MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 5

MEETINGS.

Thk quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held on Thursday, April 8, at the Chamber, under the presidency of Mr Graves Aickin. The report states that the import and export returns for last quarter are again encouraging, showing, as they do, a marked increase in exports, and a corresdonding decrease in imports. The figures are : — Impors : Quarter ending 31st' March, 1885, £544,072; quarter ending 31st March, 1866, £463,849. Decrease, £80,178. Exports: Quarter ending 31st March, 1886, £245,912; Quarter ending 31st March, 1885, £174,502: Increase, £71,410. §gOn April 7, at a full meeting of the Committee of Auckland Burns Club, it was ret solved to affiliate with the Premier Club at Kilmarnock, as well as The Burns Federation, and the Secretary was instructed to fill up the proper forms for that purpose to be despatched by next mail, so that, by proxy, this Club will take part in the grand demonstration to, be held in honour of the immortal ' bard, at Kilmarnock, next August, and in commemoration of the publication of his poems from the obscure press of John Wilson, Kilmarnock, in July, 1786. ' ' "

A meeting of the Caledonian Society was held at Robson's Rooms on April 6, when Mr Alister Brown was appointed Secretary, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignathe; Government and tho Kingite natives is marked by the meetings which the Native Minister has held this week with

tion of the Rev. Mr Mcßae. Mr Brown was connected with the Caledonian Society here many years ago, and had a great deal to do with the Bports, etc., held in connection with the Society at Ellerslie, where he was also manager for Mr Graham. He will therefore, no doubt, prove of great assistance to the Society in carrying out future operations. The Committee propose to got up a series of literary entertainments during the winter evenings for the entertainment of their Scotch friends, and anticipate a large measure of success. At the invitation of Mr John Taylor, Foreman of Works to the Auckland Harbour Board, the workmen of that body assembled in one of the buildings in the Dock-yard on April 12, and had a very pleasant social gathering. The tables were laden with eatableß and drinkables in abundance. There were about 30 workmen present, including Mr Tucker (in the chair), Mr La Roche (in the vice-chair), Messrs W. Marshall, W. Watts, A. Marshall, and Sampson, tho latter four proving themselvos " immense" in performing^ the onerous duties of stewards. The Chairman proposed the health of Mr John Taylor, which was heartily responded to,_ andi n doing so, he referred iv eulogistic terms to Mr Taylor's success in recent experiments with tlie blasting of rock by dynamite. Mr Taylor suitably responded, and in the course of a few appropriate remarks, said that he believod the discovery of blasting rock by dynamite under water by his process was of great importance.