MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 158, 24 March 1916, Page 3

MERCER.

THE WAIKATO RIVER. SECOND DATS INSPECTION. The party consisting of Dr McNab and others continued their inspection of the Waikato river on Tuesday last at six a.m. The works at the Heads were witnessed and satisfaction expressed at the beneficial results that bad accrued therefrom. Groynes have been driven in at the wide reaches with a view of compelling the water, by confining it to narrow limits, to increase its velocity and scour out the channel. One "•royne constructed by the Government fpur years ago is already an island of willows, the area cut off forming a large sand bank, while on the stream side the channel is deep and the current swift. This is distinct proof of the value of the work from the standpoint of navigation, tliougi; draining large areas of privately owned low-lying lands is the primary object of the Board's work. A visit was also paid to the the bar, which was shown to be of sand only, with a channel easily negotiable by vessels of 13ft draught. It is anticipated that the depth at the entrance will be made greater by the Board's operations. The works carried out have elected great improvements, and promise to fulfil all that is expected. A matter mentioned to Dr McNab was the neglected state of the Waisato Heads, by the absence of buoys and beacons. The bar had not been surveyed since 185'J, and at

the present time there was no guide for entering or leaving the port. Consequently owners of vessels hesitated to allow their ships to enter until proper beacons were eructed. Negotiations wave ponding for u regular line of vessels to trade between Onehuuga and Port Waikato, and possibly from Sydney and the couth. The Minister said he considered a re-survey was desirable, and that beacons were necessary. On ha return to Wellington he would look into thi9 rufitter and see what could be dote. . Dr MoNab pointed out that whilo he might k' able to grant a certain amount yf 'uoaey for river improvements, fa if the requests for htlp v, ere too many it would simply mean •.hat the tiling would bo overburdened „nd would burst. ' Qa behalf cf ti.e River Board Mr Glacs (chairman' explained to the Minister that the Board had already spent nearly £6OOO on river improvements, and they were now oimn«t »f the and " f * h ™ tfltner-

while the work ihey set out to accomplish was not nearly completed. When the few hundreds of pounds that remained petered out the plant would be handed over to the Bank, and the Board would bo in a worse position than when the work was first started. The Board has received absolutely no subsidy from the Government, although its operations had benefitted about 16,000 acres of Crown lands very materially. The Board therefore considered that it was the duty of the Government to, assist the work to a substantial extent, and they now asked for a subsidy of £l5O a month to enable the operations to be continued during the war, after which it was hoped that the scheme would be made a national one. If the Minister could see his way to grant the concession asked, a start would be made, immediately the present work at the Heads was finished, on removing obstructions between Mercer and Huntly.

FACILITIES AT WHARF. During the visit this week of the Minister for Marine (.the Hon. R. McNab) to Mercer the Minister's assistance was asked in providing better railway facilities at the Mercer wharf. At present, they said, the arrangements were the same as they were 30 years ago, when the traffic was nothing like it was to-day. As a consequence there was a continual blockage at the wl arf. The i iver sf rvice was not, as was frequently stated, operating to the detriment of the railway, but, on the contrary, was adding considerably to the railway revenue.. Shippers had also to pay 2s per ton on all goods passing over the wharf. This, with tho present obsolete method of handling, was an unfair tax on shippers. The Minister promised not only to write to the Minister of Railways on the matter, but to personalty speak to him with a view to having the disabilities removed.

RECRUITING MEETING. The Minister for Marine, the Hon. Dr R. McNab, addressed a recruiting meeting at Mercer on Tuesday night, and was accompanied on the platfoim by Messrs Morgou (chairman of the Town Board) and R. F. Bollard, M.P. The hall was crowded. Pointing out that Mercer had sent more recruits in proportion to its eligible men than any other part, the Minister contented himself with explaining what had been done in other parts of the Dominion, and left it to the township to continue its record. The meeting ended with three cheers for the boys at the front.