COMMERCIAL MISSION TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 137, 18 June 1885, Page 3

COMMERCIAL MISSION TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

I The delegates who are about to proceed to tho South Sea Islands, to report upon the prospeote of trade with New Zoaland, were 'i entertained to dinner last night at the • Auckland Club by Mr John Reid, Chairman ,ol the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Roid '^presided, and the following members of Committee of tho Chamber of Commerce

were present: —Mr Aickin, Vice-Chairman, Messrs Brett, M. Clark, A. Nathan, G. Harper, and Menzies, Secretary. Other gentlemen present comprised Mr S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster; Mr H. Henderson, of Henderson and Macfarlane; Mr Page, of Banjood, Ewen and Co.; Mr A. B. Donald, of Donald and Edenborough; Mr J. B. Gilfillan, and Mr W. Berry; while the delegates present wero: —Mr Pavitt, Canterbury Industrial Association; Mr Vasl. Nnnior Chamber of Commerce; Mr

weal, uapier \jaamuvr vi wmuiouo, ±>n 'J. L Kelly, Auckland Chamber of Com"merce; and Mr C. D. Whitcombo, Press Association. Mr Allen, the representative Of Oamaru Chamber of Commerce, sent an tpology for absence, as did also Mr John Snera, member of Committee, His Worship the Mayor, and Captain Edenborough. ! Alter a choice repaßt had been partaken of, the toast of "The Queen" was duly

honoured, after which Mr Aickin proposed I " The Executive Government of New Zea--9 land." In an excellent speech the speaker reviewed the history of the Liland trade from the time of the " Great South Sea bubble " until now, and concluded by eulogising the present Government of New Zealand, and Sir Julius Vogel in particular, for so cour--1 tgeously and enterprisingly initiating the I rteam mail service between this colony and I the Islands. He coupled with the toast the i name of Mr Biss, who made a suitable | response. The Chairman, in proposing the I health of " The Delegates," alluded to I Captain Cook as the first British delegate 1 »ho had visited the South Sea Islands. 1 Trade proper with these islands had all I been developed within the last 30 or 40 pare, and daring the last 25 years Auckland had had a considerable interest in the trade. About ton years ago the New Zealand Government sent Mr Seed to report on the Island trado, and shortly afterwords subsidised a steam mail service to Fiji. People ridiculed the idea of this; but the Went had shown that the Government were tight, and the experience with regard to Pijl was the boat justification of the step now being taken by Government. He added that while he believed In encouraging local industries, it was necessary to gnard against imposing high duties on Island produce, a3 this might have the effect of diverting the trade to those colonies or nations whose Governments 1 fflighi make reciprocal arrangements to I encourage their trade, as had been done by the United States in a treaty with the Sandwioh Islands. The toast was drunk with full honours, and Messrs Pavitt, Neal, iKelly, and. Whitcombe responded. Mr •Sathan proposed the health of Messrs and Edenborough, whose enterprise in developing the Island trade he highly commended. The employment '; of steam was rendered necessary by ' tt« growth of the traffic, and he believed the present venture would be successful. In returning thanks, Mr Donald mentioned,, as showing the expansion; of the trade with the South Sea Islands, that wh«eas, five or six years ago, they only brought about £6,000 worth of produce from the Islands, they had last year wonght £20,000 worth. It was, he believed, 6% a question of capital how much Wand produce could be brought to New Zealand. Mr Harper next proposed the health of Meegrs Henderson and Macfarlane, who Oight be called the pioneers of the trado between New Zealand and the Islands. Mr W. Henderson responded, alluding to the enterprise of Messrs McArthur and Co. in I the Island trade. Other toasts were :— 1 "Sir Julius Vogel," by Mr Donald ; "The I .Press," by tho Chairman; and "The I ladies," by Mr Harper. Mr Brett, in pro--1 poring the Chairman's health, referred to 1 me greater life and vigour which had I characterised the Chamber of Commerce I; nnce that gentleman had occupied the position of President; and Mr Pavitt, who fPoke in support, made a graceful ac- * mowledgmont of Mr Reid's generous weli...4onie to the Southern delegates. The meet"gi which closed shortly afterwards, was a complete success socially considered, •while as a means of making the delegates .acquainted with each other and making ; them ait courant with Island affairs, the Idea was most happily conceived and effectively carried out.