CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2901, 16 May 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A HKKTijsCr of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon, in the offices, Wyndham-street. The following members were present : —Messrs. G-. Von der ileyde (in tho chair), J". M. Dargaville, Stewart., Irelaud, McMillan, Cochrane, Chambers, Stevenson, Heather, D. B. Cruickshank, H. P. Barber, and X. Macffi.rlane. Minutes.—Xho minu.es of the last meeting were read and conlir aied. .Kepokt or the Committee.—The object of the meeting was to receive the report of the committee upon several important matters. The reportread was as follows :— " Xhe committee hure had under consideration during the past quarter several matters of importance to commercial interests, and iu bringing them now before the Chamber they hope to obtain such confirmation of their views as will enable them to present the opinions of the Chamber in a clear shape before the Government. 1. The Mail Services : Direct mail communication with San Francisco appears so necessary to the interests of the colony that Government can hardly fail to take advantage of the first favourable opportunity for securing it; but in the meantime great irregularity iu correspondence withiiuropemiist prevail, unless arrangements are made for the prompt and regular transmission of the Auckland portion of the European mails via Suez. The route via the Southern provinces does not in any sense meet our requirements, and the occasional missing altogether by our branch of the connecting steamers causes serious loss to our commerce. As at tho present time there are two powerful steamers now running without subsidy between Auckland and Australia, it appears to the committee that a moderate subsidy should secure for us an ellicient service. Each steamer might receive a bonus on condition of running the trip four-weekly,—one of them leaving Sydney within 24 hours after the arrival of the English mail, tho other leaving Auckland seven days before the postal time, for dispatch of homeward mails from Sydney. The committee think that by this arrangement a first-class service might be secured at a cost of, say ,i'2GOO per annum. 2. Ocean Telegraph: The connecting 2vew Zealand with Australia, by means of a sub-marine telegraph, appears to have eugaged the attention of Government, and this Chamber may iiope for the successful inauguration of the work before long. The desire of the Chamber that delay ihoold be avoided should be made known to the Government. 3. Parliamentary Legislation : Two subjects of great importance invite the action of the Chamber. The insolvency laws of the colony have been more or less under consideration of Parliament each session, and this Chamber lias consistently urged that the existing law should be altered with regard to the acts which constitute insolvency, the Acts punishable us misdemeanours, the forms of proceedings whicli now cause such serious loss of time, and several details. The Act introduced in the session IS7I, and ai;aiii proposed and withdrawn lust session, was, iu the main, approved by this Chamber, and the committee suggest that Government be requested to again endeavour to obtain its enactment by Parliament. The other subject, alluded to above is one that has recently, for the first time, occupied public attention. The committee refer to the right of landowners to prevent the passage through their property of limber driven bv freshets, or otherwise, from forests above their holdings. As a considerable amount of the wealth of the province is contained iu our kauri forests and sawmill properties, and tho Crown grants issued lo holders of forest lands have been ruled not to convey any light to the use of creeks beyond the boundaries of the properties conveyed, it is feared serious loss to this industry will follow, unless some relief is at. once provided by law. It is evident that the use of creeks for the purpose of floating kauri or other forest trees from the bush should be specially reserved from interference, proper provision being made for securing the proprietors of lands on the banks from loss through any such operations. 4. Drawbacks Act : The committee also desire the authority of the Chamber for applying to Government to ' place the two articles haberdashery and millinery upon the 3rd schedule of the Drawbacks Act. 5. llarbour Works: The opinion of this Chamber as to the advisability

of ranking the construction of a large graving dock, witli not leas than 14 feet of water on Die sill, a first chargo upon the loan now sought by the Harbour Board, should ui'iiin be expressed, and communicated to Uie Harbour Board at tlio proper time. G. The committee hare to report that one of their number, Mr. Sheru, having left the colony, it devolves upon the Chamber to elect a successor."— With a viow of eliciting discussion upon the report, the Chairman moved its adoption by the Chamber. —Mr. Dargaville Beconded the motion. He believed it to be clear, and to express all that "was required. Ho Mould content himself by referring to the necessity

of legislating in some way with reference to the expression of the state of the law winch His Honor Judge Johnston recently made ; tlmt the owners of land had the power to obstruct the passage of tlio timber from pasßing down the creeks through their property. As the timber trade -was so important to the prosperity of "tlio province the recommendation in the report was very necessary. r lhis speaker also strongly advocated the erection of a large dock in preference to a small one. He considered that it becamo tlio Chamber to distinctly record its view of the matter in favour of a large dock, on behalf of the interests of the public gene-

rally.—Mr. Cruickshank said that the question of reviving the San Francisco mail service had been discussed in tho colonies; but after the collapse of the Webb line, it was not likely that a line would bo successfully established. It was, therefore, the more necessary that the Suez mail service should be put on a proper footing. He could not speak authoritatively, but lie thought the hint thrown out Vy the Chamber "was worth the attention of the Government and of the public generally. .As far as it was in liis power, he I would give it his hearty support.—Mr. McMillun thought that in the paragraph referring to a drawback on millinery and haberdashery, an amendment should bo made, as a great deal of the millinery was made up here. —Mr. Stevenson replied that no alteration was proposed on this subject. Mr. Stevenson also spoke in favour of a. large graving-dock, | and the subsidising of mail steamers for direct communication with Australia. He, however, considered it better for the Chamber to make the request in general terms, than to state the amount.—This alteration was agreed to. —Mr. X. Macffarlane stated that he had seen the new Bankruptcy Act, and all their recommendations had been engrafted in it. All hat was necessary was to suggest that the

Government take the earlieat opportunity of getting the Act curried through the House. He believed that this w.ould hare been done last session only for the party squabbles "which took place.—The adoption of the report waß put and carried unanimously. Election of Committeeman. —Mr. J. Y. Stevenson was elected a member of the com" mittee [instead of Mr. J. M. Shera, who liQB left the colony. Motion of Regret.—The Chairman said that the formal business of the Chamber was concluded, but he considered it right for the members of the Chamber of Commerce to express their sorrow at the loss of two gentlemen who had both been connected with it— Messrs. William Morrin and David Graham. Mr. Graham had been ono of the most active supporters of the Chamber of Com-nerce. He had been a member of its committee, and chairman, for several years. He had at all times taken a lively interest in its prosperity. Mr. Morrin had been eo recently amongst them, and his presence was so vivid in all their minds, that they must all feel his loss very much. He had always given his warm support to everything affecting the welfare of the community.— Mr. Von der Heyde, therefore, proposed, " That it be recorded iu the minutes that this Chamber of Commerce had a deep sense of the loss which it and the commercial community had sustained by the deaths of Win. Morrin and David Graham."