CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1693, 22 July 1875, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce took place this afternoon at Mr Batget's office. Present : Dr. Campbell, in the chair; Messrs. Shera, Morton, Philhpps, McMillan, Henderson, R. Y. Stevenson, and D. B. Cruickehank.

Dr. Campbell informed the meeting that the Chamber had made representations to the Government on the subject of the nondelivery of the San Francisco English Mail on Sundays', and on the delay attendant upon the iMiez Mail being forwarded from Australia via the Bluff. He had received a copy of the new Bankruptcy Act. Mr Yon der Heyde had been requested to bring before the General Assembly the question of lowering the present raiiway freights. The chairman had also received from the chairman of the Harbour Board a representation on the subject ef the defective " receiving" of cargoes on the wharf. The communication was not read. Dr. Campbell gave it as his opinion that if importers would see that they Lad a sufficient number of carts to take away the goods there would be no block. He invited gentlemen to express themselves on the subject. Mr. McMillan said he thought the Constitution of the Harbour Board was in fault. The public was too little represented on the Board. They ought to move for an'alteration, and insist at least upon having three fourths of the Board from the city. He did not see under present circumstances how anything they could do would remove the difficulty. Mr Stevenson thought the Harbour Board had the power to remedy the fault if they would use it. They should licence the receivers. Mr Phillips did not see what they could do. For his own part b.e thought the wharf was kept pretty clear. Mr Shera agreed with Mr Stevenson. Mr Morton did not think tho importers were to blame. He attributed the blame to the officers of the ships who mixed the goods on the wharf. The Harbour Board should bring pressure to bear upon tke Captains and the receivers to make them work more in h«rmony. Mr. D. B. Cruickshank did not agree with Mr. Morton. There were too many curves. He had known a receiver hunted for all dsy. He recommended as a solution of the difficulty that the wharf should be leased to one person, and the end shedded in. This would also remove another important drawback, which was the amount of theft which went on on the wharf. gfMr McMillan agreed with Mr Cruickßhank. Mr Stevenson moved that the matter be referred to the Committee of the Chamber to . take action and report upon the same. Mr McMi'lan seconded this and it was carried. STJRVEY AKBANGEMENTS. Mr Shera introduced this subject. He thought the present arrangements very unsatisfactory. The surveyors were generally engaged by the ship, and were paid by the captains. This being the case, they must remember surveyors were but men, and had a lively recollection of men who paid them. If they gave an adverse decision it was probable they would not be employed again. He would move that the committee be requested to take into consideration the unsatisfactory nature of the survey arrangements of this part and devise a remedy of the evil. Mr Stevenson seconded the motion which was carried.