CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—Thursday.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 288, 14 October 1864, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—Thursday.

After a number of postponements a meeting of the Chamber was ut last constituted yesterday. Messrs. D. jSJaihou, A. W'ooUcy, J- S. M'acfarlmio, C. Davis, A. Phillips, S. J. Edmonds, and "\V. Combes. Mr. J as. Giuillan took the chair.

After the rending of the minutes of the previous meeting the following letters were rca'd, —one from Robert Tuke, dated from Steer's boarding-house, Shortland-street, Oct. ]2, ISC4, proposing the formation of a Joint Slbek Company, with limited liability, to be called the Waikato Gold Alining Company, capital £2000, in 100 shares of .£2O each, with the object of deTeloping the auriferous wealth of the Province, moro immediately of the Maungatawhiri Whangamarino, and Waikato districts, where it had already been clearly established that a deposit of gold exists, and there is everj- indication in the formation and general appearance of the country that it is to he found to an cxleiit highly remunerative to thousands of toiiicrs, and consequently immensely beneficial to the commercial claes. It was proposed in the first instance to tend out a small prospecting party of three men imder a leader of skill and experience both in quartz and alluvial mining, whose duty it shall be to prospect the ranges for quartz, and the creeks and rivers and old water-courEes, by " surfacing and sinking," &c. A deposit of X.X sterling per share to be paid on application The Council resolved that no action should be taken in this matter, ns most of the country mentioned was still Maori land. " Chamber of Commerce, ""Wellington, 31st Aug., 1864. " Stb, —It has been brought under the notice of this Chamber that gnat diversity exists at the various ports of this colony, in the mode of measuring liquids for freight coastwise, or on the standard adopted in lieu of measurement, necessarily producing great inconvenience and uncertainty. It appears, for example that in one port, five quarter casks are taken as one ton mcas' , ircment ) whilst in another port six quarter-casks arc taken, and in another, eight for the same measurement. " I have therefore been instiucted to communicate with the Eeveral Chambers of Commerce throughout the colony, soliciting their co-operation in endeavouring to establish a uniform system. I shall feel much obliged if you will bring the subject under the notice of the Auckland Chamber, and in the meantime kindly inform me what is the practice in your port. " I have the honor to be, "Sir, " Your most obedient servant* "T. CAititoii, "Secretary. "The Secretary Chamber OT Commerce, " Auckland." It wee refblved that a reply should be forwarded by the Secretary, explaining that the usage of this port is to consider eight quarter-casks or four hogsheads as a ton. In the course of a conversation on this subject, Mr. Nathan said just the same calculation "prevailed in England. For the reason tlrtit casks were so much more bulky than cases, the latter were frequently taken at 60s. a. ton, while casks would be churced 70s. b " Melbourne, "Tth September, 18G4. "The Secretary Chamber of Commerce, Auckland. " Silt, —Ecferring to the previous correspondence between the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce and that of Auckland, on the subject of direct mail stenni communication between tiite two ports, I have the honor to inform you that this Chamber appointed a deputation, who waited upon the lion, the Chief Secretary, nnd thathon. gentleman undertook to put himself in immediate, communication with the Iscw Zealand Government, with a view to united action in urging upon the impelial Government the advontages to accrue from making Melbourne instead of Sydney the port of departure of the mail stenmers proceeding to the northern parts of New Zealand. " This Chamber tmrte that your GoVciUment have lost no time in co-operating with the Vicforinn Government, as suggested, and have no doubt that your sense of its importance will have prompted the Auckland Chamber to follow up the matter by urgently pressing it upou the attention of your Government.

" I may add that tin's Chamber is now exerting its influence to bring about an arrangement withTthe Imperial Government — (through the Victorian Government) —for allowing the mail steamers on their homeward voyage to bo detained licro two days longer, for the exchange of mails between this port and New Zealand, which, if eilected, must still further promote the mutual objects of the two Chambers. " Tin's communication would have been made to you much earlier but for a recent change in the secretaryship to the Melbourne Chamber. I have, &c, " V. Cowdeuoy, " Secretary." It was resolved, on the motion of Mi-. Natjtax seconded by Mr. Wooilet, that the Secretary be directed to acknowledge the letter, and state that tho subject had received, and should still continue to receive the best consideration of the Chamber. Mr. Bucholz, proposed by Mr. Cochiano and seconded by Mr. Harrop, was ballottcd for and duly elected. } I Mr. PitiLirs called attention to the ruinous rates of freight charged by the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company for goods between Auckland and Otago, amounting frequently to as much as 70s per ton. The secretary of tho Company said he was ready to ontor into special arrangements on lower terms where a considerable amount of freight was ready to be taken. Mr. Macfahlanb wished the Chamber to piotest against the action of the Insolvent Court in allowing Mr. Kattray to go away to Matakana without affording any assistance to tho accountant appointed hv tho Court in winding up his affairs. After some conversation on the subject, the following resolution was proposed by Mr. Macfarlane, seconded by Mr. Nathan and agreed to, " The Chamber having discussed the management of the estate of Rattray and Matheson desire to express its regret that the Insolvent Court I

has not shown, that promptitude and diligence in endeavouring to wind up the affairs of tho said estate, which tho circumstances eeem to havo required." The accounts of the past quarter wore then passed, and the Secretary solicited the assistance of the members of tho Chamber, as mcrchniits of the city of Auckland, in n matter of great iWportanco to its commercial interests. The part of tho coast bolweon Bangitoto tih'd the reef hnd been tet apart by the Government for the adjustment of ships' compasses. Captain Robert Johnson, of tho Marine Board, hnd asked him wheio the money was to como from for the exj enpes of buoys to moor ships 1o that would have to bo there while they wero adjusting thoir compasses. It would probably havo to como from the Provincial funds, but tho support of the Chamber might be neeesFiiry to obtain thcFO. Tho Ciiaiiimak said that tho ChnVhbbr would givo nil the help their influence could accomplish. The meeting then adjourned.