CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2683, 13 March 1874, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A committee meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Messrs Dymock (chairman), F. Banks, W. H. Lane, John lnglis, and L, Coates. The minntes of tbe previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated that the subject of shipping telegraphic information had been before the Clumber at various times. At hia request tbe secretary bad communicated with the Chambers of Commerce of the different Australian colonies, inquiring what information was supplied free in their colonies by the Government. The secretary then read the correspondence which had passed between the Government and the Chamber on the subject; and also the following replies from the Chambers of Commerce of Adelaide, Brisbane, and Hobart Town,

_—_————»——,——— ii mi " Hobart Town Chamber of Commerce. " January 29th, 1874. ««J. A. Bird, Esq., " Secretary Chamber of Commerce, •' Christchurch. " Sir, —I have pleasure in replying to yours of the 10th instant received this day. " The telegraph department affords every information to the public as to the arrival and departure of shipping from the porta to which the line is extended ; such information being, as soon as received, placed upon a board outside the telegraph office for public information. " I am, sir, yours obediently, " E. Hawson, " Secretary H.C.C."

" Chamber of Commerce, "Adelaide, February 2nd, 1874, "J. A. Bird, Esq., " Secretary Canterbury Chamber of " Commerce. " Dear Sir, —I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, respecting telegraphic information aud have much pleasure in stating as follows :— "All arrivals at, and departures from, Port Adelaide are posted at every oftlco in tho colony daily. " All arrivals are posted at Adelaide and Port Adelaide when sighted, and also when name is ascertained. " All stations on the Murray daily exchange shipping intelligence. "Any disaster is at once posted at Adelaide and Port Adelaide and forward to all the other colonies in communication. " Shipping intelligence is exchanged with each colony every morning. " Meteorological observations are taken at every station at nine o'clock daily, and posted at Adelaide and Port Adelaide and also exchanged with other colonies. "If there is any further information that I can afford I shall bo happy to do so. " I am, dear sir, " Yours very truly, "F. S. C. Driffield, "Secretary."

" Offices of the Chamber of Commerce, "Brisbane, February 3rd, 1874. " The Secretary of Chamber of Commorce, Christchurch, N.Z. " Dear Sir, —Your communication under date of 10th January, relative to the telegraphic shipping intelligence of this colony, reached mc this day. " I believe I am correct when I state that the departmental arrangements are, that every morning upon the opening of the respective coast offices the arrivals and departures of the preceding day are wired to Brisbane and Rockhampton (the two shipping centres, of the colony), and, I believe, so far as they are of interest, to those ports in the colony from which vessels may havo arrived or sailed for. Thus, if a schooner has arrived today at Bowen from Marybororough, her arrival ia wired to the latter port; but the whole of the coast arrivals and departures are, as before mentioned, wired to Brisbane, and these, with the respective local arrivals, are wired on to Sydney.

"The arrivals and departures at Cape Morelon—five hours' steam from Brisbaneare wired immediately to the head office and posted on a board specially made and used for the purpose ; and further in the day, tho arrivals are signalled from a flagstaff in a most prominent site of the city, as by the enclosed code. Independent of Cape Moreton reports, advices are forwarded from tho pilot station (Moreton Bay), and also from Lytton (entrance of river) of shipping movements, aud these, where practicable, are also signalled from the flagstaff. Thus a steamer from Sydney passing Lytton, coming up the river, would be signalled as by the code, as also such fact posted at the telegraph office.

" Until recently we kept a duplicate set of shipping intelligence boards at the Chamber and posted all information of shipping movements, which I sent for at intervals during the day, the superintendent of the department not seeing his way to supply roe with tbe information by messenger ; consequently not being able to post the intelligence so promptly as I could wish so as to make it of practical service to the public, I arranged with the postal authorities, to whom the Electric Telegraph Department is subordinate, and they will in course of time exhibit a duplicate report, the state of the weather, and all interruptions to communications. •' The several agents of the steamers are allowed to wire the movement of the vessels at press rates, provided the receiving agent furnishes a copy of the message to be posted for the information of the public at the Telegraph office. Those interested are thereby informed, for instance, of the day and hour of a steamer's arrival at Sydney from Brisbane, and tier intended departure on the return trip. " In thiß communication, I may have trespassed somewhat beyond the information required by yon, but I trußt that what I have stated may be of service to your Chamber, and I shall at all times be most happy to afford you every information required on this or any other subject. " I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, " Walter H. Snelling, " Secretary." Mr Banks proposed that the chairman, vice-chairman, and Mr Hennah be appointed a committee to take into consideration tho papers on the subject of shipping telegrams, and report at next meeting. Mr Coates seconded the motion, which was carried. After passing some accounts, the committee adjourned.

The monthly meeting of the Chamber was then held. Present—Messrs Dymock (chairBanks,W. H. Lane, L. Coates, SirCracroft Wilson, Messrs J. lnglis, H. Matson, J. T. Maling, J. H. Twentyman, J. Mollroy, and W. D. Wood. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Banks, who was unavoidably absent at last meeting, thanked the Chamber for the honor done him in electing him vicechairman. Mr Coates moved—" That the committee be requested to take into consideration the advisability of dividing itself into four subcommittees, viz, a Bub-committeo on shipping, a sub-committee on local manufactures, a sub-committee on agriculture, and a sub-committee on mercantile law and usage, and report at next general meeting of the Chamber." Mr lnglis seconded the motion pro forma, but it did not appear to him the proper course to take. He would rather see the monthly meetings abolished and the quarterly ones revived, as there was not business for the monthly meetings. Mr Coates briefly replied. After a short discussion the motion was negatived.

The Chamber then adjourned.