The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 139, 19 July 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1865.

A general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, convened for Monday, was held at three o'clock yesterday afternoon, when C. J. Pharazyn, Esq., Chairman ; £. Pearce, Esq., Vice-Chairman ; Messrs. Johnston, Owen, Turnbull, A. P. Stuart, Dransfleld, Krull, Nathan, Bethune, Hunter, and Stokes, were present. After the minutes of the last special general meeting had been read and confirmed, Mr. G. Hunter made some objections to the tone of an article on the subject of the Chamber's reply to the Attorney-Gene-ral's Circular, which appeared in a late issue of the Independent. The Chamber were unanimous in supporting Mr. Hunter's opinions of the tone of the article referred to, and expressed their disapproval of the habit of attacking public men with low personalities. The Chairman and other members were glad to say that most of the papers in the other provinces did not endorse the opinions of the Independent, as they had seen that both the New Zealander and the Otago Daily Times had quoted the reply to the AttorneyGeneral's circular which had drawn down the attack. The subject then dropped, and the business of the meeting, which was the Atonsideration of the system of levying customs duties in this port, was commenced by Mr. Nathan, who stated there was no regular tariff, and that mercantile men were unable to leara what articles vere free, and what not. Mr. Nathan further remarked that for vinegar in bulk he had no duty to pay, whereas when bottled he had. A great deal of discussion ensued. Every one acknowledged that the present system was a crying grievance throughout the colony ; and finally, as the best means of remedying it, Mr. Johnston proposed and Mr. Bethune seconded the following resolution :—": — " That a committee, to consist of Messrs. Pharazyn, Turnbull» Woodward, Owen, Bannatyne, Krull, and Nathan, be appointed carefully to consider the present tariff, and to bring the matter to the knowledge of the representatives of the

city in the Legislative Council, in ordor that it may be brought forward during the coming session." There being no other business to transact, the meeting separated shortly after four o'clock. The p.s, Rangatira, Captain Mundle, from Auckland arrived at noon to-day. " Sir George Grey's Lament," which appeared in yesterday's issue, should have been quoted from Dunedin Punch. Mr. Borlase will this evening move, at th? sitting of the Provincial Council, that all Government work, except in cases of emergency, shall be offered to public competition. Mr. Watt will move for a return of all the land sold in the Waitotaro Block since that block was opened for selection. Mr. Borlase's motion relative to small farm settlements is postponed to Fri lay next. A correspondent of the New Zealander observes that, owing to the Bombay not having arrived at Galle in due time with th c mail, which carried a copy of the Weld Ministry's memorandum as to General Sir Duncan Cameron, the despatch sent home by General Cameron will arrive in time to be read side by side with the memorandum. The charge against Charles, B. Oliver, of having written and published a seditious libel, cnagaged the attention of the Resident Magistrate for four days, and terminated in the committal of Mr. Oliver for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. The ships Carmen, Auguita, and Gravina, from Valparaiso, brought 32,000 bags of Chilian flour to Aukland, last week, which will have the effect of still further lowering the price of breadstufEs. The (Southern Cross, July 11, says ;— The following telegram, with respect to the peace negotiations, has been received from Mr. George Graham: — "Ngopara and chiefs kindly welcomed me. They wish for a general peace, and agree with what Thomson has done. Messengers have been sent to those in arms and others, and they propose another meeting. 1 left Hangitiki on Saturday."