CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 264, 16 April 1875, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The usual monthly general meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday afternoon. Present—Messrs L. E. Nathan (chairman), Dymock, Gobs, Roper, Fletcher, Cuff, Hargreaves. Macpherson, H. Matson, Connal, Inglis, Hutchinson, A. Puncan, and Bird (hon sec.) The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman said that since they had last met, in accordance with a resolution of the chamber, he had requested an audience with the Executive on the subject of a later train to Lyttelton, and also with reference to the intentions of the Government regarding the construction of a graving dock at Lyttelton. He was sorry to say that at the time appointed by the Executive for the interview, Mr Macpherson, who was to accompany him was unwell and unable to go with him. At the interview which took place, the Executive expressed their willingness to carry out the wish of the Chamber of having a later train to Lyttelton, if they could do so with the present railway staff and rolling stock. The Secretary for Public Works stated that at the present time there was a great strain on the rolling stock, and before he could accede to the wish of the Chamber he would have to confer with the traffic manager. He expressed himself as quite willing to give the suggestion a fair trial, if after consulting the traffic manager he found that this extra work would not be too great a strain on the rolling stock. He (the chairman) must say at the same time that he quite "agreed with a remark made at the interview that this was the wrong season to try the change, and that it would be more likely to prove remunerative or re-imburse the expense incurred if tried in the spring or beginning of summer. Up to the present time he had received no official reply, but this no doubt was owing to the complications which had lately arisen in the Provincial Council, The reply on the

question of the graving dock had been anticipated by the papers relating to it having been laid on the table of the Council, a copy of which appeared in the Globe on the 23rd March. He trusted the Government would not lose sight of this important work, and would go on with it if the reports were found to be satisfactory. He had also seen Mr Lawson, traffic manager, with reference to the resolution introduced by Mr Connal, desiring more information to be furnished in the way-bills, and that gentleman had expressed his willingness to supply the marks, and numbers of packages as they arrived at the railway station—[Hear, hear"] —and would if possible continue the system in the monthly accounts. He (the chairman) might mention that the time for which the money had been invested by the committee in the Provincial Investment and Loan Association had expired, and it had been further invested for six months at the increased interest of 7 per cent. At the last committee meeting, Mr Murray-Aynsley had expressed his intention of giving notice of motion to alter rule 20, which provides for monthly meetings being held, with a desire of holding them quarterly. Mr Aynsley, with himself and others, felt the difficulty experienced in getting a quorum of members together at the monthly meetings of the Chamber. As that gentleman was not present, the motion could not be considered at the next general meeting if a notice were not then given signed by five members. Mr Inglis did not think there would be any difficulty in getting five members to sign such a notice, and as it would be as well that it should be generally known that such a motion would be brought forward at the next meeting of the Chamber; he would, in the absence of Mr Murray-Aynsley, obtain the necessary names, and give the required notice.

Mr Hargreaves remarked upon the late alteration made by the Government in the storage of timber. He thought that a reasonable time should be allowed to importers before they were charged storage—at least twelve hours before a charge was made. He was not at that moment prepared with a resolution, but he felt the subject was sufficiently important for the Chamber to express an opinion upon it, and the committee to take in hand.

In reply to Mr Macpherson, Mr Hargreaves said that it took about twenty-four hours to measure a cargo of timber by specification, and all the drays in Christchurch would not remove an ordinary cargo of timber in twelve hours.

Mr Cuff would also like the committee to represent the heavy charges made for storage on goods sent to Lyttelton for shipment. Mr Hargreaves moved, " That the committee be requested to take into consideration the question of storage and charges on timber and general merchandise, with a view to importers and exporters having a reasonable time allowed for removal of same from the railway station." Mr Cuff seoonded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Duncan asked if anything had been done towards the erection of the public buildings—the post office and telegraph office—in the centre of the town? He considered the present buildings a disgrace to Christchurch, and if no action were being taken, this matter should be brought prominently before the Provincial Council. The chairman said that possibly the estimates soon to be submitted to the Council would include provision for the erection of such important and necessary buildings, as the present ones were not only unsightly but inadequate. Before they met again they would no doubt be in possession of information which would show whether the Government proposed taking any action in this direction. The Chamber then adjourned.