CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 247, 8 March 1913, Page 4

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chambev of Commerce was held yesterday evening. The president (Mr. F. S. Johns) was in the chair, and other members present were: —Messrs. S. \Y. Shaw, \V. J. Penn, E. Griffiths, A. 11. Arnold, A. Mcllardy, W. J'. Chancy, G. Uamsou, A. H. Steeds, R. McQuade, A. (! old water. V. K. J hiker. .1). K. Morison, A. H. Glasgow, C. W. Govett, C. 11. Burgess, R. C. Hughes anil the secretary (Mr. H. Uedfordjr An apology was received from Mr. Newton King. VISIT OF TRADE COMMISSION'. The Imperial Trade Commissioners are to visit New Plymouth. Until the Chamber and the Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil Fields, Limited,, have been in communication with the Commissioners, and as an outcome the secretary reported that the following telegram had been received :—"A party of five or six areleaving here (Wellington) Tuesday morning to see oil wells, dairying, industry, etc. I would be obliged if you can meet us at the train and arrange good hotel accommodation, motor ears. etc. Please, inform oil company air. 1 farmers. Party may proceed to Auckland by Thursday's steamers. —Malcolm Ross." Mr. Griffiths thor.ght they might be induced to stay over till Tuesday. Seeing that the Commissioners included SirRider Haggard—who was particularly interested in farming —it might be possible to persuade the Commissioners to visit some of the farms in the district. In the course of a general discussion Mr. Shaw suggested that the ; Commissioners should be banqueted, and Mr. Johns thought that they should be taken to as many places of public interest as possible.

Mr. C. Carter attended on behalf of the oil company, stating that the local directors would be only too pleased to fall in With any suggestions made for making their stay in New Plymouth as interesting and' profitable as possible. Some of the Commissioners were particularly interested in oil fields and the, company recognised that their visit would lie of considerable importance to. the petroleum industry. The meeting delegated the Council to. make all necessary arrangements'.

A BACK-BLOCKS MATTER. The President reported that during the interim the Council had held several meetings, and detailed the business done since the last general meeting. He had' waited on the Chief Postmaster at New Plymouth (Mr. Burton), and put before him the representations urged on the Chamber by the .settlers interested to put the telephone line between Kotare and Waitaanga. Mr. Burton promised that he would do all possible to prevail * upon those at headquarters to put the line through. He mentioned r that the Department estimated that the work would involve an expenditure of £2OO. WAITOMO CAVES. The President also reported that Mr. Pcnn had waited upon the Government Road Engineer (Mr. G. 1. Murray) with a view to having a survey made of a i-oad to connect the Upper Mokau with the Waitomo Caves. Mr. Murray stated that a road was in course of construction outwards from the Mokau River, and it would be impracticable to use it for motor-car traffic, and the river required some snagging. There was, therefore, little chance of a tourist road for a long time. AUCKLAND EXHIBITION. The President reported progress in connectipn with the representation of the Province at the Auckland Exhibition. > He hoped the whole province would be represented—not as at the Christclu|rch exhibition—but by a yery handsome court. He bad tentatively applied for space covering an area of 00 by 20 feet, and he hoped to have a really good show.

ON THE BANKS OF THE MOKAU It was also reported by tlio • ohx'vuan that Mr. Griffitlis had been ndvis-l'that a contract had been let for felling a portion of the bush along the banks of the. Mokau River Mr. Johns added that he had immediately communicated with the Prime Minister, who had replied stating that he had referred the matter to the Lands Department.

■Mr. Shaw mention eel .that . he had heard unofficially that the Taranaki Crown Lands Commissioner had yisited Mokau in connection with the matter, and the meeting delegated the President to in-, terest himself in the matter. CANADIAN TRADE COMMISSIONER. •Mr, Govett mentioned that while in Auckland recently he had met Mr. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner, who, in apologising for his inability to fulfil his last year's engagement, intimated that he would visit New Plymouth some time this year.