was served on Mr Spiers. It was decided on the motion of Cr Gibbs, seconded by Cr Ross, that the Inspector of Nuisances be instructed to stay proceedings in regard to Mr F. Spiers' drainage pit until such time as members of the Borough Council have inspected same.

A little later in the evening Mr W. Nye was introduced by the Mayor. He said that he had received seven days’ notice from the Inspector of Nuisances to remove his pig, and not having dohe so in the time allowed had that day received a summons. He considered it was very hard that a by-law should be put iu operation so suddenly. Seven days’ notice was too short. The weather was too hot for him to make bacon and he had written to a bacon curer in Palmerston, but he had replied that he could not take it until the 18th instant. He bad also tried to dispose of it to the local butchers, but without success. The Mayor said that he knew Mr Nye had endeavoured to quit the pig in the time allowed by the Inspector, but had failed to do so. The Inspector was acting in accordance with the by-law. He thought that under the circumstances if Mr Nye would pay the cost of the summons and agree to get rid of the pig by the iSth instant, further proceedings iu the case should be stopped. Cr Coley asked why the Inspector did not give reasonable time and why some got 14 days’ notice and others only seven. He was informed that the Mayor had received 14 days’ notice in a similar case. He wanted to know if the by-law referred to the whole ot the borough. The only way to cope with the trouble was to give the Inspector a mouth’s notice. Cr Adams asked if something

couldn’t be done to regulate the Inspector. He suggested having all cases reported to the Council before any action was taken. Cr Ross said that the trouble was with the by-laws ar not the Inspector. That officer was carrying out his duties according to the bylaws.

Cr Coley asked how far it was i mended to go in regard to pigs. If one had to go, then the whole lot throughout the borough should be exterminated.

Cr Ross thought that if the animals were removed from the immediate vicinity of Main Street it would be sufficient, as it would no doubt be a hardship on a good many in the back streets if they were to be debarred from keeping a pig.

Cr Gibbs considered the by-law was too drastic. They should ask the Inspector to s: y his hand until the by-laws were revised. He moved that pending a revision of the by-laws Mr Martin be given Instructions to take no further action in regard to pigs being kept within the borough unless complaints are laid regarding same and that then 14 days’ notice be given.

The motion was seconded by Cr Adams and carried. It was further resolved on the motion of Cr Gibbs, seconded by Cr Ross, that the Borough solicitor be informed in regard to action taken agaiust Mr Nye re pig, that in the event of Mr Nye paying the cost of summons and disposing of his pig by the 18th inst., no further action be taken in regard to same.

Another motion proposed by Cr Speirs and seconded by Cr Adams was passed to the effect that the Inspector of Nuisances only take action in regard to cess pits when complaints have been laid and then that he report same to the Council.