MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 176, 23 May 1916, Page 4

MERCER.

An instance of the Defence Department's failure to notify tbe relatives concerned of a soldier's illness at the front is reported from Mercer. It appears that from a letter conveyed to Mr F Kelly by a returned soldier his son, Private r D K*)ly, of the Machine Gun Section, North Auckland Kegiment, had betn invalided in hospital for four weeks, suffering from the elfec sot typhoid tever. Anxious to ascertain further particulars a3 to his st's condition, Mr Kelly cjmmunicated with the Defence Department, but his etquiries failed ti tlicit even a riply. News has come, however, through the fresß that fnvate Kelly will he returning to the Dominion shortly with a batch cf invalided soldier?

'1 he programme that was being followe.l by Capt in Attwood with respect lo the taking of • soundings at tbß bar at ths Waikatu Heads and the cuction ot beacons came to a sudden cessation at the end of the week before last the boisterous weather making it impracticable to continue operations. The bar became unworkable! and the party had to return to Mercer on the Saturday evening. Only ona of the two beacons haß coneqeuently so far been erected Mr Kennedy, consulting engineer to tbe Kiver Hoard, is to arrive in Mercer on tbe 10th June, when a special inspection of the river will be made

At the last meeting of the Town Board an application concernicg a proposal to beautify the river Dank, by plautmg ornaments! trees and erecting seats thereon, was received from Mr A C Tribe, who offered to assist the acheme by donating six trees and tbe timber for the seats. Meis b H Valentine and M Uallery were deputed to confer with Mr Tribe oa the matter

An offer of a flagpole and flag for erection on the King Edward Memorial Hall has been made to the Town Board by tbe chairman, Mr George Morgon

The shortage of hiuses hi the district has reached s;ch an acjte Btage that as attempts to rent houses tor railway employees have failed the Department have purchased a section on Koheroa road where a house is to be built, and tbe United Timber Company is also going to erect a house lor the manager of tbe mill, Mr J T Giltibrand

A much improved appearanca is to be sees on the footpath approaches to the post office, whereby grading and tilling in end piacirg chips on the n2w formation a better grade has been made

Mr M A Stone, who was relieving at the Iccal post office last year tut is now stationed at Otoihanga, visited th 3 district on annual leave during last week. He took the opportunity of saying good-bye to his friends, as he haß enlisted in the Canterbury Infantry Section of the 37th Reinforcements

Ihe recent storm brought about the dismantling ot Messrs Glass Bros' stable un the hill. The building was completed dissected, the limber being strewn in ali directions. The gala was tbe severest f-It in the district for years. At tbe Waikato Heads the results were also serious, Mr Ed Hallett having an outhouse and a 40 gallon tank blown down

A plain ard fancy dress ball in aid of the fund for providing a local Roll of Honour is to be held in the Mercer Town Hall on Friday, June 16th. Particulars will be found in our advertising cMumns

Aline of 15 three-year old steers, owned by Mr Sweeney, of Mercer, sold at the sale conducted by Messrs Buckland and Sons in their Drury yards on Tuesday last at an average price of £8 15s per head. They were roared on the river flats in the Whangamarino district. Mr Sweeney also disposed of a fat cow for £l2 and a milch cow for £'J Bs.