CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7825, 18 August 1887, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The annual meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday at the AtlicnsKum buildings. Present—Mr M. R. Miller (chairman), Captain Russell, and Messrs J. H. Coleman, T. Sirtcy, W, Ti Irvine, T. Tanner, J, Stephens, N. Kettle, R. D. 1). M'Lean, E. W. Knowles, C. B. Hoadley, J. D. Ormond, A. C. Lang, and Ei Lyndon. The Chairman read the following ANNUAL KKPOJIT. Gentlemen,— lt is satisfactory lo note that although this colony has suffered much from the low price obtained for its produce for the past four years, touching its lowest a year ago, there appears now good grounds to anticipate that it. is on a fair way to recovery. The total export of our staple production, wool, has increased from 211,017 bales in 1880 to 271,901 bales for the year ending 30th June, 18X7, being an increase of 27,287 Bales on the preceding ytar. Production has steadily increased, and New Zealand i\ 00l holds a good position, especially for its crossbreds, a class less liable to fluctuations than any other, and increasing in production here While Ihc same class is lessening in Other Australasian colonies. Ourlocal share in this increase amounts to 0033 bales, a large proportion frdm sb siiiall an area as this provincial district. It is of interest to eomparo our last ten years' progress :— 1877— Total sheep 1,172,005, gave 23,0!>S bales--5,072,0721 b wool 1887— Total sheep 2,019,797, gavo 47,997 bales— 17,291,8501 b wool —Showing an increase of 1,117,1-20 sheep, 21 89!) bales of wool, and !),122,761h of wool. The average Home price per lb for drew flecco in 1877 was lOd, and for the past ydar ivbout tho samo figure, but the average for Scoured wool has fallen in the same periods fully 2Jd per lb. The declared values nt the Customs for our greasy wool here was 7d lo Ud. an average of Od per lb, and for scoxircd lleccft the average is Is 3d. The bulk of our wool being shipped imiKcdiately after the good news of last September sales led exporters to expect much higher net returns than these figures.

Tallow.— Our export of this article for the past year was 2GS2 casks, valued at £20,832, an average of £22 per ton against 2799 casks Valued at £18,822 exported the year previous. The valuations hero of this immediate past season's shipment were based on the rates maintained at Home from Soptcmbcr to February last ; the continued fall since must lead to a considerable discount on values oC this nrtiele.

Frozen Heat.- For the past year our exports have reached 150,320 carcasses, II quarters and 40 sirloins beef, and 238 bags kidneys valued al £81,387, as against U1.310 carcases valued at £90,073 shinped the previous year, showing that while there is a large increase in number of carcases (8781), the declared value falls short by £0595. Tinned Meats.— s3s7 cases were exported during the past year, valued at £5530 against 2100 cases valued at £2105 shipped the previous year. The export of sheepskins lias fallen off while the export of pelts lias very largely increased.

The total exports were valued nt £80 1, 127. including value of 171.777 sheep, £51,018, exported to other provincial districts. The lota! direct imports amounted to £107,337. Freights.— The district is to be congratulated on tiic reduction in freights of wool, tallow, and frozen mutton.

Marine insurance has also been reduced, but il is felt there is still fnir room for further reduction both in freights anil insxirnnce. The shipping[arrivalsaUhcporlshow mi increased tonnage of 10.SJI tons over the previous year. On referring to table H it, will he seen that the Customs revenue shows an increase of £1200 over the previous year, being the largest return yet shown since 1880 with the exception of the return for 1883, which was slightly in excess. It will he seen on referring to t able F that our exports show a fallinffolf to the extent of £38,514, while the exports have correspondingly increased to the large total of £182,030. It. is satisfactory to note that tho Harbor Board receipts have increased in each department, the receipts for rents, pilotage, wharfage, &c., being £12,188 18s lOd this year as against £11,580 17s Id for the previous year. Tho railwny returns on the Napier section show i\ stc.uly incren«»o. The receipts have risen from £(jlfi'.rj in 1888 to £66,300 in 18S7, thus showing the substantial increase of £3397 for this year, while the expenditure has only increased SHU, the net prolit for the year being £29,311. This result must be regarded as highly satisfactory, when compared with the returns from other lines in the oolony. Bankruptcy Laws. — From every Chamber of Commerce in the colony there is the same complaint of the ineftieiency of the last Bankruptcy Ael to protect business. There are many crave errors and omissions which should be promptly amended, and it would be desirable to appoint a subcommittee of this Chamber to take tills matter into careful consideration and report. Railway Management Iteforin.— In April last your Chamber forwarded a copy of their report on this subject to the members of the House of Representatives for this provincial district, as well as to every Chamber of Commci'co in the colony, stating the conclusion arrived at, viz., " That until the railways of the colony are under the control of a nonpolitical Hoard of practical men, asm Victoria, there is no hope of their being economically and profitably worked." Herewith your Committee lay upon the table the usual annual statistical returns, all of which have been carefully gone into, and for which your committee desire to thank all otllcials, to whom the secretary hns applied for information, for the assistance they have rendered him in preparing the returns, also abstract notes of subjects of importance brought under the consideration of the Chamber during the past year. The Chairman also read a synopsis of the matter dealt with by the' Chamber during the year, and laid upon the table a mass of statistics for reference. On the motion of Mr Tanner, seconded by Mr Onnond, the report as read was adopted, and a vote of I hanks was passed to Mr Miller for the care taken in'drawing up .such an intc-ißMing and valuable statement.

ELECTION Ol' OFFICERS. The Chairman slated that in accordance with usage it had been expected that the vice-president, MrN. Kettle, would have occupied the position of chairman for the ensuing year. Owing, however, to the absence of his partner in London Mr Kettle could not undertake the position, which was to be greatly regretted, as no member of the Chamber was better fjualilicd to act as chairman. Mr M'licnn proposed that Mr Miller .should be re-elected chairman, but that gentleman objected on the ground that new blood would tend to give gieater activity to the operations of the Ulmmlicr. Finally, upon Mr Kettle consenting to again (ill the position of vice president, Mr Miller agreed to act as chairman for another year, and both gentlemen were ro-olcctecl to the respective positions. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee:-- Messrs I. S. M'Lean, !<■ V. D. M'l.enn, A. C. hang, J. H. Coleman, T, Tanner, (.'. I!. Huadlcy, .). C. Kinross, E, W. Knowlcs, W. T. Irvine, J. Sidey, J. Stephens, and It. Dobsou.

misoki,i.anj;oi:s. A special vote of thanks was accorded lo Mr 11. A. Jlanncr for auditing Ihe accounts, and Ik: was unanimously ieeleeted auditor. Mass-is Neal, Knowles, Kettle, and Irvine- were elected a subcommittee to consider and repoit upon suggested amendments in the Bankruptcy Act. Mr J. \Y. Wilcoek.i was elected a 'neiiiljcr of the Chamber. Accounts, to the amount of ±88 1.-. Hd were pnsiedfor payment, and the meeting adjouvned.