CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 845, 9 March 1877, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

An ordinary committee meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held at 2.30 p.m yesterday. Present —Messrs P. Cunningham (chairman), Stead, Inglis, Anderson, B Richardson, Hassal, Duncan, Palmer, Connal, Maepherson, Turner, Bird (hon sec).

The Hon J. Young, Canadian Commissioner, at present visiting Christchurch, on his way to the exhibition to be held in Sydney during next month, having expressed a wish to meet the committee of the Chamber, was present by invitation, and occupied a seat near the chairman.

The chairman said the first business would require very little explanation at his hands. That morning ha had been favored with an introduction to the Hon Mr Young, who was about to visit the Sydney exhibition on behalf of the Canadian Government. Mr Young had expressed a wish to meet the Chamber before leaving for the South, which ho purposed doing the following morning, and he (the chairman) had at once invited him to be present that afternoon to give them some idea of the nature of his mission to the colonies, as such information might result in mutual advantage both to Canada and New Zealand. | Hear, hear.] He felt quite sure that any service the Chamber could render Mr Young would be willingly rendered—[Hear, hear] —and personally he would give that gentleman all the information he possibly could. He would now ask Mr Young to addri ss them. Mr Young said he was very much obliged to the president for having given him the opportunity of making a few observations to the Chamber. His object in visiting the colonies was to be present at the Sydney exhibition. At the late exhibition held in Philadelphia, Canada had largely exhibited productions of that Dominion, consisting of various kinds, but principally machinery These had secured so much attention that the ’commissioners representing Australasia had communicated with the Canadian Govern • ment, expressing a wish that the majority of the exhibits might be sent to the Sydney exhibition to be held there on 10th April next This desire was endorsed by those exhibitors present from Sydney, and his Government then consented to pay all freights and charges connected with the removal and transit of the exhibits. The ship Escort had been loaded with them at New York, and another vessel called the Gem at Montreal, both cargoes being solely of Canadian manufacture. Conditions had been entered into that the exhibits would remain the property of the exhibitors. The Canadian Government deemed this to be a fitting opportunity of intimating to the Governments of the Australasian Colonies their earnest desire to extend commercial relations

with their own great colony (Canada). He had been selected by the Government to re* present Canada, and on landing at Auckland thought he ought to take the opportunity of learning all be could about the different provinces of New Zealand before proceeding to Sydney, He had communicated with the Chambers of Commerce at Auckland and Wellington, and had the honor of an interview with his Excellency the Governor, to whom he had explained his mission. His Excellency had agreed with him that bonds of amity and commerce might be cemented between these colonies and the Canadian Dominion. His present object was to give the Chamber a similar explanation, so that if so desired they might send a commissioner to Sydney to inspect and report upon the Canadian products, and if found suitable for the requirements of the colony, to encourage their importation, as the machinery manufactured in Canada could be imported as cheaply from there as from any other part of the world. It was the desire of his Government to make arrangements by which machinery and all kinds of agricultural implements (in the manufacture of which Canada had taken the lead) might find a market throughout the Australasias. Canada was noted for the superior classes of edged tools she manufactured, and also the various kinds of dredging machines used throughout the Dominion of their own make. In this department, especially, she occupied a foremost position in the world, as without a knowledge of the fact they would have hut little idea of the amount of dredging alone that had been done in the St Lawrence river. If the Chamber thought it worth while to represent to the Government the desirableness of sending some gentlemen to report upon the Canadian products, his remarks would not have been made in vain. Canada had made very rapid strides, not only in the manufacture of machinery, but also in many other directions. A railway had been commenced across the continent to the Pacific Ocean, which would save a distance of 750 miles to those crossing to China. The work of surveying that railway had now been going on for the last two years, and already about two-thirds of the line was located. The present Government of Canada was pushing on with the work steadily, and it was contemplated that it would be completed in about fifteen years. The people of these colonies were as much interested in that railway as were the Canadian people. [Mr Young proceeded to show ?he route of the line of railway from a map on the table.] If any gentleman present desired to question him upon any of the subjects he had referred to, or anything connected generally with Canada, he would be only too happy to reply to him. [Applause.] The Chairman said he thought the Chamber owed Mr Young great thanks for having given them such an interesting explanation of the objects of his mission. It would, he felt, be to the interests of New Zealand to know as much as possible about the productions of Canada, from which the colony might derive considerable advantage. They had all beard much about the valuable machinery manufactured in America, and, in his opinion, it would be to the advantage of New Zealand if the Government were to send a commissioner to the Sydney Exhibition, and also to all others for which it was likely they would derive any benefit. That remark brought up the question as to whether the Chamber ought not to be represented at Sydney, and later in the afternoon he would ask the committee for an expression of opinion on this matter, In reply to a member,

