POLLUTING STREAMS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 72, 8 November 1911, Page 4

POLLUTING STREAMS.

FIFTY DEAD CATTLE ON A FARM

DEALT WITH DILATORILY

The following report from the Sanitary Inspector, dated October 30th, was received at the meeting of the Hospital Board this morning:—Acting under instructions, 1 made an inspection of the farm occupied by Meyonborg and Buchanan, cattle dealers, Stratford, on October 28th, re nuisance complained of about creeks being polluted by carcases of dead cattle, and now beg to report:—The farm is situated about four miles from Stratford and lias frontage to the Roaconsfield and Aharon road. I found thirtytwo dead carcases of cuttle, and one live heifer stuck in a creek nearly deed. The dead cattle are in creeks which drain into the properties of Mr Johnson, Mr Neilson, and Mr Bell, dairy farmers, also into a creek which flows towards Beaconsfield road. The smell from the decaying carcases is abominable, and is causing a verygrave nuisance. No domestic water

supply is being polluted, but the milk cows on the surrounding farms are drinking the polluted water. I acquainted Police Sergeant McNceley with the facts, and he went out on the following day and found more carcases than I have reported. He thinks that there would lie no difficulty in finding over fifty head of dead cattle, and is taking action ro alleged cruelty to animals. The Stock Inspector visited the farm, and is now taking action regarding carcases being loft within half a mile of a highway. Some of the carcases are within half a mile of the public road and come under the jurisdiction of the Dairy Industry Act. Some of them are over half a mile from the public road, and will require to be dealt with under the Public Health Act.

Under date, November 3rd, lie reported :—1 beg to report having gone over the above-mentioned farm on the 2nd insfc., in company with Mr Beere, stock inspector. We found no evidence of any attempt to bury or destroy the carcases, although twentyfour hours had elapsed since notice was served on Meyenberg. Four dairy herds are drinking the polluted water. We saw forty carcases in the creek in different stages of decomposition. and'there are two carcases on the land, which I saw on my previous visit, and there may be many more. The smell is abominable, and the water pollution serious. I regard the nuisance as very serious, and one that requires the urgent attention of the District Health Officer, re putting section 73, subsection 0 of the Public Health Act into action. I have wired to Wellington this afternoon that the position is unchanged, and that the nuisance requires the urgent attention of‘the District Health Officer.

The Inspector (Mr A. Gray) attended the meeting. He said notice had been served on Meyenberg to bury or burn the cattle, but ho stated that he was not now in partnership with Buchanan. However, he (the Inspector) had seen Buchanan that morning and he had gone out to the farm with the intention of getting rid of the cattle. ‘ i Mr Maxwell said that if extreme measures were taken in this case they could serve a notice on almost every farmer in the province, because most people had dead cattle near their creeks.

Mr Marfcll said farmers were careless' in the matter, and probably the proceedings in this case would be a lesson to them. ,

Mr Christofiel said it was generally dealers who were at fault in the matter. Settlers usually buried dead beasts in order to keep their land clear.

Mr Maxwell said he would like to know the exact danger arising from the pollution. He had always been )f opinion that running water would purify anything. Mr Gray said he could not give any information in the matter. The Board took no action.