WHANGAREI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 279, 22 November 1913, Page 8

WHANGAREI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. {.By Telegraph.— Correspondent.) WaANOABEI, Friday. ' At the annual meeting of the Whangaret number of Commerce r.he following officers were elected:—President, Mr D. W. Jack: vice-president. Mr W. A. Carruth: committee. Messrs A. 1.. Hempton, T. L. I Lmimmcnid, L. Uanlon. .1. TZ. Holmes. S. iJ. MvCormic-k, J. D. Whi;more. H. Weaver. i and Svoble; auditor. Mr IT. W. Rriggr. Out of four applicants. Mr L. G. Murray was appointed secretary, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr E. C. l'urdio. The annual report slated that revenue for the year as £TjO 9.', whieji. with the bsUuice brought forward from last y.Tir (£34 -1. , *), totalled £88 13/8. The expeudirnre aiJi'>nnlpr] to XTC 1.1, leaving la twlnnce of £14 12 7. Against this are i liabilities or £4 3/8. A large number of j members' s=n hsrript ions remain unpaid. ! aiuoiuitlE<? to £37 4R. Tup total number {of subscription? in Ihe teiephone osr-han:;e ■is 'SiZ. "while bureaus -.iud members of party : Hues add anntior 10S. making the list over i aou, :iu im-r;-:iso .if more titan SO since last ; year. KxjieriiuetHs in grassing sum lind* I ••aiT;eis on tiy tit? AcriruuaraJ Department i :irc reported by the officer in charge to i show Indications of marked sr,ieco.*s. and . tin: Chamber is urging upon the Department tin' prosecution of this cod work. During the year the Chamber urged vigour-;.->ns'y the railway connection between J Whangarci ami the Main Trunk line, and !il>ei>- are grounds for hoping that a suhjslsutial vote will be placed: on tile Estij mates this year for construction'work. It 1» expected the Railway Department will ■ take over the railway line between Otjria ' :m«l Kalkohe wJQiin three months, and a daily service bo provided. Construction work on the .Main Trunk line is still being [carried on north, of Kaivrata, at Maunga- ; 1:iroto. and Bickerstaffc. The bridge at i Young's Point and the tunnels at Maunga- ' turoto are delaying construction norta- ; w«nl«. When completed, construction wort ' northward should be pushed on apace. The ' t'liumlier steadily advocates the constrno- ■ i inn of the line north from Kaikohe to : Holtianga. With the concession granted by ! the <;<>vprnmeat to the Dominion Portland i Cement Co. u> instaJ hydro-electric power I from the Wainia Falls, it is confidently , expected that the Wliangarei boron-li will ;be served with electric light and power I wilhiu eighteen months, under the terms !of agreement. Representations made by I the Chamber induced the Government to grant financial aid in providing grass ased ■to settlers whose lands had been devastated >by fire, and £4,000 worth of grass seed .ha-< been expended in jrrassiDs the P-ohi-jpiibi and: Pekapekaran reserves. Marked I progress has been made in the dairy industry, fanners seeking to improve their herds, while there Is a gratifying increase in the number of sheep, cattle, and hor3es maintained in the district. The increase in the export of woo! and bntrer has been very marked. The freezing works at Whancarei Reads have again commenced operations, under an English company, and will prove a valuable asset to the distrii-t. Uuriu? ih<? past year a marked Increase lias taken place in the settlement of out-(lle'.rii-t lands, and native lairds are quickly , becoming parcelled out. among European seuiens. In May last the new Wlansarel Town lijll was opened, at a coat of about £12,000, and is a hamlsome addition to the town. The Chamber has made fro-il-'ftJt roprosentayons t.i the authorities to widen the bridge span at Kiororoa, but, so ( far. without success. Th.- n arbour Board Jls strenuously working to the same end, anil efforts will not be related' until that iwrssary alteration is made. During ths year Wiansmrel has made steady progress. The |T.pnlation has increased conefderahlj, and numerons buildings h-are been erectei!, many or a substantia character. The pro-sn-ess and prospects of this portion of tin north jre most encouraging, and the efforts of the Chamber are consistently dc-' ' voted to all objects making for the pros. ; P'.-Hty ami betterment of the district.