Mr Young said the exhibits would only be under the control of the commissioner during the Exhibition, after that time they would revert to the exhibitors or their agents.,* Mr Haasal desired to ask whether, among the exhibits forwarded to Sydney, there were any agricultural machines. Mr Young replied that the greater portion of the machinery was for agricultural purposes.

Mr Hassal said they had heard of a new reaping and binding machine that was likely to give valuable results where employed. He would like to know if there was a machine of this kind among the exhibits. Mr Young said he was not quite sure whether there was such a machine on board, but would know on his arrival at Sydney. Mr Hassal said that Canterbury was principally a pastoral and agricultural country. There was not much timber in this part of the island, though there was abundance in other paits, and, at least on the Canterbury plains, agricultural machinery would be most appreciated. Mr Young said he had to leave for Dunedin by coach on the following morning, and would be better able to judge of what would in his opinion be the most suitable after his overland journey. He could of course only speak from what he had heard; but from the information given him he thought the machinery he had referred to would be the very thing to suit the settlers’ requirements hero, This machinery was largely used on the level plains of Western Canada, and there being plenty of scope to bring them into full play, the settlers there derived vast benefit from their use. He thought the settlers here would find this machinery adapted in every respect to the level plains iu this country.

The Chairman said before Mr Young left, he would like to propose a vote of thanks to him for the explanation he had given them, and he thought he might safely say the Chamber would do all in their power to forward Mr Young’s mission, [Applause.] He had very great pleasure in conveying to Mr Young the thanks of the Chamber. [Applause,] Mr Young, in acknowledging the vote, said he was very glad that he had come to New Zealand. He should not fail to give a good accountof what be hadseen and learned about New Zealand on his return home. He would have to speak of its splendid scenery, and also he hoped of its capabilities as an agricultural country. New Zealand was only in its infancy yet, and great success was yet in store for her people. They might be able to judge how large and important their works might become from those in his own country. There it had been found that works undertaken fifty years ago were found altogether too small as they progressed year by year. He might instance where they had made canals 15ft wide they had subsequently to increase the width to 2,2, 26, and 40ft feet respectively to enable them to carry the traffic through. In two years they would have 1000 ton vessels coming down from Lake Superior to carry back merchandise to New York New Zealand he felt had a great future before her, and few could look forward and estimate truly the greatness of that future. What teemed large now would

in a few years look comparatively small. From his own observation he had no doubt the colony was only in its infancy, and would grow in advancement, and reach dimensions far beyond their present expec tations. Members having bade Mr Young goon bye that gentleman retired, and the ordinary committee business was then proceeded with. . , .. After discussion, the following resolution was agreed to—“ That the chairman communicate with the General Government that this Chamber is of opinion that a commissioner should be appointed for the Middle Island, to visit the Sydney Exhibition and report upon the various agricultural and other labor saving implements exhibited there The following letter in reply, was read from the Department of the Minister of Justice :

“Department of Justice, “ Wellington, February 15th, 1877. “Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Don the Minister of Justice, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the Bth inst, in which you urge that the law that absentees cannot be sued in a Resident Magistrate’s Court, except by consent of their attornies, should be amended.

“ In reply, I am to state that the Hon the Minister of Justice agrees with you in the importance of the question, and that it will be considered at once with a view to amended legislation. “ I have the honor to be, sir, “ Your most obedient servant, “R. G. Fountain, “ Under Secretary. “ Chairman of Canterbury Chamber of “ Commerce, Christchurch."

The selection of a site for a chamber was considered in committee, as also a letter as to the advisability of introducing into the Public Works Act a bye-law under which the traffic manager could be sued in the Resident Magistrate’s Court for damages caused to goods in transit by railway. The committee then adjourned.