CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 77, 9 April 1885, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Tile ((uarterry meeting of tho nbovo body was opened at thrte o'clock this afternoon, there being a fair attoadsneo of members. Mr Graves Aickin (ViCe-Presidentyoccupieit tho chair.

Committee's Ripoht.—A detailed report was received from the Committee of the business which ha. been taken up and has engaged attention since the last quarterly [ meeting. It Contained an account ot tho recent interview with Sir Julius Yogol on the subject of tho San Francisco mail setvicbj and stated in reference to the subject of customs tariff that the ■Government had promised tkat tho .e.oramendations of the Chamber, as well as those of. tho Dunedin Chamber, should bo corefully | considered when tho tariff was under j discussion by the Cabinet. With reference , to the suggested connection of the Queen-street Wharf with the railway in | order to facilitate tho delivery of cargo : The Harboui Board had deferred the consideration of the matter until the railway reclamation is completed. A report upon i tho subject of bankruptcy was stated to be in progress, while tho consideration of the important subject of federation ! was still in abeyance. It would bo necessary, however, for tho Committee to take some action in tho matter so soon as tho question had become developed into such a form that tho bearing of tho commercial aspect may bo judged with greater certainty than at present. The matter of erecting a lighthouse on Cuvier or Red Mercury Island was still under the consideration of the Government. _!n explanatory loiter had been received from the Govornmcnt in reply to the resolution that the direct mail steamers of tho New Zealand Shipping Company should bo timed to leave the colony bo that Thursday's boat from Auckland bringing replies to letters received by way of 'Frisco might connect with them, In their communication the (Jovornment explain the arrangement.- which havo been made for the carriage of mails, and also state that from the present month the day of departure from Now Zealand of tho direct steamers will be Thursday instead of Saturday, as at present, and that the question of giving tho utmost facilities for the use of tho direct steamers jvill bo further considered in connection with the alteration of the day ot departure. The report concluded with a statement of the action taken upon the subject of harbour defences.

Intercolonial Fkee Trade.—The following resolution on the abovo subject was received from the Invercargill Chamber of Commerco :—" That as a preliminary step towards federation of the Australasian colonies, the Government bo urged to submit or arrange tho basis of a schome (subject to Parliamentary sanction) for intercolonial free trade with the neighbouring colonies— that i", that all tho natural productions and manufactures of New Zealand bo allowed free admission into these colonies, or either of them ; and in return, that wo admit freo from them, or either of them, all their natural productions and manufactures, and that each colony bo allowed to impose whatever duties it may deem necessary upon goods from any other part of tho world. The support or concurrence of tho Auckland Chamber in this matter was requested.