CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5498, 20 April 1910, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

t- — o— <- QUARTERLY MEETING. p „ b The adjourned quarterly meeting of c , he Tauranga Chamber of Commeice £ tvas held in the Theatre Eoyal on r Monday evening. Present t Mrssrs 0 S. A. Ward (president, in the cbair), t CJ. W. Brown, T. E. Price, G. F. 1 Spooner, J. G. Green, W. R. Turner, G. Hamilton-Grapes, C. A. Crabbe, J. Toomath, C. C. Norris, A. Quiuton, , J. Copeland, G. A. Brabant, and H. 3 Phillips (hon. secretary). 1 IXTENDINO THE TEI-EPHONE. , Mr A. H. de Tourettes, acting post- , master, wrote stating that he is in , receipt of the Chamber's letter giving , a list of twelve names to be added to the telephone exchange. He is communicating with persona named therein, and when individual applications are filled in and the fees 'are paid the connections will be arranged. Mr de Tourcttea wrote later re the telephone exchange remaining opon from 8 am. till 8 p.m.' He said that the office will require andther annunciator to accommodate tfee increased number of subscribers. Tie is communicating with the Telegraph Engineer, Auckland, who -controls these matters. When all the applications are in and the connections made he has no doubt the Chamber's request will be complied with. The chairman detailed the steps taken by a special committee to secure the extra subscribers to the telephone. Of the new subscribers only seven had 9igued the document required by the Post Office, and he presumed there was some misunderstanding among the nther seven or eight who had evidently not complied with the" Department's requirements. -Mr Ward explained that four subscribers were stiH required to give a service from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. Mr Spooner moved — That Messrs G. W. Brown and J. G. Green be appointed a deputation to wait upon tho3e gentlemen who have signed the telephone requisition and ask tho latter to comply with the requirements of the Department — Seconded by Mr Hamil-ton-Grapes and carried. It was decided to endeavour to have tl.e Fruit Testing Station included on the list. Mr Brown said there was a reasonable chance of having a telephone ex change established at Te Puke. The chairman explained that the Chamber had communicated with the Justice Department in regards to connecting the police station. Mr J. K. Logan, Superintendent of Electric Lines, Wellington, .forwarded a reply 1 to the Chamber's letter applying for the establishment of a direct telephone service between Tauranga and Eotorua, with bureaux, at Greerton, Oropi, and Ngawaro. He expressed regret that tho application cannot be acceded to at present. Tho cost of construction of the necessary line is estimated at £1000, the annual expenditure at £118, and revenue £60, leaving a deficiency of £58 per annum A letter from Mr J. K. Logan to Mr A P. Hall, with reference to tele phonic communication between Tauranga and Greerton and Oropi, was read. The letter stated that a telephone line will be erected on a guarantee being given by the County Council for five years, or on a lump sum being paid by the residents, on the conditions stated hereunder. If the proposed line is guaranteed by the County Council, or by six reputable residents, an annual payment of £23, in advance for five years Ghould the revenue added to the subsidy exceed the total expenditure (including maintenance charges and 5 per cent, interest on cost of construction) the amount of such excess, up to but not exceediug the subsidy, paid, would be r funded. If a lump sum were paid by the residents an amoimt equal to ;the annual subsidy for four years would be accepted, and the revenue each year, for live years, credited with one fifth of the amount paid, a refund being made on conditions similar to those detailed iv the preceding paragraph. The person acting as telephonist would be required to provide suitable accommodation and perform the duties for a salary based on a fee of 2d per' telegram, with a minimum of £5 per annum. Mr Phillips said that Mr Hall had suggested that the County Council be approached with a view to giving the guarantee, and that, in the meantime, he (Mr Hall) will endeavour to find six persons who would indemnify the Council. Mr Phillips moved -That the County Council be applied to and asked to take the matter in hand and guarantee the necessary subsidy. — Seconded by tire chairman and carried. TAWiANGA-WAmi MAIL SEHVICE The General Post Office, Wellington, replied to the Chamber's letter embodying a resolution asking that the frequency of the Tauranga- Waihi service be increased to daily. The reply stated that the matter- has been giv«n careful consideration, and it is regretted that the request cannot be favourably entertained as the additional expenditure involved would not be warranted.— Received. THE KAIMAI R^AD Mr Phillips said he had been asked to apologise for the absence of the Rev. W. Barnett, .and to bring forward the desirability of inducing Government to place the Kaimai Koad in such order as to permit of the transport of mails between Tauranga and the railway, which would prove of great benefit to Tauranga. He also mentioned that inquiries were being made at Okoroire with a view to instituting a coach service between Tauranga and Okoroire, so that tourists could travel through. Mr Ward explained that there was j £800 on the Estimates for the- road— £400 to,Tatrranga County and £400 to Matata County. The Te Sere river, which required bridging, was not it this .County. The Tauranga County Council had applied to Government for permission to expend money to build that bridge, as the other local body did not seem anxious to hive the bridge erected. There were aleo two creeks within the Tauranga County which required bridging, but at present' these could be forded. In answer to a question Mr * Ward explained that the money voted conld not be spent on maintenance. Mr Turner proposed— That the Tanranga County Council be asked to endeavour to at once arraoge a confer ence with the local body having control of the western portion of the Kaimai Road, with a view to arranging for the erection of a bridge over the Te Eere stream.