MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 21, 16 March 1915, Page 3

MERCER.

Orders for fruit boxes h3ve come in freely to the United Timber Co. during the past six months, and over that period the mill has averaged a daily output of 1000 boxes In addition to this the Company hßve also complied with large orders for timber from Syansy. The secretary ot the cjmpany reports that the last order received from Sydney is for half-a-mi!lion feet of white pine. Owing to the continuous pressure brought to bear on the locomotive water supply at Mercer by the trains that pass through Mercer it has been found necessary to augment the present supply of three tanks, which together hold 24,000 gallons. A reservoir to hold 56,000 gallons is being erected on the hill at the northern end of the station. The excavation is being made in papa, and when finished will be concreted. The site, which is 39 feet above the railway line, should allow for a fairly strong pressure of water. Seeing that the residents of Mercer in the vicinity of the township, with the exception of two, are at present relying on tank supply for water, it is thought that it would be an excellent opportunity, before' the work is finished, for the Towu Board to try and come to some arrangement tor the Railway Department to supply the township with water from the new reservoir. Mr W. Howe, who is on his annual leave from the Railway Department, Mercer, is being j renewed by Mr Anderson, of" the ; relieving stall.

A certificate uf merit lor the school gardens, his been received by the lleadrnaler, Mr C. Edwards. The committee, assisted tiy some of the local residents ami ' school children, are carrying out ! 90iny very noticeable improvements ' in' the garden. A hollow in the ! garden, which has been au eyesore I in the nasi, is b;ing tilled up with i soil (ruin a bank on the side ol the ; Koheroa road, and a shed which is | situated close to the tennis court | and which his been a source of ! annoyance to frequenters of the court, ig bcmn unified into a posiI tjyii VflKirw It will not uiud«i the : progress ut games on the court. I The school committee have authorised Mr Edwards and Mr Ballet,

the secretary of the committee, to expend £6 in the purctase of plants for the garden. An effort is also to be n,ade to arrange for an entertainment, whereby it is hoped the committee's funds will be augmented and an additional turn spent on improving the garden. It has been arranged by Ina Waikato Sbipoing Company to run launches up the small tributaries of the Waikato river as tenders for the company's s.s. Freetrader. Tbe boats are to be fitted for both passenger and cargo traffic The Hampton Downs Estate Company have sold their interests of 3400 acres in the Whangamanno district at a very satisfactory figure to a southern syndicate. Tbe land was originally owned by Mr E. Hallet, of Mercer, who disposed of it to Dr Stopford, of Auckland, who in turn Bold it to Mr George Ballard, of Auckland, for £3500. Twelve months later, after being cut up into actions, it again changed hards, the new purchasers beins the Hampton Downs Estate Company, and the price on that occasion being £IO,OOO. Another property, that of Mr Buchanan's, (of Rotorua), consisting of 90C acres, situated in tbe Koneroa district, Mercer, has been sold at £lO an acre to a Mr Purnell, of Ponsonby, Auckland. In the past the property was tued for sheep farming purposes, but the new owner intends using the property for dairying purpose?.