CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3846, 22 June 1875, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly meeting of this body was held this afternoon. There was a large attendance, and Mr E. B. Cargill presided. The following resolutions brought forward by the committee were agreed to ; “ (1.) That the room be opened aS a general exchange daily, between the hours of 11 and 2, to subscribers (not being members of the Chambe:) of half-a guinea per annum if resident in the country, and two guineas per annum if resident or having their places of business in Dunedin. (2.) That a circular containing the apove intimation be issued to farmers and others in the country, and that an advertise rnent to the same effect be inserted in the 1 Witness,’ ‘ Southern Mercury,’ and 1 Bruce Her,aid’ for one month, pointing out the advantages offered by the arrangement in the initiation of a. recognised com exchange in Dunedin. (3.) That strangers non-resident in the Province, visiting Dunedin, be admitted to the Exchange room on being introduced by a member of the Chamber, such introduction to stand good for any period not exceeding two months.” On Air Reeves’s motion, the Chamber agreed to recognise Wednesdays and Saturdays as days specially appropriated for con* exchange purposes. Air H. M'Neill was unanimously re-elected one of the Chamber’s representatives at the Harbor Board.

The following resolutions were unanimously agreed to “ That it is'highly desirable, in the interests of the mercantile community, that a copy of the new Insolvency Act, which is understood to be in preparation by the Government, should be placed before the Chamber before the meeting of the Assembly, that the opportunity may so be afforded of offering any suggestions with reference thereto.” The Commissioner of Customs, writing under date June 15, intimated having taken into consideration the question of relaxing _ the rule of deposits on “clearing sight entries,” and that the Collector of Customs has received instructions to take a guarantee from ships’, agents, and only to demand the deposit from such as may be found lax in fulfilling the terms of their guarantee; making the deposit the exception and not the rule. Mr Reynolds added“l need hardly say that the successful carrying out of the arrangements will very much depend on the ships’ agents themselves, and the railway authorities strictly enforcing their rule of charging an extra rate per ton per day on all goods left in or not cleared from the railway sheds in due time, and I have no doubt but that the Customs Department will receive the willing co-operation of your Chamber in ensuring this result.” The ~ Acting-Commissioner of Telegraphs wrote intimating that the department would be prepared to furnish the Chamber with telegrams notifying the arrivals and departures at such ports as the Chamber may desire, of all or such steamers as it named, at the uniform rate of threepence per telegram. The Chairman, at the request of Mr Ramsay, who had been obliged to leave the meeting, read the following letter, addressed to the latter by Mr J. Weymouth, of Auckland : <c Mr Hill, of the Customs, has recommended mo to write to you on the following subject. A brother of mine, who is the secretary at Lloyd’s register of shipping, Loudon, has asked me to recommend to him the ports in New Zealand at which it would be advisable to appoint surveyors, and, if possible, the poison at each port who would be most suitable to x-eceive such appointment. I intend to name Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers as the ports. The emolument to the appointee will not be large, and will entirely depend on the amount j.of surveying required; there would, howevex be a good prestige. It is therefore necessary that the person should be in a good position, aud be one_ to whom the fees would be a secondary consideration. It is, of course, indispensable that he be well acquainted with tho requirements of a sea-going vessel. He ought to be able to get himself recommended by tho principal merchants and insurance offices of Dunedin and the Port,” Captain Thomson had obtained tiro permission of tho Government to accept tho appointment if offered to him. Captain Thomson had been recommended, aud perhaps tbo Chamber miglxt see fit to pass a resoluiiou expressing its opinion that he was a most fitting person to hold the appointment. Air Tewrley objected to such an important matter, which might conflict with another movement, being hurriedly discussed, and as there appeared to be a general exit of members the meeting was hastily dissolved without any action being taken upon the letter •