SAWDUST IN STREAM

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 177, 17 June 1955, Page 5

SAWDUST IN STREAM

Timber Company Fined £15 In the Magistrates Court, Taupo, on Friday, May 27, before Mr W. A, Harlow, S.M., the Cherry Sawmilling Co. Ltd., were Oharged with casting sawdust into the Moromanga Stream, a tributary of the Kuratau River, which flows into Lake Taupo. Mr S. A. McNamara, Conservator of Wild Life, prosecuted. There was no appearance for the defendant Company. In evidence Mr P. Burstall, Department&l rahger, stated that he visited the Company's mill on February 22, and saw a heap of sawdust 150 yards long, about fifteen feet wide at the bottom and twelve feet wide at the top. The end of the heap was in the stream, completely covering it, so that the water flowed underneath. Sawdust was washed downstream. He saw the manager, who stated that he had only taken over and had not been the manager when the offence was committed. Witness said he told the manager that the position must be remedied within two months. He revisited the mill on May 12, and found that a road had been bull-dozed across the heap of sawdust, but nothing had been done to -block the end of it. The previoUs manager had left, and Mr Cherry had said that the manager had left no instructions with regard to the sawdust. Mr McNamara stated that this type of offence was regarded as being one of the more serious under the Fishery Regulations. The defendant company was convicted and fined £15 With costs £1.