— Seconded ty Mr Spooner and carried . ADVERTISING TH? TJIBTHICT. The Weekly Pre?s, Christchnrch w ote stating that the manager i.f that • psper is quite' favourable to the idea of illustrating the Tauranga district, as the Chamber request, and enquiring as to the support they are likely to get from the Chamber and Tauranga reßidents. Mr Norris explained that, in re-

iponse to a wire, he was engaged in < Electing ihotographa for the paper in question. , 0* Mr Hami'.ton-Grapes said he had a number of negatives and would be pleased to Land over any that would be acceptable. It was decided that the secretary communicate with the Christchurch ' Press/asking the proprietors to send a representative to Tauranga- on the ofi occasion of the Governor's visit, and j n that the Chamber is willing to assist all him in his work. n l KOTtCES OF MOTION. The following resolution, of which fn notice had been given, was moved by i» Mr Price— That at the next quarter!) » l meeting of the Chamber rule 8 be > altered to permit of the increase of tbe l w committee to ten members, and, also, .„ to include a vice-president on the executive.— Seconded hy Uv Spooner. o The following motion, of which n notice had beeu given, was proposed w by. Mr Phillips— That rule Bbc altered y« by eliminating the word " annual " and . substituting the words " any quarterly " meeting " ; also to eliminate the words a 11 to be held on the second Tuesday in fJ January in every year." s After discussion the chairman ruled that both notices of motion, being t alterations to the rules, could only be r dealt with at an annual meeting, and r the two were accordingly ruled out of ' order. Mr Price gave notice of motion — (1) That the whole of the rules be revised, and that if ar.y alteration be required three months' notice be sufficient; (2) That rule 8 be altered to read to permit of the increase of the committee (including officers) to twelve, ] and that a quorum shall consist of five members. Mr Ward gave notice of motion — That the name of " Council" be sub • stituteel for that of " committee." , Registration. i ' Mr Toomath asked if the Chamber , were registered under the Unclassified Societies Act, and affiliated with the Chambers of Commerce Association. This elicited a reply in the negative and it was decided to leave the question to the committee. aHE WAIROA BRIDGES. ! Mr Turner moved— That this Cham - bßr confer with the Tauranga County Council with a view to ranking the 3 Wairoa river open for navigation. 1 The mover advocated that the two bridges, to be built, slcutd have s»in£ s ' in them, or that higher ground might be chosen on which to build them. Mr Nor rig second ed, but gaid they 3 could hardly hope to have the bridges 2 built to suit trading vessels. Mr Ward seid that it would be a difficult matter to raise a structure *■ very much on the site of the Wairoa ■* bridgt*. It would be impossible to ' have a high railway bridge made in fc the vicinity of the Wairoa except at a enormous expense. , \ Mr Turner said that a site could be " secured on higher ground some little 11 distance above the present bridge, 0 which would place the new bridge 30 y or 40 feet above the waters of the river. '» Mr Turner's motion n as put and 1 carried. v 0 HAI'Ii X7R BOARD. Mr Price gave notice of motion for ' the next quarterly meeting— That at 8 the next quatterly meeting he will * move that a strong committee be ' formed for the, purpose of forming a 1 harbour board for the Bay of Plenty. ? He hoped that members would give 8 tho question their earnest consideration in the meantime. P TATTRANGA AS A TOUBIST HESORT. Mr Toomath made reference to the * inducements which Tauranga held out * to tourists. He was preparing an ' elaborate scheme on the subject, which I he hoped to lay before the Chamber * and which he trusted would have its c support. *• Mr Copeland suggested to the comB mittee that t ifc should be brought under the notice of the Tourist Department D that Tauranga might be given a little* ■ more p'rdminence in the next issue of c the Tourist Guide. \ V CANNING FACTORY. '' Mr Hamilton Qrape9 suggested that = tho Chamber of Commerce might do c somothing towards inducing settlers '• to see the advantage of planting suit- ■* able varieties of canning fruits, with a " view to having a canning factory esa tablished in the district. The chairman thought this was a r matter that would come within the province of the Fruitgrowers' Associai tion. , c BATHURST BUrtR. c Mr Turner referred to the spread of '♦ Bat hurst burr in the streets and on * property in the borough. It was a c terrible pest to sheep farmers and he thought the attention of the local y authorities should be drawn to the 0 spread of this noxions weed. He J? made special reference to the luxuriance B of a pateh'-near the Victoria Wharf aud movedT^Tfaat the attention of the local body and noxious weeds inspector ' be drawn to the spread of Bathurst '" burr on the streets,' reserve^ and pri- ? vate property . within the borough. - 1 Seconded by Mr Green and carried. 3 A vote of thanks to the chaiman 1 terminated the proceedings.