AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9815, 26 August 1897, Page 6

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(press association telegram.)

AUCKLAND, August 25. A general meeting of members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, together with members of the Legislative Council and northern members of the House of Representatives, was held at the Chamber of Mines offices. Mr B. Kent (President of the Chamber) was in the chair. There was a representative attendance. The members of the Chamber and the Parliamentary representatives present were :—Sir G-. M. O'Rorke, Messrs P. Lawry, W. Crowther, W. F. Massey and J. Bollard (M.H.R.'s), and the Hon. W. Swanson. The Chairman, in introducing the business - consideration of a New Zealand training ship, light railways, alternative telegraph routes via the West Coast and the delivery of southern mails via' the West Coast—welcomed the visitors on behalf of the Chamber, intimating had been invited to attend and take part in the discussion in order that their sympathy'-'and support might be elicited on the questions to be brought forward.

Mr W. J. Napier moved—"That in the opinion of this Chamber every effort should be made to secure for the colony, free of cost, one of the warehips of the Pyladestype as a training ship for New Zealand, and that united action by the Chamber of Commerce, the Harbour Board, and the City Council be sought to approach the proper authorities to achieve the object in view." Mr Crowther thought the Chamber was approaching the matter too much from an Auckland point of view. Their action should be spontaneous and representative of the colony as a whole, if they were to succeed. Mr Napier said that as Auckland was the head-quarters of the Admiralty in New Zealand this would no doubt be the proper port for the training ship which, however, was to belong to, and be supported by, the colony as a whole. After further discussion by Messrs G. Fowlds and H. C. Tewsley, the motion was unanimously adopted.

The next matter brought forward was that of light railways for New Zealand, in which connection Mr Ashley Hunter moved: —"That the Government be urged to seriously consider the advisability of further opening up the country by means of light railways, the work to bo done preferably by the State, but failing this the Government to be asked to offer every facility to private enterprise in carrying out such works." After discussion the motion was unanimously adopted. Mr J. Ruasell introduced the question of an alternative telegraph route between Auckland and Wellington, and moved— " That, in the opinion of the Chamber the time hae arrived <vhen an alternative telegraph line should be constructed to connect Auckland with the South and other parts of the world via Tekuiti. Awakino and Waitara, any interruption in the present lino via the East Coast entirely cutting Auckland off from telegraphic communication with othei'places." Mr H. C. Tewsley, in seconding the motion, referred to the benefits which would accrue to places inland from Taranaki through the construction of the line. Mr Frank La wry said he had made representations to the Government in the direction indicated by the motion. The resolution was unanimously adopted. The delay in delivering mails to Auckland via the West Cjiast was then discussed, Mr A. Clark moye<p-' s That, in the opinion of this Chamber, great delay has arisen in the delivery of-letters arriving from, the south via the West Coast, resulting in much loss to merchants and others in the execution of orders, and threatening to divert trade from Auckland to southern ports, and that the Postmaster-General be asked to place Auckland on the same footing as Wellington, by having letters sorted en route .by train." Mr H. Nathan secocidei the motion, which was adopted.