PUKEKOHE'S NIGHT-SOIL DEPOT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 219, 20 October 1916, Page 2

PUKEKOHE'S NIGHT-SOIL DEPOT.

Karaka Board's Position.

At the meeting of the Karaka Road Board last Saturday further discussion took place in regard to the establishment of a night-soil depot adjacent to Paerata station by the Pukekohe Borough Council's contractor (Mr H. J. Hawkins). Two letters were received on the subject, one from Mr J. B. Parkinson stating that he had heard with indignation and astonishment that night-soil was being deposited on the block of land adjoining the Paerata railway station He understood that it was being done without the sanction of the Board, and asked if the Board was g">ing to prosecute the offenders. - The other letter was from Mr H. J. Hawkins, the contractor, notifying the Board that he was doing his best to secure another site, but that it was no easy matter. He had, however, arranged for a site on Mr Blanchard's property, but was prevented from using it through threats that were made The chairman stated that he had handed over to the Board's solicitors all the correspondence bearing on the subject so that they could proceed with the matter on behalf of the ratepayers, who had subscribed some £4 or £5 for the purpose. Mr Jamieson suggested that as the objection would have to be taken before the Supreme Conrt to permit of an injunction being obtained, a sum considerably in excess of the amount placed at the solicitors' disposal would be required He asked if the Board would raise an objection to the site being on the back portion of his farm, about one and a-half miles from the railway station. Mr Schlaepfer urged that the ratepayers were against the night-soil bein deposited in any poition of the district. Mr Jamieson : The objections are most unreasonable. Mr Schlaepfer: It's more unreasonable to dump it at the station without first having secured the Board's consent. Mr Jamieson reminded Mr Sch laepfer that although he (Mr Schlaepfer) was notified of the date of the first inspection of the site, before it was ever used, he failed to join the party that went over it. Mr Schlaepfer: The contractor tried in the first instance to arrange for a site at Pukekohe East, but was unsuccessful. Mr Jamieson : Tour statement is incorrect; and it's unfair of you to make capital out of it when you are not certain whether it is authentic or not. Hawkins is being persecuted. He has a family of five little children to keep. Mr Bchlaepfer contended that it would be outside the question if the contractor had even twelve children. They (the Board) were there as th® representatives of the ratepayers to consider their request. Mr Jamieson: You and Ritchie are at the bottom of the whole matter. People have told me that they would not have signed the petition had they been more conversant therewith. Tou saw Parkinson and arranged with him to forward liis letter.

Mr Schlaepfer denied that this was so, and on the letter being referred to the date thereon was found to be the 14th September, 1916, which Mr Schlaepfer claimed was previous to the date on which he met Mr Parkinson. Mr Jamieson: If I have made a wrong statement I'm prepared to apologise, but you said that you got the letter from him. Mr Schlaepfer: No ; I said I saw him in the street. The chairman said that it was not a matter for the Board as a whole to decide, but for two members (Messrs Jamieson and Schlaepfer), and while one was in favour of the spirit of the petition being adhered to the other was averse to it but had no petition to support him. The Board was placed in a very awkward position, but nevertheless it was reasonable and right that they should give consideration to the request of the ratepayers. He further stated that the solicitors considered the petitioners were justified in the objection and thought that it would be upheld.

In reply to *Mr Jamieson, the chairman said that the Board was not going to jeopardise its funds in regard to any legal action the objectors might take in the matter. The subject then dropped.