TE KUITI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 639, 31 January 1914, Page 5

TE KUITI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The annual meeting of the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce wai held on Tuesday evening last. REPORT. Amongst the achievements of the Chamber during the past year, perhaps the moßt noteworthy ia the ingathering of the retailers of Te Kuiti. This has borne fruit in the recent advertisemen of the town and dntrict—an advertisement which has not yot hnd its full effect—and in the adoption by the Borough Council at the instance of ihe Chamber of a by-law regulating itinerant trading. The battlement of the vexed question of public holidays is also within sight. During the past year loading matters have received very considerable attention. Your committee confidently hopes, despite all obstacles, to see connection with Marokopn by road attained. Muon greater usefulness will be attained if a fuller co-oneration is effected with country residents. The Chamber of Commerce was successful in inducing the Hon. Mr Herries to visit Te Kuiti, when various rouding matters and the securing freehold tenure for the town were discussed An effort, unsuccessful 90 far, was made to secure a town endowment, and tno adoption or a

policy of light railway construction, with special reference to the peculiar needs of thiß district has been the subject of correspondence—-perhaps having some share in securing the recent legislation. Telephone construction bas been urged —and the Marokopa connection is now within sight, after years of effort. The freehold tenure of Te Kuiti has been consistently fought for. That a bore he sunk to test for the presence of coal has been urged with considerable likelihood of success. A deputation waiter! on the County Council to request information and co-operation anent tho taking over of main arterial roads bj the Government and a policy for this district. Following on this tho buckloeks County Councils were written to anrl replies favourable to joint action in tho matter wero received. Your president and Mr N. C. Matthew formed a deputation to Auckland and subsequently to Wellington, and a promise of a Royal Commission to investigate the possibilities of improvements in inland waterways connection with Auckland, etc., resulted. Tho results of tho Essay Competition will very ehort'y bo published. The assistance of the member has been always at the command of your committee.

The president, in moving the adoption of tho report stated that this hud been ti year of great diflicutly, und that a considerable amount hud been achieved in upito of untoward circumstances. Many things! had boon j striven for, and noma had been attained. Telephonic communication with Marokoua was within Bight and thH meant easy communication with Kaw hi. 'i, which will link to Kuiti up with tho district adjoining. A amall vote hna boon put on tho Estimates for a portion ot tho road connecting Auckland with Wellington, i.e., on tho 'IV kuil.i-Hangatilii road, really a portion ot that highway. Thia Chamber took tho initiativn in bringing up tin* matter oi' main roads before tho County Council and urged that ho too steps should bo taken as that roada tihould bo considered main loads, and that concerted action to induce tho Uovenunent to take over theao roads tihould ho arranged. It approached the various barkhlock councils, who that tho time for action and arrived. inceaaaut efforts to obtain tho freehold of townBhip aectionti met with no success. It ia to bo hoped that something will be done which will permit the Maori landlord to sell whoa ho wishes to do ao. Another matter it! tho holiday question, it ia wise tnat aomotning should be laid down for tho guidance of the business mmi of tho town The retailers' aub-eoinniitto.o wont into the matter, and it h::s been decided that certain days, as advertised, shall be recommended to the Mayor for adoption. It is now open for anyone who objects to any of the proposed holiday a, or who wishes to make any other suggestions to do so. We are anxious to do our best to pleaae overyona. I'mapecta for the , future seemed to be fairly rosy. Price, for produce aro good all rnunt! lhe settlement of the district ifl increasing, and increasing in >i very satisfactory way by genuine settlers who aro improving the land. Our roads aro getting better gradually. _ though thero ia tiII much room tor itnprovoment. We have learnt to exorcise a certain amount of economy, and can look forward with some amount of confidence. Tho president concluded by saying that he had much pleasure in moving the adoption ot tho report. Major Lu-ik seconded, and the report was carried. The trenail ror read tho balancesheet, and tho president moved and Mr Graham seconded ita adoption. The election of oilicors resulted no follows: —• President, Mr Moatyn Joncfl" vice-president, Mi' 0. Ltneham, treasurer. Mr John Nicholla; hon. secretary, Mr A. E. Robinson; committee, Messrs (Jraham, 'lhomaa, Elliott, Matthew, and Major Lutik; ro.tailers committee, Messrs Alliaou, lurner, Darrow, Cook, and Sutton. Mr Graham and the president spoke on the indili'orence manifested as to matters pertaining to the weifaro of the town and district. latter stated that probably owing to fortuitous circumstances and geographical situation 't'e Kuiti went ahead and that people constuiuently v»ere lax where other towns were energetic. Mr M. J. Jones said that tho members themSidviis did not approach people ami endeavour to parsude them to join the Chamber. The motion that the days advartised be recommended bv the Mayor as public holidays was put and carried.

Tho Esnay Competition was referred to !>y tho proiidont, who stated tbat the delay wa:i duo to tho holidays. A decision hud boon arrived at and WOJld bo published. Tho mooting olosed with ;i vote of tkaakfl to tho oijaix.