CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6782, 14 February 1884, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A. meeting of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday, Mr Lyndon occupying the chair in the unavoidable absenoe of Mr Kinroßß. There were also present Messrs T. Tanner, P. S. M'Lean, and J. W. Neal. A letter from the Publio Works Department, dated January Bth, Btated that such alterations would be made at the Napier railway station as would meet " all requirements."— lt was stated that tenders had since been called for, and

that practically the alterations were the same as those the Chamber had protested against both by letter and by deputation. — On the motion of Mr Tanner a strongly-worded resolution was passed, expressing regret that the promises made by the late Minister for Public Work 3 had not been carried out. The Secretary stated that no reply had been received to the letter of the Chamber forwarded at the beginning of December, in which the Chamber protested against the injury done to the trade of this port in compiling the Customs returns, by crediting all exports to the port of final departure, and asked that the old plan of crediting them to the ports of 6rst entry might be resumed. As an instance of this injury the Secretary read an extract from a leader in the Christchurch Press, in which it was stated thatj while nearly every other port Bbdwed an increase during 1883, the exports from Naplef had decreased by nearly one-fourth, or £150,000. —1t was decided to write again to the Commissioner of Cnstoms, and also to forward a letter for publication in the Press, explaining that the apparent falling-off was due to much of the exports of Napier being credited to Wellington and other ports. The secretary finally resigned his position, and the resignation was accepted with expressions of regret. Mr Enowles showed a petition which had been prepared for presentation to the Minister for Public Works, praying that a siding might be put in at Awatoto. The petition was signed by 75 residents. Mr Knowles pointed out that there would be a large traffic from Mr Beatson's boiling down, Messrs Saunders and Gilberd's soap factory, and other sources. From the soap works alone 500 or 600 tons would be annually forwarded. The siding would also be largely used by neighboring residents for the conveyance of firewood and fencing posts from the bush. — It was decided to write to the Minister for Public Works supporting the petition. Mr Lyndon called attention to the dangerous overcrowding of the launch Boojum on many occasions, and instanced last Saturday week, when, if the sea had not been calm, or anything had occurred to disturb the equilibrium of the launoh, he felt sure she would have capsized. _ A great many townsmen who were not going by the steamer insisted upon ejoing off in the launch, and ~ though the captain repeatedly asked them to leave, and refused to go until thirty or forty had complied with his request, the launch was still dangerously overcrowded both with luggage and passengers when she left.— Mr Knowles endorsed Mr Lyndon's remarks, and it was decided to ask the Customs authorities to take steps to pre vent overcrowding in future. The Secretary reported that at the end of the year, on the 29th inst. , the liabilities of the Chamber wouTid be about £23, and the assets were equal to that amount. The year was commenced with liabilities of £16 15s and no assetsThe committee then adjourned.