MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 24, 26 March 1915, Page 3

MERCER.

The Commisßoncr of Cruwn Lands, Mr H. M. Skeet, at the fcvitation of the Waikato Kiver Uoaril, visited

the Wrancspc district during ttoc • patt few days and inspected Lake • Koto Ngaro and the adjoining Crown

Lsr.ds, with the intention of decidmz whether ha considered it advisable to lower the lake and tbs bring in 3000 acres of swamp land which is at present under water. The lake has already been lowered six inches by the sttlers in the vicinity, and as a result land that is now very valuable was drsiofd. It is understood that the Commissioner has reported favourably on the proposed idea, and that the wck will start in the cou-fe of a lew days. It bas been recorded that salt water has reached nearer Mercer, by three miles, than it has ever done be f ore, as a result cf the operations in the rivtr, which ere being carried out u der the jurisdiction of the Waikato River Bo<ud Mr Kennedy, consulting engineer to the Board, has authorised the U3s of harrows, attached to a launch, for taking away the only existing tar,cl bank in Miora Bay. This work is also to he started promptly.

It has been decided by tie members of the Waikato Hiver Board to personally defray the costs of the inspection of the works in the river, fixed for April 14th. The river has risen eighteen inches through ihe heavy downpour of ram ot the past few days, and is at present higher than it has been durirg the past twelve months.

The waters of the Maungatawhiri Valley creek, a tributary of the Waikato, are turbulent ard gushing as a result of thi recent rains, and ibe creek has flooded and its waters are now over some'parts of the Domain.

At the Ngaruawahia Regatta on 17th inst, "cui" local youth's fours' representatives sustained the confidence placed in them by rowing into second nl3ce in the youth's fours competition. They rowed i-ell and were deserving of their win. A movement is on foot in the township to obtain signatures for a petition to be presented to Parliament, asking for a budge to be built across the Waikato river, at Mercer.