WRONGFUL USE OF ROAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17633, 20 November 1920, Page 8

WRONGFUL USE OF ROAD.

REMOVAL OF TURF. J A case of interest to suburban residents came before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court, yesterday, when an Edcndale resident was charged at the instance of the Mount Albert Borough Council, with having made improper use of a public road by removing turf and small : scoria from tlio footpath. Defendant de- . nied that ho had' removed turf on the date and at the place named in the charge, but admitted that he had done so on previous occasions.« It was a common practice in the district, ho said, The road in front of his sections was -rough and the footpath little used. For the council it was stated that the removal of ; turf and material was a serious matter. The magistrate dismissed the charge on payment, of costs, £4 ss. He said ' the practice should be Mopped, and that tho present case should servo as a warning, In future in such cases the council should proceed under the Public Works Act. It is not commonly known that the removal of turf is an offence under tile Public Works Act, but section 145 provides that every person who digs up, removes, or alters in any way the soil or surface, or scarping of the road, sha'l be liable to a fine not exceeding £lO for every day upon which the offence is committed, and,to pay the cost of repairing any injury to tho road. f'-f-i, \v.: 'V: : ' •"