MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 14, 19 February 1915, Page 3

MERCER.

The charge against Ciifford McAnulty for assaulting the police at Mercer on Anniversary Day and refusing' to quit the Mercer Hotel was called at the Auckland Police Court on Tuesday but on aejouut of the illness of the accused he was again remanded in custody for a further eight days. As no arraugement has so lar been effected between the Franklin County Council and the Alercer Town Board in connection with adjustment of matters consequent on the ereation of the Tow if Board the latter authority has been powerless to commence local government Tho Board lias accordingly tiow applied to the Governor asking for a Commission of Enquiry to be set up to biing about a settlement. The Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward K.C.M.G., has accepted tho Waikato River Board's invitation to be present at the inspection of the Waikato River next month.

Quite a commodious channel is being made in the Waikato river through the scouring of tho sand from the bottom of the groins, placed in the river. The overseer of the work has had to drive the groins deeper into the sand to keep them in position. To try and avoid similar operations with the new groins, which are to be placed in position shortly, the overseer has arranged to have them made longer than the previous ones placed in the river aud the new ones will be 30 feet in length. The Auckland " Star " says : An addition is to be made to Gillies Park, Auckland, in the form of a turret of the old steamer Pioneer, which fought on the Waikato River during the Maori wars. For some years the iron structure has been lying on some property at Mercer owned by Mrs CorbettScott, of Manor House, Epsom, and that lady has given it to the city for preservation as an interesting relic of stirring times. Tho turret is 13ft by 9ft, and is to be brought to Auckland during }he next few days. It was on the deck of the Pioneer during the early sixties, and from its shelter the troops were wont to fire through its loopholes on the natives along the banks of the river. It is interesting to mention that the father of the present Governor of New Zealand served as a lieutenant on the Pioneer.

The question of the actual ownership of the turret, referred to in the foregoing, is, however, in dispute and standing as it is in the Meiver quarry, which property is claimed by the Mercer Town Board as well as by the Franklin County Council, complications as to the rightful owner or owners of the turret have already cropped up. A lorry and six horses, in charge of a driver, arrived at Mercer on Friday last by instructions of the Auckland County Council upon the authority of Mrs Corbett-Scott to take the turret to Auckland but the Town Board intervened and refused to allow it to be removed, the Board's contention being that Mrs Corbett-Scott had not established her ownership to the relic. The City Council's employee accordingly returned to Auckland without the turret, which still remains at Mercer.

Owing to the exceedingly low state of the river, the suppliers of logs to the United Timber Company are having to reduce the sizes of the logs by cutting them in two so that they will float down the stream. The number of suppliers to the Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company's factory remains the same as last year, but the total supply is considerably lower and the output of butter is accordingly considerably less. The average grading of the butter is most satisfactory, in the majority of cases ranges being 01 to 92.V points. Mr E. G. L. Yosper lias been transferred from the local branch of the railway to Penrose, his place having been filled by Mr T. Eae, late of Te Aroha. Mr Yosper was a keen sportsman, and will be missed by his many friends in the district. He was an active member of the Mercer Rowing Club and was the organiser of the Life Saving Club recently formed in the township. Tenders for the clearing of blackberries and the cutting of hedges in the schoolground have been called for. The school committee are arranging for a social to be held, for the purpose of paying off the balance of £4, that remains on the piano. Four certificates of proficiency and one of competency were awarded to pupils who sat for the sixth standard examination at the public school recently. The average attendance at the school for the quarter ending 31st December was 86.5. This very creditable attendance entitled the school to an assistant teacher and Miss Cardno of the Training College, Auckland, was appointed to the position. The inspector reported that the school had been well managed and the methods in use had been very carefully applied. Also, the pupils had made a very satisfactory appearance in the work undertaken.