CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 753, 17 November 1876, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The quarterly general meeting of the members of the Chamber was held Thursday at 3 p.m. Present—Messrs Cunningham (chairman), Nathan, Hassal, Anderson, Henderson, Jenkins, Walton, Inglis, Revans, Gobs, Palmer, Laurie, Day, Carruthers.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The chairman said he had written to Dr Foster, enclosing him the honorarium which was voted by the Chamber. The committee felt that the time had arrived when the Chamber should have a building of their own to meet in. The committee had instructed him to advertise for sites for such a building, and two offers of sites had been received. It was necessary first that some resolution should be proposed empowering the committee to proceed with the erection of a building.

Mr Hassal said he would move—" That in the opinion of this Chamber it is necessary that steps be taken to erect a building for the purposes of the Chamber, and that a site be secured." He had long been of opinion that it was necessary to have a building for the purposes of the Chamber, and, as the price of land would not be lower than it was now, he thought they could not do better than at once take up the matter. He felt that the carrying out of such a scheme would conduce greatly to the prosperity of the Chamber. Mr Day seconded the motion. He would suggest that a sub-committee, consisting of the chairman, vice-chairman, and Messrs Palmer and Hassal, be appointed to select a. suitable site, to report to the Chamber. Mr Hassal quite agreed with Mr Day's suggestion, and would ask leave to incorporate it in his resolution. Mr Inglis would observe that, as the suggestion came from the committee, it would be as well that the matter should again come through them. Mr Nathan would like to see the committee invested with full power to act. Ho would ask Mr Hassal to put on the resolution the following words : " The subcommittee to report to the committee at ar>

early date, the committee to have full power to act in the matter of procuring Bite, &c." Mr Hassal had no objection to this being done. The resolution ultimately passed as follows :—" That in the opinion of this Chamber it is necessary that steps be taken to erect a building for the purposes of the Chamber, and to secure a site. That a sub-committee be appointed, comprising the chairman, deputy-chairman, and Messrs Hassal and Palmer. The sub-committee to report to the committee at an early date, and the committee to have full power to act." The chairman said it was satisfactory to find that a Harbor Board Bill had been passed, and it now became very necessary for the Chamber to see that the very best men were selected to serve upon it. There was a slight alteration in the Bill since they drafted it, two members elected by the county of Selwyn having been added. Under the Bill the Harbor and Pilot Department, the management of wharves, jetties, dredges, &c, vested in the Board, so that it was necessary that they should take care that the best members were returned. There was one thing that he could hardly understand, and that was that the Bill waß to come into force on the Ist December, but the first election of the Board did not take place till the first week in January. The election cf the members by the Chamber of Commerce could be conducted by them in whatever way they liked, In answer to Mr Hassal, The Chairman said that the only endowment was the handing over of the wharves and jetties completed, and some £29,000, which was to be devoted to the completion of the breakwaters. In answer to Mr Hassal,

The chairman said that there was no provision for members' expenses except travelling expenses. Mr Palmer—ls there any provision for free passes on railways ? The chairman said that he thought the Board would see that the Chriscchurch members' railway fare would be paid. The Government suggested that there should be a harbour improvement rate of 2s per ton, The railway would be empowered to collect the dues, and hand over tbe amount to the Board. The whole of the wharfage dues payable on the wharves would be revenue of the Board.

Mr Palmer asked who was the authority to set the machinery in motion ? Who was to call the Board together ? The chairman said the Act provided that the Board should be constituted under the prov'sions of the Local Elections Act, 1876, whatever they were. Mr Jenkins asked whether the £29,000 referred to included the amount due on the present contract, or was it for further improvements. The chairman said he thought that this amount was for further improvements. He might say that although the Bill was not exactly what they had drafted, still it was a very liberal one. Mr Nathan thought it was necessary that the chairman should be instructed to take legal opinion upon the steps to be taken to bring the Board into operation. He would move --" That the chairman be instructed to take such steps as he may deem necessary to bring the Harbor Board Bill into operation." Mr Jenkins seconded the motion.

Mr Hassal said, without wishing to be troublesome to the chairman, he should like it to be clearly understood what was the exact position of the £29,000. Would this amount cover the contracts now in operation, and provide for further extension of wharfage accommodation and breakwaters ? The chairman replied that he understood that it would. Mr Nathan's motion was then put and •greed to, Mr Palmer moved—" That the thanks of the Chamber be given to the members of the House of Representatives for Christchurch and Lyttelton for their exertions in passing the Harbor Board Bill." Mr Walton seconded the motion, which was carried. The chairman said he was glad to be able to report that, as regarded the long-delayed question of public buildings, he had been informed by Mr Richardson that the plans would be in Christchurch that day for his approval. He might say also that he had received a copy of the proposed rules under the Amended Debtors and Creditors Act. In this all the forms were provided for, but the one necessary to make a man bankrupt. He should call a committee meeting to consider them, as Mr Bowen had requested him to forward any amendments. Mr Hassal said he thought they would be wanting in their duty if they did not pass a very cordial vote of thanks for the trouble and pains their chairman had taken with regard to the Harbor Board Bill. [Hear, hear.l He had been most zealous in the work, and he therefore begged to move—- «* That the cordial thanks of the Chamber be given to the chairman for his exertions with jegard to the Harbor Board Bill." .Mr Nathan had much pleasure in seconding the motion. The jesolution was then put and carried by acclamation. The meeting then adjourned.