BAD ODOUR ALLEGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1945, Page 4

BAD ODOUR ALLEGED

CHARGES AT GREYMOUTH. The adjourned hearing df charges brought by P. J. McLean against C. R. Milne, concerning his premises in Boundary Street, Greymouth, was held in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, this morning, before Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M., and after the conclusion of evidence for informant, who was represented by Mr. J. W. Hannan, defendant, represented by Mr. A. M. Jamieson, presented evidence. The charges against Milne were that at Greymouth on November 26, in premises in Boundary Street, he did carry on an offensive trade, fishcuring and fish-cleaning, elsewhere than in premises registered under Section 55 of the Health Act, 1920 and, further, that he did suffer a nuisance to continue on the premises by carrying on the trade of fishcuring and fish-cleaning as to be unnecessarily offensive. Witnesses for informant were L. D. McGlashan, F. A. Hughes, members of the staff, and W. U. Holley, all of whose testimony followed the lines of that given by informant when the hearing commenced on Monday. The Borough Engineer, A. J. Fairmaid, testified that the premises were not registered but an application for registration had been made and was being held over for consideration. Giving evidence on his own behalf, Milne said that in the four years that he had occupied the premises he had received complaints from no one other than McLean. The place was kept as clean as possible, and was hosed out with cold water whenever necessary. Hot water, which left a smell, was never used. He had made a request for registration. The only work in connection with the cleaning of fish carried out in the premises was the removal of the heads and tails and these were immediately carried off to the river. The fish were always kept covered in a refrigerator and the only time when there was a smell of ammonia was once when the refrigerator had developed trouble. He had never seen a rat in the place. L. Reid, Health Inspector, said he had examined the place and had come into contact with no odour other than that naturally associated with fish. He had received no complaints regarding the sump. A. H. Lane, Nuisance Inspector, said he passed- the premises every day and they were always kept clean. Further evidence in corroboration was given by R. J. Mathieson, J. H. Mundy, P. C. Dawson, W. J. Preston and P. G. Vczle. At the conclusion the Magistrate held that no proof of nuisance had been established and dismissed the first information. The second was adjourned until January 26, 1946.