OTAHUHU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 278, 25 May 1917, Page 3

OTAHUHU.

[The Otahuhu Agent for " The Times" is Mr Bathe, from whom copies of the paper may be ordered. Mr Bathe is also authorised to receive advts. and printing orders on our behalf. | OTAHUHTT MAGISTRATE'S COUBT. THURSDAY, MAY 24th. (Before Mr P. V. Frazer, B.M) STRAYING CATTLE. Sarah Walsh for permitting a cow to wander on the public thoroughfare was fined 2s 6d and costs 7s.— Mary Farley, for a similar offence, was fined 2s 6d, costs 7s.—Mary Flumley for allowing three cows to shay was fined 2s 6d and 7s costs. MOTOR CYCLIST AND A TRAIN. Alex. Rasmussen, of Otahuhu, was charged that he did on April 21st attempt to cross the railway line at Penrose on a motor cycle whilst a train was approaching and that he only, pulled up after the engine had struck the cycle. Accused pleaded guilty. He stated that the damage done to his cycle was £3O and also that he had been laid up for several weeks through the collision. His Worship said that as defendant had lost a certain amount in wages and also had been put to considerable expense for damages to his machine he would be convicted and discharged.

AN OLD MAlf's "SHOUT.''

Samuel Walker, of Otahuhu, was charged that he did at Howick on May 2nd give to another person two shillings for the purpose of procuring liquor. The police reported that they had witnessed the passing of the money between the two men and that Walker when accused of having given the money "to shout" became very abusive. Mr Burns, who appeared for defendant, statad that his client was 82 years of age and that he would call evidence to show that he was not responsible for his actions, being practically in his dotage. Dr McDonald deposed that he had attended defendant for some time and he considered him in a very unsound state. He had lost his wife lately and since then he had become very shaky. In fact he considered he had not very long to live.

His Worship convicted and discharged defendant.

MILK OF LOW TEST. George Kempton, farmer, of Papatoetoe, was charged that he did at Papatoetoe supply milk for human consumption that was under the required test.

The defendant contended that the milk had been taken out of the first can that came from that particular milking and that the strippings always went to the last can, thereby making the first can of poor quality. Hence the test was low.

The Magistrate : In that case how about the unfortunate people who get that first can of milk ?

The defendant : I understand that the milk is mixed and chilled before sold to customers

A Dairy Inspector informed the Magistrate that some of the milk was delivered off the waggon on its road into town and the milk vendors dealt with it. He added that he had taken several samples on the same occasion and with the exception of two all were up to the standard. He could not understand why the defendant's test was so low.

Mr Hope Johnson, Manager of the Farmers' Milk Supply Company, stated that he had tested four samples of milk received from the defendant and that the test was a very fair average. The Magistrate : Were the samples taken from different cans ? Witness : I cannot say. His Worship : What is a fair average for morning's milk. Witness : About 3 5 or 3.G

His Worship : The test in this case wa? far below that, being only 2.7. In my opinion the discrepency was altogether too great. Mr Isaac Gray deposed that he thought it was not a fair test to take milk from one can only. He considered the sample should be taken from the whole of the milk.

The Dairy Inspector explained the Magistrate that he had asked defendant for a can of milk and th e

one from which he had taken the sample was the one given him for the purpose. His Worship thought that the milk should be well mixed before leaving the dairy. Mr Gray : That would cause a lot of extra work.

His Worship : Do you consider that the putting of the strippings in the last can should make such a great discrepancy in the first can.

Mr Gray : No, I do not think it would affect the test to such an extent.

His Worship: It looks to me as if there has been some skimming done. I do not suggest that accused-was guilty of skimming but it certainly looks as if someone had done it. The fact remained that the milk as tested was far below the standard required and as the witnesses had failed to explain why this was bo he would impose a fine of £3 and 17s 6d costs.

As now instituted the Otahuhu Borough Council is essentially a miniature Parliament and its deliberations evidently attract very great interest locally. Last night, although there 1 were no momentous subjects of debate forthcoming the seats alloted to the general public were well filled' and the Council's discussions were most attentively listened to, semi-audible expressions of approval or disapproval frequently greeting the remarks of the various Councillors.

The Mayor (Mr A. McDonald) is a warm advocate for roading conditions to be improved at Otahuhu and he made several remarks at the Borough Council last evening as to the necessity of early action being taken in the way indicated. He evidently speaks feeling on the subject as he informed tne Council last night that at times he had to put down planks to enable him to get from his residence out onto the centre of the road and he jocularly added "If I do not turn up here some evening you will know I have been bogged " Mr H. L. Bell, of the Middlemore cash store, is erecting a fine up-to-date general store opposite his present place of business and when completed the building will be second to none in Otahuhu. A farewell social to be tendered to Mr W. Sloggard, who is up on final leave, will be held in the Baptist Church on Wednesday evening next at 8 p.m. At a special meeting of the Borough Council held prior to the ordinary meeting last night the balance-sheet for the year ending March 31st last, which had been passed by the Government Auditor, was read by the Town Clerk and was fornally adopted. Copies of same were ordered to be printed for distribution, on application, to ratepayers and consideration by the Council of the balance-sheet was deferred until printed copies were available.

Owing to the lack of shipping facilities the Farmers' Freezing Company have been obliged to put off about 150 men at their Southdown works. For the satre cause the services of a large number of men have been dispensed with at the Westfield works, while many are only working half time.

Objection to the practice of referring all complaints in regard to sanitary matters to the Health Officer was voiced at last night's Borough Council meeting both by Crs Field and Brady in the interests of 'lsmail" owners. Their contention was that as the official was Government employee he ordered ivorksto be carried out regardless of expense and without consideration of the circumstances of the parties affected. Very often, said Cr Field, things could be remedied without the Health Officer taking action.

The Otahuhu Branch of the Auckland Womens' Patriotic League intend holding an "At Home" in the Parish Hall on Saturday, June 2nd from 2.30 to 5 p.m. The proceeds will be given to the Dominion Gift fund. The i Mayoress of Auckland (Mrs Gunson), and Miss Spedding have been asked to be present and returned soldiers are cordially invited. At the meeting of the Council last eveniag a tribute to the "Times" was paid by Cr Field. He said it was a matter of congratulation that they now had a local paper which was widely/ead. It gave them a full knowledge of news throughout the town and district.