MONTHLY MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 July 1907, Page 2

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeung of the Nelson ] Chamber of Commerce was held last night, in the Chamber's new hall at the Dresden Rooms. There was a , good attendance, and the President, Mr A. H. Bisiev, occupied the chair. The following new members were elected : Dr Hudson and Mr A. Drummond, junr., (Tapawera); Mr R. Win, (Murchison) ; Messrs T. H. Higgs, J. Hagen, and G. E. Field (Wakefield) ; Air \V. D. Harkness (Richmond) ; Messrs R. B. Jackson and E. Webley, (city). The newly-elected country members were appointed members of the corresponding branches where such exist". Correspondence was read, and included a telegram from the Council of the Chamber to the Premier, congratulating him on his safe return to the Colony and expressing appreciation of his services in England, especially in connection with reduction of postage and telegraph charges, with the mail service, and with Suez canal dues. Also a reply from the Premier thanking the Chamber. Mr R. McNee, of Murchison, wrote urging that the Midland Railway should be continued to the Hope as soon as poss.ole, otherwise the trade would go to the West Coast. The President referred to the meeting called by the Inland Communication League, and thought the important resolutions passed at that meeting should be supported by the Chamber. After discussion, it was resolved that the Chamber endorse the action of the i_eague, and urge the Government to respect the rights of the province and to fulfil the promises repeatedly made to continue the railway towards Murchison ; also, that copies of the resolution be sent to the Premier and the members for the district. The President regretted he was unable to be present at the recent meeting ne considered ihat the fact that the railway extension was paying so well was a material argument. The line now cost £60 to earn £100 whereas it formerly cost £100 to earn £104, and the further the line was extended the better it would pay. For the June quarter there had been an increase of 2882 in the number of passengers carried. Mr Bisley went on to say that _._r Flanagan was the most live Commissioner of Crown Lands they had had, and stated that there were 175,000 acres of close settlement lands available. He was struck by the remark that the Waimea Plains contained only about .0,000 acres. When they considered that they derived their living from that it was astonishing. In the Maruia there were 63,000 acres available ; the Braeburn estate and adjoining land would give another 40,000 — equal to the Waimea in area; then there were 13,000 acres of Crown lands at Glem-oy, and still about 25,000 acres at Matiri, besides thousands of acres at Warwick, Hope, Owen, etc. These facts warranted them in agitating for, and the Government in authorising railway construction. That there was a demand for the land was shown by the fact that within the last eight weeks Mr , Flanagan had received between 280 and 300 applications for land, and these came from people distributed between Auckland and the Bluff. A Committee consisting of Messrs Ledger, T. A. H. Field, Roughton, Grove, and L. Kerr was set up to cooperate with the Inland Communication League. Mr W. Haddow wrote on the subject of the liability of Trustees and the President said he had seen Mr C. J. Harley, who had kindly promised to read a paper on Commercial Law and ..ne Liabilities of Trustees, in about two months. (Applause). A list of exports from Nelson was read and filed ior the last quarter. The Special Committee submitted its report recommending a scale of mercantile charges, and after discussion the report was adopted. The President in a report stated that sheep yards at Richmond and conveniences for trucking were about to be provided as well as more railway carriage.-.. In a short time they would probably have carriages with cress seats. He mentioned that the charge for a truck of 60 sheep from Tadmor was 225, Wakefield 17s 6d, and Nelson 265, and if there was not a truck to hold 60 sheep two trucks had to be supplied at the prices fixed. He then spoke of the probability of carrying a road by way of Wangapeka to Seddonville which would tap the mineral belt at Mount Radiant, and give communication with Westport and Karamea. (This subject was referred to the Council for consideration). The President also referred to the proposal to adveitise on enve.opes and said the Committee would report fully next monih. It was proposed to have spec- , ial blocks for Richmond and Motueka. Mr Hampson then rend an extremely interesting paper on "Preferential lrade," and was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks therefor. The "paper will be published in full to-morrow. At the request of members of the Chamber Mr Hampson consented to give a supplementary paper. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the President.