OTAHUHU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 434, 13 December 1918, Page 2

OTAHUHU.

OTAHUHU BOROUGH COUNCIL LAST NIGHT'S MEETING The usual fortnightly meeting of the Otahuhu Borough Council was held last (Thursday) evening. Present: the Mayor (Mr A. McDonald) Crs- A. J. Wild man** H, V. Stringer, T. Clements, H. J. Moffitt and R. Todd, with tfc Town Clerk (Mr W. J. Dennlson^k Cr H. J. Hall sent an apology ' for absence. THK EPIDEMIC The Mayor read a letter from Dr P. McDonald thanking the Council as a body for the prompt action taken in regard to the recent epidemic, and the Town Clerk was instructed to reply expressing appreciates of Dr McDonald's courtesy.

SEPTIC TANK TROUBLE Mr E. C. Nutter wrote complaining of a leakage in the septic tank, which, he said, caused a public menace. He also complained of the sanitary men commencing their duties too early in the evening, viz. at 8 o'clock instead of at 9.30 p.m. The Town Clerk stated that to the action of strong tides the trouble to the tank was greatly due. Regarding the men's hours he explained that during; the epidemic period they were working double shifts and therefore could not keep to a regulated timetable.

Councillors were in agreement in recognition of the difficulties experienced by the men owing to the epidemic and considered that they deserved the thanks of the community for their satisfactory performance of duty. The matter regarding the tank leakage was referred to the Water, and Drainage Committee. f CONSUMPTIVE PATIENTS \ A circular letter was received? from the Alexandra Borough Council drawing attention to the Government's method of sending patients suffering from tuberculosis to towns where they became a burden upon the Charitable Aid Boards. The Council sympathised with the complaint and the letter was ,l received."

SEED THAT SCATTERS. The Town Clerk made a report relating to the nuisance caused through thistle seed blowing from the Panama estate in the Mt. Wellington district. He stated that he had written to the Department of Agriculture, and had been advised to communicate with Inspector of the Mt. Wellington Road Board, which he had done. foreman of works. The Council's Foreman (Mr G. Kemplay), who is an applicant for another appointment, wrote asking for a testimonial, and the Council were unanimous in their approval of granting the request, with a strong recommendation as to Mr Templay's iitness for the position he is seeking.

SANITARY REGULATIONS. The Council signified approval of the City Council's action in endeavouring to secure for local authorities wider powers in dealing with sanitary matters. IAIRM'RN ROAI3.

lii accordance with instructions given at the previous meeting, the Foreman furnished a repqitpn the work done on the burn road. He stated total cost of work done 13s 2d, which included cartage earth removed, the actual cost of labour and scoria being £27 lbs Id,j As regards the lemoval of spoil,#? said that most of it was on work done some time ago by the Council near Mr Sutclilte s pfte*- 1 pertv in Huia road—This wa®i considered by the Council to be economical, as the laying of chains there, and the forming of the culvert. rendered something of the sort necessary. 1 he repot t was adopted. manure ntisaxce. Mr K. Dal/ell waited on the Council, and renewed the complaint in reference to the landing and discharging of manure at the Otahuhu railway station, which, he said, was carried out to the discomiiture of residents in the locality. He strongly urged the Council to enforce the by-laws in respect thereto, The Mayor stated that he had communicated with the Traffic Manager [in' regard to the matter»

and had received a promise to the effect that 110 manure would be sent during the epidcmii Mis Worship added that the truck ol manure of which complaint was now being made had been sent from Xewmarket, and not from Auckland, which accounted for the apparent breaking of the agreement. It was resolved that a deputation consisting of three members of the Council should wait upon the Traffic Manager in respect to the eomplaint. M:.\T mkktinv.. In view of the Christnns holidays it was decided to hold the next meeting of the Council on Thursday next, to be followed by the usual holiday adjournment. OLD COLONIST'S DEATH An old re>id«:iit of Otahuhu \nd a veteran o? the Maori war, in the person of Mr Henry Homeyer, died at the Auckland Hospital on Saturday at the nge of 86. Iff served with the Taranaki Lifle vol unteers, holding the rank of bugle major. He was born in London in 1832, and came with his parents to New Zealand 66 years ago. His father took up farming operations in Taranaki, and ho adopted the musical profession. He was leading violinist in many old time orchestras and taught music in various parts of the province until a few months ago. The funeral took plac9 at Otahuhu on Monday the Bev H. Mason, conducting the service. OTAHUHU SHOOTING FATALITY. In the Auckland Supreme Court on Tuesday, William E. Hart, aged 15 years and 10 months (Mr Allan Moody) pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter, involving the death of Leonard B. Cavanagh, aged 12, at Otahuhu, on August 17 Inst. It was stated for the piosecuticn that Hart, in company wah two other boys, was out shooting on tho golf links. Hart was armed with a shot-gufc£ and was walking a few yards anead of his companions, with the gun under his arm. The deceased and a brother appeared over the brow o" a hill, and when they were about 20 yards away Hart pointed his gun in their direction, the discharge following immediately. Deceased reeled aud fell, w hereupon Hart dropped his gun and ran away. Mr Moody ascertained in crossexamination that ir> pointing die at deceased Hart did not look aioog the sights, and that when he s«w the ♦-fleet of his shot ho ran away screaming. The medical evidence showed taat Cavanagh was struck bv the ehot in the over the heart and the abdomen Death was due to shock, caused by the impact of the shot over the heart The police gave the accused a good character, and spoke of him as a quiet boy Mr Moody did not call evidence for the defence, contending that the fatality was so obviously the r-sult of an accident that this was untcessary. He mentioned that the cartridge had been placed in the gun at some distance from the scene of the accident, and stated that when pointing the gun at deceased the accused forgot that it was loaded. After hearing an appeal by counsel on behalf of secured the juiy retired, and returned shortly afterwards with a verdict of not guilty Hart was thereupon discharged. A copy of a resolution passed by the Otahuhu Borough Council protesting against the at'ack made by the Minister of Public Health (the Hon Q. W. Russell M P.) on the Mayor of Auckland having been forwarded to the Prime Minister (the Bight Hon- W. Massey) a letter in reply was last night read at the Council meeting in which Mr Massey formally acknowledged the receipt of the communication without making any comment on the same. At last night's meeting of the Borough Council the Major (Mr A McDonald) suggested the provision of a Roll of Honour as a memorial to those who ha 1 fallen in tho war. Several Councillors advocated the erection of a memorial in the new park and it was finally resolved to defer consideration of the nntter until the nest iner-ting. That he could do more good by bfcing in Otahuhu and attending t 1 medicinal requirements in connection with the epidemic r>ther than bv serving in crimp firmed 'he r-u'.j <-t of an appliration reeen'lv made by the Mayor (Mr A. Mc!>on :!d to th Prime Minister in regitd "o (> .i huhu's chemist (Mr Humph; ns) At last ni«h*'s mee'injj- of the' Borough Council a reply wn- read from Mr Massey seating th .t he ha 1 thiee weeks ago given ii!stroc , : >iifor Mr Humphries' release fr .in camp.