MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 187, 30 June 1916, Page 1

MERCER.

RTVER WOKKvS MEWED. AUCKLAND PARTY'S VISIT. An inspection of the works in progress on the Waikato River, with a view to the improvement of navigation in the river and some of its tributaries, was made on Friday and Saturday, June 10th and 17th, by a party from Auckland, comprising Messrs E. Anderson, president, and A. M. Ferguson, vice-president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, S. J. Harbutt, president of the Auckland Industrial Association, M. H. Wynyard, president of the Onehunga Chamber of Commerce, and H. W. Lawson. manager in Auckland for the National Bank of New Zealand. The visitors, who were accompanied by Mr A. G. C. Glass, chairman of the Waikato River Board, and by Mr A. Taylor, of the United Timber Company, made the trip in Mr A. Lapwood's launch. On the Friday twelve miles of the Maramarua stream and live miles of the Whangamarino were first visited and the party expressed surprise that so much rich alluvial land, es pecially that belonging to the Crown, was allowed to remain idle. In the afternoon the launch proceeded up the river as -is far the shallows at Cburchhill and then returned to Mercer, where the night was spent. On the Saturday the lower reaches of the river and the groyning work carried out by the River Board were inspected and here again remarks were passed as to neglect to bring into cultivation the large area of valuable land that was observed. The return trip was made via the Aka Aka Channel and the party disembarked at the Tuakau landingstage and were conveyed by brake to the Tuakau station, and returning to Auckland by the Rotorua express. Prior to leaving the launch, Mr Taylor, on behalf of the shipping and timber interests, expressed the hope that after what they had seen the visitors would support the River Board in their scheme of deepening the river for navigation and for draining the low-lying lands. Mr Anderson (Auckland Chamber of Commerce), in reply, commended the Board on the works they had seen, the same in his opinion having been both economically' and well carried out. He thought that the Board could rest assured that their efforts would receive all possible support from the organisation he represented. Mr S. J. Harbutt (Auckland Industrial Association) endorsed Mr Anderson's remarks, saying that the Waikato River was one of the most important waterways of the Dominion and that the River Board in their scheme of improvement thoroughly deserved to be assisted.