MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 221, 27 October 1916, Page 4

MERCER.

WAIKATO SHIPPING CO., LTD.

A meeting of the provisional director* of the Waikato Shipping Company, Ltd., was held in Hamilton on Saturday last, Messrs Johnson, Wilson, Clephane, Frost and Davis being present. Mr D. Hay, who is floating the company, was in attendance and gave a report of his progress up to date. Great interest is being taken in it and there is no doubt of its being a great success, and it will assist materially in developing the Waikato. One large firm of oil merchants is already considering the advisability of erecting storage room for 10,000 cases of benzine and other oils, and they hope to get the cargo discharged direct at the Waikato Heads, from whence it will be distributed aa far as Botorua and Taumaranui at a considerable reduction on railway charges owing to the cheapness of the water carriage from the Heads to Hamilton. Messrs E. T. Frost, Capt. Bagg, and the Waipa district directors are to make a survey of the river from Pirongia to Otorohanga to see if that part can be successfully navigated. There is a large trade offering there if it is found that the river can be cleared for launch traffic at a reasonable cost. It is expected that the Company will start opera- j tions within the next month.

MERCER TOWN BOARD. The regular monthly meeting of the Town Board was held on Tuesday evening last, when Messrs G. Morgon (chairman), A. G. Tribe, M. Gallery, J. T. Gillibrand and A. M. Smith, together with the clerk, Mr T. Wright, were present. The Railway Department wrote acknowledging the Board's objection to the deposit of rubbish on the road adjacent to the railway cottages, and said that*they would see that the; matter was attended to. As the result of an application received from Mr Ridgley, stationmaster, it was decided to ask Messrs : J. Ragg and C. Roose to inspect the | punt submerged in the Waikato; river, near Mercer, with a view to lilting it and of obtaining an approximate cost of putting it in repair. In compliance with the spirit of a petition signed by 33 ratepayers, asking for a poll to be taken in respect to a proposed change of rat- j ing from the capital value to the un- j improved value, the clerk was de- |

With a view of proceeding against the owners of cattle straying on the roads, it was decided to appoint a ranger who will receive a fee for every information he lays with the police.

The river is receding slowly, but the flood waters remain on the flats.

During last week Mr C. Boose ! transhipped a record cargo of kero- :' sene and benzine to Hamilton from the s.s. Arapawa, at Onehunga. The proceeds of the recent Bed i Cross Fete amounted to £6B 8s lOd, | while nine turkeys, donated by Mrs : Aunandale, of Glen Murray, which | arrived too late for the sale through | the flood, were sold for £4 10s. So j successful was the function that it is ; probable another will be held at an ] early date. Four Mercer " boys " who enlisted from this district have been killed in action during the last few days, viz, i Private W. E. Sellwood, son of Mr • W. Sellwood, who was employed at | the quarry when he enlisted; Private | B Barron, brother of Mr J. Barron, j of this district, who was an employee | of the United Timber Co. at "the time of enlisting; Private J. J. Doyle, who was employed as a guard on the railway; and Private J. Coulthard. also an ex-employee of the United Timber Co., whose people live at Mangapai. All four were well known in the district and universally respected. Privates Sellwood and Barron were both members of the Mercer Bowing Club. Sergeant M. Shaw, who also enlisted from Mercer, has been wounded for the fourth time. A basket social was to have been held last week, but out of respect to the young heroes it was postponed indefinitely. Private H. Coleman, of the 10th Beinforcements, is on final leave. He is to be made the recipient of a wristlet watch this (Friday) evening. The articles auctioned by Mr J. T. Stembridge at the Bed Cross sale realised £lB. Mr Stembridge kindly gave his services in an honorary capacity.