Breach of the Cemeteries Act.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 166, 24 January 1888, Page 2

Breach of the Cemeteries Act.

Win. Orr niul Alex. Hamilton were yesterday charged befwe Mr MeCardle, J.P., with having interred infants on land other than the i’ublic Cemetery, the former on the 12th instant, and the latter about December. Constable Cullinane said he would not press for a heavy penalty, hut tin rely wished the present prosecution to he a warning to others. Doth Mr Orr and Mr Hamilton pleaded guilty, hut stated they were ignorant of the provisions of the Act. They had only intended to allow the bodies to remain on private ground until tho Public Cemetery was in a fit state for the reception of the dead. Mr Orr said he passed the Cemetery on the day of the death of his child, and the bush being on fire, he concluded that it would he impossible for the burial to take place there. Mr MeCardle said where they had erred was in not making application to a Magistrate for permission to inter on private ground, hut he quite believed there had been no wilful intention to break tho law, and lie would therefore only inflict a fine of Is each. Messrs Oi r and Hamilton were instructed to make application to the Colonial Secretary for permission to remove the bodies to tho Cemetery.