CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 493, 13 June 1866, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held at the office, Taystreet. The following gentlemen were present: — Messrs. Law (Chairman), "Watson, A.damson, Blacklock, Wood, Menzies. Eeynolds, Calder M'Pherson, and Brodriek. POSTAL SERVICE. The Chairman wished to call the attention of the Chamber to the necessity of some alteration being made in the existing arrangements of the postal service. He might mention that since the coming into operation of the Panama service, the published time-table recently issued, which allowed the steamer to remain five days at Port Chalmers after she left the Bluff, was calculated to inflict great injustice upon this Province. It might be that an oversight was made as regards the time of departure of the mail steamer from the Bluff — it was the most charitable way to look at it, — but yet he thought that an expression of opinion upon the course to be pursued was highly desirable. He, therefore, would leave the matter in the hands of the Chamber. Mr Calder was unaware, until very . recently, of the time pf the arrival op 4e«

parture of the steamers by the new route. Surely some typographical error must have been made. Yet, whilst he admitted that it was a great hardship, he would be disposed to be very reasonable in demanding any concession from the General Government on this subject. Dunedin possessed large interests, and was consequently entitled to a corresponding amount of consideration; but still he was decidedly of opinion that an alteration in the present arrangements was highly desirable. Mr Watson thought that the principal consideration that ought to weigh with the Chamber was the desirability ofintimating to the Greneral G-overnment the necessity of providing another steamer to call at the Bluff during the month. At present there were only two, and he thought that this was insufficient. Mr Adamson coincided with Mr Watson. Mr Blacldock said that it ought to be the desire of every merchant, and also every -well wisher of the Province — that i quick and constant postal communication shouldbe secured. lleimgbb say that itwas ' the groundwork of prosperity. "Why should we be placed in a worse position in this respect than our neighbors. The Bluff Harbor was infinitely better than Port Chalmers as a port of entry or departure. There was a magnificent jetty, a line of railway would shortly connect the chief town of the Province with that place, and it would be questionable policy that did not advocate the outgoing mail steamer remaining at the Bluff three days longer than was at present contemplated. Mr Reynolds thought that other interests beside Southland was at stake in this matter. The Lake district would be debarred from participating in the natural advantage of being placed in. close proximity to a seaport town. The inhabitants of "that nourishing and important district, instead of by right having the mail service performed regularly and erpeditiously by way of Invercargill to the ocean steamers, would be obliged to lose several days under the existing postal arrangements. He contended that in any action that might be taken by the Chamber on this subject, it would be advisable to communicate with the members representing the Lake district in the House of Eepresentatives. The Chairman concurred in the importance of the suggestion of the last Speaker. Mr Calder would be in favor of presenting a memorial to the General Assembly on the subject. Dr Menzies said that the propel course to be pursued would be to forward a memorial to the Hon. Postmaster General. It peculiarly appertained to his .department. If further action was necessary, it would then rest with the Cabinet, who would, 'no doubt, lay it before the General Assembly. He might state that he was of opinion there would not be any alteration madeintheexistingarrangements, inasmuch as the contract was only for six months, but that would not prevent the Chamber, representing the mercantile interest of the Province, from taking present action. It might, and must probabl} r would, havea beneficial influence on any future contract, or possibly some additional accommodation, as far as Southland was concerned, might be entered into. For his own part, he would gladly aid any undertaking that would be for the common good. His services would be at their disposal for any beneficial measure during the next session. Mr. Wood would be most happy to forward the views of the Chamber to obtain a fair share of attention being paid to the wants of Southland, especially in connection with the mail steam service. He might speak for his colleagues also, and say as much for them. He would take particular care, on his arrival in Wellington, to meet those interested in tins question, and endeavor to come to some arrangement of a more satisfactory nature than existed at present. Mr Calder suggested, that as Mr Dillon Bell was the oldest member, he should be entrusted with the memorial. Ho was influential, and, he thought, should be paid the compliment. A long and desultory conversation then ensued, during which the Secretary, Mr. Nutter, read a memorial that after some slight alterations, was adopted by the Chamber. It was also resolved that copies of the same should be forwarded to the members of the General Assembly for the Province, with the understanding that the co-operation of the Lake members should be invited. We are unable to place before our readers at present the memorial, owing to the necessary alterations to be made;