OTOROHANGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 458, 20 April 1912, Page 5

OTOROHANGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IMPROVMENTS URGED. A meeting of the Oturohanga Chamber of Commerce was held in Mr Willis' room on the evening of Tuesday, April 16th, 1912. The president (Mr J. Willis) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members.

The secretary read a"copy of a letter sent to the superintendent of the Telegraph Department regarding better telephonic communication with To Awamutu, and also read a copy of letter sent to the general manager of the Railway Department with respect to connecting the station with the local telephone bureau, and aIBO asking to have the thistles and noxious weeds removed from the entrance to the railway station. Notice of motion was given to move at next meeting that the Chamber of Commerce be incorporated under the Unclassified Society Act.

Hall and Municipal Offices.—-Mr Whyte reported that a deputation had waited on the Town Council according to arrangements in reference to the proposed town hall, and that the council had shelved the matter by postponing it to another meeting when there would probably bo a new council.

Mr Green moved and Mr Clayton seconded that the former deputation again wait or. the new council and try r to come to Borno arrangement regarding a hall. Rating.—Mr Forater brought up tho matter of rating in tho township, and said the manner of valuing properties had caused inconsistencies in tho ratable valua. He understood the valuer was instructed to value only the places that had not been valued wtihin tho last five years. As the place had gone ahead considerably since that valuation it meant that any new buildings were rated higher than older ones. — Messrs Whyte and Green proposed that Messrs Clayton and Phillips bo a committee to look over the valuation roll, and make extracts showing any special inconsistencies in the ratable values and to report at next meeting. Public Pound.—The Chamber decided upon the necessity of a pound, and the hall deputation are to bring the matter before the Town Council. Main Trunk Railway. Messrs Whyte and Cooke proposed that a committee consisting of Messrs Willis, Green, Forster and Whyte draft a letter to the Minister for Railways demonstrating the various points in favour of making Otorohanga a stopping place for the Main Trunk express trains, and if unable to get the present train to Btop for a few minutes to request the Minister to bear it in mind when drawing up a time-table for the proposed Becond express. Train Service with Te Kuiti. — Messrs Phillips and Clayton proposed that the secretary write to th« To Kuiti and Te Awamutu Chambers of Cortimerce with a view to agitating for an afternoon train between To Kuiti and Frankton.