LET RAIN WATER INTO SEWER

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22066, 12 September 1941, Page 8

LET RAIN WATER INTO SEWER

Householders Charged Magistrate’s Court

"These cases will serve to notify householders that the practice of running water into the sewer without permission will have to cease. If there are any further cases I will have to treat the matter more seriously and inflict heavier penalties,” said Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday, commenting on a number of cases brought by the Timaru Borough Sanitary Inspector against householders of allowing rain water to run into the sewerage drain in contravention of the Borough bylaws.

Ten cases were heard, Mr M. C. Gresson conducting the prosecutions. The cases, said Mr Gresson, were the first to be brought under the by-law and the object was to give publicity to the requirements. The Council took a serious view of the offences as the flooding of .the sewers might cause the pipes to blow up as a result of the pressure, there was a possibility that the pumping apparatus would be thrown out of gear, a mishap which occurred some years ago, and in the low-lying areas in the south end the sewer was likely to flood back and eject its contents on the properties. Evidence was given by the assistant sanitary inspector. Victor Abraham.

In most of the cases, said the Magistrate, the occupiers had received notices to disconnect the storm water pipes from the sewer and had complied. After the heavy rain the pipes had been disconnected. That showed that the by-law had been deliberately evaded.

Fines of £1 and costs were imposed on John Black, John David McKenzie, John Leslie O’Keefe. David Isaac Parsons, Sydney Arthur Bremford and James Gliddon. James Cross, Albert Edward Gynes and Charles Cecil Padman were ordered to pay costs only. Mr R. Stout entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Louise O’Gorman. The Magistrate held that the evidence did not establish that the defendant had conducted or permitted to be conducted rain water into the sewer drain. It was not an offence to have the drain pipe connected in such a way that if rain did occur the water would run into the sewer. The offence was the actual fact that the water had been allowed to run in. On the day of the inspection. August 21, there had been no rain. The charge was dismissed. Motorists Charged “The motoring public should know by now that if they come into the borough of Timaru they must have their lights‘in accordance with the Regulations,” said the Magistrate when George David Hewson, of Seadown, pleaded guilty to driving his car in Stafford Street at nights, without the headlights adjusted in accordance with the Lighting Restrictions and Emergency Regulations. Hewson was fined £1 (12/-). For similar offences Langtry Cecil Jones was fined £1 (10/), Donald Miller £1 (12/-), John Skinner costs only 12/-. William James Carron, 10/- CIO/-). For parking cars at night without lights, Eric Roslyn Cuzens. George Eric Davies, James Glass, Frank Hoare, John Joseph Pope, Colin Shipley, William George Taylor, were each fined 10/-. Other Cases On a charge of committing Incest at Winchester on September 8, Harry Norris, a single man, aged 28, was remanded to appear at Timaru on September 18. The granting of bail was opposed by Detective-Sergeant E. M. Thomas,, who said that the offence was a continued one and might be repeated. Bail was refused. For casting offensive matter in a public place, William Woods, who pleaded guilty, was fined 30/- with costs 10/-. , - . Frank Frederick Neale was fined £l, costs 11/-, for allowing the chimney of his residence in Otipua Road to catch fire.