DISTRICT NEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 398, 6 August 1918, Page 2

DISTRICT NEWS.

MERCER. MERCER TOWN BOARD MONTHLY MEETING At the monthly meeting of the Mercer Town l'oard held on Monday evening last there were present Messrs J T Gillibrand (chairman') S Carter M GalJery and A Glass with Mr H J Tapley (clerk). RATES In accordance with the official notification published in the "Times" a general rate of ljd and a Hospital and Charitable Aid rate of l-6thofa penny in the £ were duly made and levied to be paid in one instalment on the 14th September next.

DOO REGISTRATION TEES With regard to the Board's decision to impose a license of 10s on all sporting dogs a deputation waited on the Board asking that the proposed fee should be reduced. After Borne discussion the chairman pointed out that none of those who formed the deputation were ratepayers and that as the dogs were kept for sporting purposes the Board could not accede to the request of the deputation and considered that they should contribute as proposed. CEMETEfIY The chairman reported that the contract for the carrying out of improvements to the cemetery reserve had been let and that Mr J K Ledger had been engaged to have the ground surveyed and pegged and to prepare a plan of the grave spac°s.

When about to arrest a Maori named Waka Houkoura, 28, for disorderly conduct whilst drunk outside the Railway Hotel, Mercer on Friday evening last, Constable Horan was assaulted and a scrimmage ensued, Constable Horan being obliged to draw his truncheon. Some Europeans came to the rescue and Constable Horan then secured his assailant. At the Magistrate's Court the following morning he was brought before Messrs J F Shepherd and G T Webster, Justices of the Peace when two charges were brought against him (1) for disorderly conduct whilst drunk and (2) for resisting and assaulting the police, Constable Horan in the execution of his duty. On the first charge accused was fined 10s and sentenced to two months imprisonment for the second charge. With the fixed intention of taking up their abode at Mercer for the next six months and probably longer about sixty natives arrived here on horseback on Thursday from Otaki, Miranda, Mangatangi and other places. It is reported that the dusky tribe intend to make Mercer their'headquarters "until the end of the war " or until the military regtiw lations enforcing conscription againsr them are somewhat relaxed. The Waikato is now falling rapidly, due it is believed to the effect of'the frosty weather and to many of the small streams in the Taupo district being frozen. When a thaw takes place there is likely to be a great rush of water from the higher lands A farewell ouchre and social will be tendered to Pte F McWilliams now on final leave, at the Public Hall, Mercer, tomorrow (Wednesdav) evening by the Mercer Patriotic Committee. Pte. McWilliams is highly respee'ed throughout the district and a presentation will be made to him at that meeting as a slight tokon of esteem in which he is held. . Owing to the absence of the chairman (Mr A G Glass) and oJier members of the Waikato River Board, no meeting of the Board was held on Saturday last there beirg an insufficient number present to form a quorum. The next Magistrate's Court h fixed for Monday next. Up to the time of going to press no criminal business is down for hearing and there aro only a «mall number of civil cases to bo dealt with by tl e Magistrate.