CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. QUARTERLY MEETING Auckland, April 13.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 256, 18 April 1888, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. QUARTERLY MEETI NG Au ckland, April 13.

r !'iu <).i.i! leih nier'mu ot the Chamber of Cojiunri ec \\a- h> Id .it 3 (('clock cm Thursday aiii-moon Their v.cii pie-int: Mr .\. II Nathan (! n -.duit ), 11. \\ itli\ , M.I! I! , A I'oitu. .1 Uiidguu.itu. .1. MeLaehlan. Monk, M tl I! . C. V !'ie'(e, A. Claik, J. A. Count 11. l^.un. C 'Vickm, J Held, M. Claik, C C. McMillan, Dell, i!ieen. Tiiit, Y.ule, and othe-is. Th- ('h.iunvin -~aid that m the intei \al liui' ii.i I i 'aps< d --iiit c last mci ting theie vi nut linn li to l ; poi t. The (.one of bii'-i-n s li.id been quiet, but trio .-tatc o! Uade had no! waii.iiitid any tzieat want of com niLicirl cniiiidi ;i<'i' Tlii' panic thai mis i in until, i -ouic t line L«t m u I'ad passed au a\ , i'Uhl 111 1 ad< i , not h u li- !e~ lie and i et.'til. had -i 1 1 1l Jdoa n to luisim -- Theio u.i-io'i' gic.Ui tatt'Ji in the bellci -tate of lliinu- — < M'.ht had hetu a git-al deal eiiu.uled 'I Li 1 wholesale hou-c-. had -ec m ll.i (Ml- of the long eiedit-. both in theii own mteie-ts and tho>c ot retailcit-, and weie iiou voikinj^ their bu-ine--i tor tin, benefit of ;dl eoneeuied. it- avji^ lack of confidence that had hugely produced the dej)ie.-<ion, but the waj that .share."- in in--ti-tutions w erenow held and their irapio\ed pu'cLs should lead io.i u.tutn ot toutidence. The \alue ot piopei t\ — that i- in leal estate- -had not i^coaied nuieh, but he tell mho that in\( -•! MiLiitv made now at the pie-" nr Imw i,iii- vviuld l>e ] ji otitable 'Y. 1 1. ! iii n et .i -li'^lu poition of the pio~-p\u\ it Inn uvh ago would -.uoti niihi [i.ojic i t\ to ad\auee The "tead^ decita-r ot the intvie-l <_ r i\en by banks mu^t nuiiiee inse.stoi.s to put their monej m la.m Tlk> all le^iettcd the exodut- ot miin i- and ineehanc-, that was at present on '! i> >\ weie tempted b\ the accounts ot piospeious lime- in \<uioiis Aushalian mmmi, ten ie-> rhesc mitrra{lons alwiiN.s took pi iiew l.(ii imninuwas bn-k, though ot (.0 1 -»_ \i t would not lose soiuan\ it ttafk weieiu-ttei luie. Auounts tIu v T had ot th <• who had ijoiie -bowed th.it inatteis weie icall) no better in jN'cu Wale-- ,nd \ Kl'Mia, The di \ elopincnt ot uin niiunrj, aie.it. at the Thame> and llscwlioh would be a means of letaininj: population, while 1 lie provision 0! 1 uid toi '-..t tleiiu nt in small holdings would .t! v o accomplish iiiuch. The home eonsiimption utuin- published showed that diuiii ( _ r ih.e pa-t tew months theie had been .some slight impio\ ement. The exports for the \eu i nded last Sentomber showed a sin phi- o\ei impoi ( s of 1700,000, w hich wa? ■in e\ide.ice that our national resouiees weie not deehninj4 but woic pio»peiin<;. Coldlield matteis had had the attention of (he Conned ot the Chamber, ami ot the public yuiciaih , for the past three 'month-. lhei>onc was looking' in that (liii'uioii ioi the allegation ot the bad stalu o^ commerce. lie noticed that the X S \\ ales (!o\einment weie adopting a Mi^o.stion uhuio by the Chamber to our own (•overnment re the piovision of bineltin«^ w orUs foi rhe testing ot lui^c paicclt.. Ho had hoped that we would ha\e had similar wOl ks hci c, Iso doubt, w hen the goldlields wen 1 moie de\ eloped, the (_\o\ eminent would look to the <_ioldtield.s us, a somceof employment ioi a labomiug population. Timber had .slightly improved, and with respect to the proposal to dispose of some of our laige timber industries, the imprcsbion was that the depression would bo diminished by the releasing of the local capital, and carrying on the industry with foreign mone\ . The Chairman lun ing touched upon the matter of the income tax, representation of Auckland at the Melbourne Exhibition, nod other matters, refoi red the meeting to the quarterly report, saying that he proposed that each mattci therein should be discussed .serial wu The lopoit was then taken as read, North Islam) Tkuxk KaJjjNay. — The Chairman said it was necessary that thi& matter should bo kept constantly before the- merchants of Auckland. He then related the rcbiilt of the recent interview betwoen the Council of the Chamber and Mr Mitchelson. The clause of the report bearing on the North Island Railway was then adopted. Mr McMillan, hoped that all members of the House >vou,lcl be invited to meet the Council ot the Chamber to discuss the matter ot the railway. He also thought that the Chamber should appoint a Vigilance Committee to watch the surveys now being made.— Mr Vaile supported the suggestion of a conference with the members of tho House. — Mr McLaohlan thought that Mr Mitohelson's ofl'or that a number of gentlemen should go over the route should bo taken advantage of. Let them have definite information, and let them not be pledged to one route or another by tho Council. — Mr Aickin said, to pub the position in a nutshell, the financial position of the colony bhelved the central route, as the colony had not got tho £2, 000, 000 to make that lino, wvJ would not havo it for years to corn^. — Mv McMillan &aid that as' laym^ t?Uey could not decide the be&i} roy^e eyeia if they in-

