BURIED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 202, 22 August 1916, Page 2

BURIED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE.

An Unusual Incident. The circumstances, as repotted at the time in tbeae columns, attending the recent burial at the Maoku Cemetery ot Mrs Buhler, a resident of Waiau Pa, engaged the attention ot Mr F. V. Frazer S.M. at the Fukekshe Magistrate's Court on Thursday when Alfred A. Otto, a German subject, formerly a land and estate agent, of Auckland, but now a farmer nf Kaukapakapa, was charged with failing to cause a brfrial certificate to be transmitted to the Registrar ot the district, and, further, with failing to iofortn the Registrar of the death of his mother (Mrs Buhler) within seven days. The defendant, who was visibly distressed and gave way to tears, pleaded guilty. He stated that be had very little time to make enquiries concerning the procedure to be adopted in respect to the burial, as following on his step-father's death :n the Auckland hospital be was summoned to hia mother's death-bed at Waiau. He explained that be had lost his "all" as the result ot the War, and it was with a view to saving expense that he undertook the duties of undertaker. Sergeant Cowan stated that no notice of the death was given to the Kegistrar until 19 days after the death. A doctor's certificate was however, finally* secured. There, wad nothing suspicious about the matter. It was a case of ignorance of the law. The Magistrate pointed out that it was a very serious matter for a person to undertake the responsibilities of an undertaker because the rtquirements of the law bad to bs fulfilled Fortunately there had been no (oui plav, and a certificate of death had been given by the doctor. He (the Magistrate) believed the defendant's state ment that he tried to rave expense as he bad lost everything through the war; otherwise it would bave r been his duty to inflict a severe penalty. The defendant would be convicted and lined £1 and costs, £2 3s 3d on the first charge and would be convicted and discharged on the second. Addressing Mr Climie, the minister who had cinducted the funeral, the Magistrate advised him that it would be better for him in the future to hold a funeral up for a dav rather than he should be a parly to a burial when there was no certificate, which should be in bis hands before a coffin was interred.