CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3959, 28 March 1884, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A special meeting of the members of the Chamber of Commerce was held to-day, at 2.30 p.m., for thepurposoof meeting the Hon. Mr Mitchelson. Mr Kinross occupied tho chair, and said the Committee wished to interview the Minister for the purpose of pushing forward the railway to Woodvillo. Mr Mitchelson said he intended to push on tho railway as fast as possible, but ho did not think it could bo opened to Tahoraito till January next, but ho Avisbed to open to Matamau as early as possible. With regard to Masterton to Woodville thore had been great troublo with tho contractors, hut satisfactory progress Avas noAV being made. Both sections from Woodville to Masterton and from Woodville to Napior, had exceeded tho votes for the Avorks which had. boon passed by Parliament. Mr Tanner .enquired if last year's votes hM beon exponded, or whother any of tho amounts of tho previous year had not been allowed to lapse P The Secretary said, according to the figures' of tho allocation of the Public Works Statement, £30,000 had not yet been expended. Mr Mitcholson said it was intended to take a vote out of loan next session for tho piu--poso of proceeding with tho work. It was tho intention of tho Government to tako a vote out of tho loan to complete the work as fast as possible. Without going into anothor loau it would be impossible to complete the line. It was always known that tho amount voted Avas not eufticiont for the completion of the line.

Mr W C. Smith thought there Avas a misapprehension as regarded tho £55,000 voted last year. That had been all spent. Mr Tannor said tho blame rested Avith their representatives in not getting sufficient money voted for tho lino. Mr Smith said it Avas not fair of MiTanner to attack the representatives. What Avas asked was that tho lino should be completed to Woodvillo from this end. With tho other section thoy had nothing to do, an 4 their interference Avould have boon resented by the Wairarapa members. Mr Tanner, said tho breaks in the lino from Wellington was the causo of much loss. A line could not be expected to pay Avith gaps hero and there. It would bo an advantage to havo tho lino completed throughout. Mr McVay said it was no part of their business to push on tho Masterton to Woodville section; in fact it. would not be for the interest of the province to;do so.

Mr Mitchelson said the opening to Matamau,. speaking as tho result of his personal observation, Avould "bo mado in. about tAvo months' timo. #Ir Kinross said thero was a great deficiency of rolling stock on the lines. Mr Mitchelson said that was the case all over the colony. A large number of engines AToukl arrive shortly. Trucks and carriages Were made in tho colony. '" Mr Kinross: Will thoy bo sent up bore, or loft at Wellington. : Mr Mitchelson : Wellington is avcll supplied. Carriages were hoav being ordered, as" comfortable as those on tho Southern lines.,., - . > M/r.McVay said tho carriages ou tho other lines wero moro comfortable than thoso used on tho Napier line. Tho carriages''on tho local line wero not at all suitable for a long journey. ' Mr Mitchelson said, if tho Napior people preferred ; tho American carriages, thoy could liavo them. Four Avere now being mado/, at a cost uf £800 each, and Avould soon be''finished. Mr Kinross said they had Avrittcn to tho Government for the remission of 3d por balo charged on avool, between Hastings and hero.' ThO imposition of that charge meant a loss to the railway of 6000 bales per annum.. On the Bluff lino that charge was not made.

Mr Tanner said there were no extra hands

employed because of that, therefore there wiis no extra oxpense, ho he did not knoAV -why wool should be singled out specially for that charge.

Mr Mitchelson said ho would take a note

of that. /■'" Mr Miller said tho rise in tho tariff avuh also appreciable. Wool could be/carted for lOd, Avliich by rail bale. The threepence was, however, the sore point.

Mr Mitchelson said the subject had never been montioned to him. Mr Neal said tho point was that, at present rates, drays could beat the rail. Mr Mitchelson said tho intention of altering the tariff Avas to make it so low for short distances, that carts could not compete against the rail. Of course mistakes in such a case were almost unavoidable. Mr Knowles said Mr Maxwell had as good as promised that the threepence por bale would be abolished. Mr Tanner said it must be understood that the Chamber avus not following the lead of thoso down Jsouth in objecting to the tariff; it was only objecting to the special charge. (Left sitting).