spected it. — Mr Vaile urged thab they should demand a connection with Stratford and stick to their demand. — Mr McLachlan then moved, " Thab the Chamber authorise any of its membeis to take advantage of the ofier of Mr Mitchelson to inspect the route." — Mr McMillan thought this matter should be left to the Council. If the Chamber decided to send representatives, they should send their best men. — Eventually Mr McLachlan withdrew his motion on the understanding that the matter be considered by the Council. Gold-mining Im'kjiicsts.— The portion of the report dealing with gold-mining interests quoted portion^ of letters from Mr E. H. Edwards and Mr J. A. Connell, the former on the desirability of testing low levels by the diamond drill, and the latter on cruararitees of the soundness ot proposed companies. — The Chan man said that, seeing that a company had been foimed to piospecb the deep levels, the Council had taken no action on Mr Ed Harris's letter. He thought Mr Connells proposal scarcely within the scope of the duties of the Chamber.— Mr McMillan moved the adoption of the poi tion of the clause ot the leport dealing with Mr Edwaidh's loiter. The company to which the Chairman had referred had not come to anything, ilethought that the mining people of Auckland andThamcs.-hould put their hands in their pockets for prospecting the deep le\cl.'-, and then they might fauiy ask Government to contribute a sub-idy ot £1 for 11. The cott of the boring, however, would be moie than stated by Mr Edwards.— lt was eventually decided to recommend the matter ot deep level prospecting to the favomablo notice of the Go\ eminent. Mr Council's suggestion then came on for discussion. It wan strongly opposed by Mr McMillan and Mr Poiter, and was eventually leferred to the Council to report on. JUnkkimtcy. — Consulciation ot the repoit on the bankruptcy Jaw awis deferred until the special meeting. I'i.woxi.k Si/iTi.hMiATs. — Tiie Chairman «-aid the Council would continue to watch the important matter of potwoner settle incuts. Mr (J. Aickin urged that a special immigiation scheme ioi small farmers should bi' de\ iscd. I'noT.'.rnox. — Mr A. Hell rogielied that there was nothing in the repoit oi the piotcction ot locdl industi/e-. — The Chairman explained that the Chamber had taken no .stand m thu matter. —Mr 801 l moved thab the matter of protection be submitted to i the mc.nbcis of the Hout-e when they meet the Chamber. Thi-, was agreed to. — It was lesohod, on Mr Aiekin'-. motion, that the question of taxation, especially as regaids j piopeity tax and tarifl, be brought b°efore the Council ot the Chamber. This concluded the business.

Ihe Suspension Biidtre, also X'l'l on tho Upper Hill trnck. Tho Knransrabako representatives spo'^o strongly in favour of accepting the £63 tender ahe idv received, as tins would make the poition of the 1 oad to the Creek as it should he. and if the loan n\ as obtained, the poithn between the creek and the blidge could then he metalled. Cr Strange said that he should support Cr Robson, as Crs Xa>-h and Qninn woie apparently endeavonrimr to intimidate the Council bv threats (hit if their motion was not c«u lied, they would fight adversely to the loan. On the amendment being put, it was c.uried. Crs XicholN, Robson, Strange and Mooie voting for it, and Crs Xash. Qainn and De.nle against it. Foreman of "\Voiks. — Cr Nicholls, (having given notice of motion) moved, That it is advisable to appoint <iv officer to act as Engineer and Foreman of Woiks Seconded by Cr Strange. Carried. Cis Xieholls and Moore then moved. That applications he invited by advertisement from persons qualified to act a^ Foreman of Works to the County at a salary of £110 per annum. Canied. Road Metalline;. — Kesolved, on the motion of Crs Kobson and Stiance, that 150 yards of metal be placed on the road between the OhiiK-nnni Whaif and Mr Qninirs house on the Tar.niki Creek, tenders to be opened on Saturday next. Waitoa Riding. — Cr Strange requested that Crs Nicholls and Robson should visit the Waitoa district in order to bo in a position to lepoit to the Council concerning the requirements of the Riding. This was agreed to, provided the Councillors weie \silling to pay their own travelling expenses. Crs Nieholk and Robson assented to this. The meeting then adjourned. The next Council Meeting will be held on Saturday, May 3ul.