Annual Meeting.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7927, 7 October 1904, Page 7

Annual Meeting.

_ The annual meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce was then held, the President, Mr Hurley, presiding. There were about twenty members present, including eight members of the Council. ..'■;■■'

The annual report set out the financial j position of the Chamber as follows: — Estimated surplus 1903,4, £58 4s lOd ; estimated receipts 1904-5, £57: total, £115 4s lOd. Of this amount the secretary had collected to date £42 10s. . At the present time there was £39 9s 4d in hand, and the secretary reported the position of the Chamber as sound. The President, in his address to the members said that during the past year the colony had been very prosperous. He referred to the commercial conditions of the district, dealing particularly with its staple products, and, continuing, he said as an indication of the progress o£ the town, that sincere beginning of April last permits for tue erection of buildings, valued at £60,000, had been issued by the Borough Council, a practical proof people had "ia the future of the town. Brick buildings were taking tha place of wood, the idea being that the town had come to stay and would not suffer from any trade fluctuations; its aiza would now keep it going. The chamber "had"done more j work during the past year than at any time since us institution and the work had been very successful, too. He mentioned the various matters that had be§n dealt with during the year, including the alterations effected in the Pal-merston-Poxton timetable, the milk supply, night telephone Bervice, the Pahiatua road, drainage matters in P»l----merston, the Ngawhakarau road, the Supreme.-Court;and" Registrar, prison accommodation, the latter not yet provided but promised, OhUf Post Office for Palmerston and Savings Bank, a subsidy to the PohangJna County Council' by the Palmerston Borough Council towards the Ponangina bridge and also steps in connection with the Gorge.' road through Fitzherberfc East. Mr Harding, howevar, was averse to the formation of the road till a bridge was ereoted at the Gorge. Regarding bridges the, President saia a j steel bridge was required here, not only | .to deal with traffic from the other side of the range, but also for the safe conveyance of the water supply to the town. If would coat,., between £7000 ana £8000 to tunnel under the river, while a steel bridge would cost between £16,000 and «18,000. The latter. was.' absolutely necessary. Reverting to the Chamber the President said that the membership q£ the Chamber was now 115, and as regarded the the Council, the members had worked very well during the year and had endeavoured in'every way to forward the interests of the 'district so far as the Chamber could do. .'•'"

Several questions were asked regarding outstanding vsubscriptions, &c, and the balance sheet and report were then adopted as read. '

Messrs.G. J. Scott andC. Brown were elected auditors," arid -Messrs Cohen, Harden. J. A. Nash, Freeth, Cooper, Barraud, Beck, Abraham, Lang, Johnston, Hodder, and yi, Dixon members of the Council. ~ ": ■ ■

: It was decided on Mr J. A. Hash's proposal that £1010s should bedonated to the Beautifying Society. /-- v. , After slight discussion it was also decided to donate £5 5s to the High School iunds, an amendment by Mr M. Cohen eliminating the word " annually " contained in the original motion. 'A.deputation of drovers was introduced by M» J. A. Nash in support of tb c petition referred by the Council to the/, annual meeting. Mr Nash explained the desires of,the petitioners as Stated in the petition, and Mr W-Treeweek-explained' how they thought the proposed fence': should,be erected. The President said the matter would receive the serious consideration of the Council,: particularly since it seemed to have something to do'with the trade of the town. , ' ■'.'■ • ■■":• '■'■'■' <'■''■■ ::--w ■.. s

■ Mr Cohen expressed ;the. thanks and J appreciation of the Council and members of the Chamber to the.retiring President for the latter's services during the year. The Council had prospered beyond all expectations -and the interest taken by the President in.it was responsible for that success, v He thought the meeting should not adjourn without expressing in somei wayits high, appreciation of the able manner in which tlio duties of his office, had been sustained by'the Pfesi.dent and: the debt they owed- him in that particular, v He had very, much pleasure m moving-a vote of thanks to the President for his services during-his term, of ■officcV'--.;-:;,1:"-':';-1;-;'.-'-- '/VN-.V- -■v; -v:;;.■.;:■.■ ■;-.

In seconding the mbtibd Mr.Hodder! said the President was. remarkably •well fitted to; fill ■ the position arid ;he had

given a greaii deal of timß to the work'; Mr Hodder! considered the town owed a deblr'qf gratittide toi'Mr Hurley. - : i The motion was;•'; put -"-by Mir Cohen and carried with acclamation; V The' compliment was ■acknowledged by the. President, who said he felt that durms; the past, year the Chamber had done a lot of good work and had provedthat it was a, want in the town and able to do something good for both the town and district; He extended his hearty thanks' for the • vote of thanks', ■ which he had not looked for, considering that he had only carried.'out the duties of,his office; v The meeting then adjourned.

At a subsequent meeting of the Council Mr J. A. Nash was elected President,Mr Hurley declining re-election, Mr J. T. Lane, vice-President, and Mr W. Beck, Treasurer.