SLAUGHTER-HOUSE BENCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 69, 22 March 1892, Page 5

SLAUGHTER-HOUSE BENCH.

ELLERSLIE SLAUGHTER-HOUSE,

A meeting of the Bench of Magistrates under the Slaughter-house Act was held ab the R.M. Courb this morning, before Dr. Giles, R.M., Messrs J. G. Gordon and J. M. McLachlan, justices. Application was made by John Buckland, of Arch Hill, in the county aforesaid, for a license for a slaughter-house, situated on part of allotment 27, section 12, suburbs of Auckland, in the Mount Wellington Road district, in the county of Eden, in accordance with the provisions of the Slaughterhouse Act, 1877, and the by-laws made thereunder.

Mr Cotter appeared for the applicant, and Mr Devore in opposition to the application.

Mr Cotter put in reports made by two medical men upon a recent visit paid to the slaughter-house, in which it was stated that the establishment could be carried on without being offensive if certain alterations and improvements were effected. The Auckland Building Society were prepared to expend a reasonable sum in this way, and he asked the Bench to grant tho license on condition that these improvements were made. He commented upon the fact that the members of tho Mount Wellington Road Board wore not unanimoue in their opposition to this application. John Buckland deposed that he had been a butcher for nearly 30 years. He had charge of the Ellerelie slaughter-house since the Ist January, and was previously engaged killing there in 1884, 1885, and 1886. In his opinion, the situation of the slaughter-house was not objectionable. The Ellerslie slaughter-house svas made use of by fifteen butchers, and supposing the license were refusod the nearest) slaughter-house would be the City Abattoirs and Faulder's slaughter-house. The slaughter-house at Otahuhu was a private one, belonging to tho Freezing Company. There was no other public slaughter-house for Onehunga, Parnell and Newmarket. Ho did nob sco how the butchers could get along if this license were refused.

In reply to Mr Devore witness said be was tho same Bucklancl who made application for a license in December, and was refused a license. He hud since carried on slaughtering on the same premises by arrangement. Ho was not ab the building on February 29th, when it was visited by Dr. King and Dr. Scott. The building was kept as clean as possible under the circumstances. They had to carry water from the swamp, into which the refuse flowed, back to the building for washing the floors. The water was pretty good, because the cattle drank it. Offal had not been thrown into the swamp since he had charge of tho premises, but old deposits of oflal had been exposed by the water receding. Pigs were fed on the olfal, and ho believed they were watered from the swamp. There had been water also in four tanks up till Friday or Saturday. This water was used for washing the meat. He was not aware if there was any outlet for the pond. Tho place was so constructed that the drainage was made to go into tho swamp ground. In answer to tho Bench witness eaid the blood was now absorbed by stable manure, and then carted away some distance.

James Alexander Pond, colonial analyst, deposed that on Saturday last, in company with Dr. Lewis, he made an inspection of tho slaughter-house. It was situated on an approach to St. John's Lake, which wae connected with the swamp previously referred to. It was probable that the water flowed in tho direction of the swamp. The report put in gave fairly hie riow of the position of affairs. If tho recommendations there made were carried out tho slaughter-house, he believed, could bo carried on without danger of oflonco. In reply to Mr Devoro witness said that £300 or £400 might be required to carry out thoproposedalteratione, and the work would occupy three or four months. There wore a good many small fish in the lake, attracted no doubt by the food thero. The present mode of working was offensive to the nostrils, but ho had not heard of any of tho slaughtermen suffering. Tho offensive smell would tond to increase the taint. They were not satisfied with the present mode of disposing of tho blood' oflal, ran into a tank said to be emptod by carts that came for if.. The lioor of tho smaller building was not watertight, and the ground underneath was, naturally, saturated with blood. Without the conveniences recommended, he did not think the license should be continued.

In answer to Mr Cotter, witness said ho could nofc say whether thero was concrete under the killing place. So far as the slaughter-house was concerned ib would be lib and proper to , kill there. If the place were perfectly flushed there could be no harm in continuing killing , thore until the proposed alterations were made. Alfred George Howard, Inspector of Slaughter-houses and Inspector of the Ellerslie slaughter-house einco 1881, deposed that he nad known thab establishmenb for 30 or 40 years. Ib had been licensed since 1862 or 1864. Since ISBI he had nob had occasion to lay any information against any licensee of thab slaughter-houeo for any offence. The closing of this slaughterhouse would be inconvenient to the butchers of Onehunga, Newmarket, and Parncll. If the piggeries were removed 100 yards further away, there would be nothing offensive. Ho would have had the previous licensee boforo the court very often if ib had nob been for his bankrupbey. Previous to Mr Hulmo's bankruptcy tho place was carried on well. In answer to Mr Devore witness said the pigs had always been there, and had always been a nuisance. George Raynes, butcher, of Parnell, doposed that he had for the past twenty years slaughtered at Newmarket and Ellorslie slaughter-houses. Thelabterwas superior in his opinion, to the City Abattoirs, if properly conducted. It would be a greao inconvenience to butchers if tho Ellerelis slaughter-housos woro closed. Adam Kay, a member of the Mount Wellington Road Board, residing at Panmure, was of opinion that the slaughter-house could be carried on without offence. William C. Griffiths, butcher, of Parnell, for ten years, said he slaughtered at the Western Springs for three years, and latterly at Elleralio. Ho found the beef slaughtered at Ellerslie clean and nicely cooled. John Batger, Secretary of the Auckland Permanent Building Society, deposed that the Ellorslie slaughter-houeo property was mortgaged by Mr Hula-e to tho Society. Mr Hulmo having become bankrupt, tho Society had to tako the property over. The Society had agreed with the present applicant that he should havo a lease if he obtained a licened. Objection was made previously. Tho Society had made certain improvements which they understood to be satisfactory. If the license were not granted, the property would be immediately sold in lots. Tho Society would be prepared to expend a reasonable amount to pub the property into good order.

(Left sitting.)