AN INSANITARY NUISANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9400, 9 April 1902, Page 2

AN INSANITARY NUISANCE.

Thomas Campbell Gumming, familiarly known by the sobriquet of "Soapy Tom," was charged at Ui& Police Court this morning with neglecting 10 comply with a requisition from the Kaiti Road Board, as the district Board of Health, requiring him to abate the nuisance at his pluce on the Kaiti. The information was laid by the Clerk of the Kaiti Board (Mr H. McKay). Mr Nolan appeared for the prosecution, and stated t>hat the case was similar to those which had been laid against the-aecused previously. Cumming had not improved the state of his premises, notwithstanding the warnings he had received. The Magistrate was empowered under the Public Health Aot, in addition to the penalties imposed, to make accused abate the nuisance, to make an order prohibiting a recurrence of such nuisance. There bad been many complaints about the accumulation of filth at accused's place, and it was absolutely necessary he should be stopped.— Henry McKay, Clerk to the Kaiti Board, stated that, in accordance with a requisition from Mr M. Kershaw, .Sanitary Inspector, notice had been served on the accused to abate the nuisance on his premises.—John R. Little stated he had served the notice produced on the 24th March; He had inspected the premises, and the deposits there were likely, to prove injurious to the public health.-— Sergeant Siddells stated he had, received numerous complaints from persons living in the vicinity and passers on the highway. When he visited* the place in ques-' tion he found it to be worse than it was twelve months ago.—Accused strongly repudiated the insinuation that there was any offensive matter about his premises. It was mostly neatsfoot oil, soap, lime, and such things. If,the Freezing Works had a bad smell,it was1 put down to his place.—The Magistrate said the accused could not be allowed to accumulate filth to the danger of the inhabitants. If he was - content to run the risk of disease, the public must be protected. It was quite clear* that the matter was injurious to the public health. Accused had been notified to remove the filth, and had not done so. He could not be allowed to set the law at defiance. His Worship said he bad been in Cumming's tent a year ago, and ifc was in a disgusting state, and not fit for a human being. Accused would be convicted and fined £1, costs 7s. solicitor's fee £1 Is, in default seven days' hard labor, and ordered to abate the nuisance within 48 hours.—Mr Nolan pointed out that Cumming might abate the nuisance and start another in a' different place.—His Worship ordered the prohibition of a recurrence of the nuisance, stating that accused must understand he was liable to a penalty of £5 a day for any delay in abatement.