CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6098, 3 June 1881, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members was held yesterday at the office in Shortland-street, Mr. T. Motrin. (T. and S. Morrin) in the chair. Present : Messrs. J. M. Clark (Archibald Clark and Son), McMillan and Larkius (MeArthur and Co.), L. D. Nathan (Nathan and Co.), Dr. Campbell (Brown, Campbell, and Co.), C. B. Stone (Stone Bros.), Graves Aickin, D. H. McKenzie, J. Lamb, Bell, J. P. King, and Lodder. The Secretary read the minutes of the last general meeting, which were confirmed, also the annual report, as follows :— Report of the Committeo of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for the year ending 31st the May, 1831 :— The committee have the pleasure to presoot their report for the year ending 31st May, 1831 :—The principal subjects which have occupied their attention are the following: Property Tax, Bankruptcy Laws, Fire Insurance, Fiji Trade and Pacific Islands Sleam Service, Customs Regulations, Bonded Goods to Islands, New Customs Tari/r. Deposits on Average Bonds, Wool ExWbition (London), Steam Subsidy to Islands, Kauri Gum. Port Surveyor, Haven Gold Mining Company, Limited (London), Drawbacks, Now Zealand Shipping Company, Harbour Board, Reclamation, Analytical Chemist, and Auckland Railway. Puor-EIiTY Tax.—This subjeet was discussed at somo length at a special meeting in June, ISSO, and it was ultimately decided that the property tax should be repealed ; that the land tax should bo increased ; and that an additional duty should be imposed on tea, sugar, and colonial beer. Laws.—ln June, ISSO, a communication was received from the Chairmen of Committees of the Legislative Council and House of Bepresenta. tives, asking for suggestions in the alteration of the Bankruptcy Law. . After careful consideration the suggestions, with some modifications, were adopted, and replies sent to that effect. Vir.2 a>-d Majiixe Insurance Bill.—A letter having been recoived from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, asking this Chamber to consider the resolutions passed on the Fire and Marino Insurance Bill before Parliament, a special meeting of the Chamber was called to consider the matter, and after some discussion, it was resolved, "That this Chamber considers that a Bill similar in its provisions to the one under consideration is desirable, and will conduce to the interests of the public, and to that of the insurance companies now carrying on business in New Zealand." A copy of this resolution was forwarded to the Wellington Chamber of Comvnerce. Customs Keculatioks Re Bonded Goods to tiik Islands.—A letter from Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co. having been received on this subject, your committee considered the matter, and ultimately passed the following resolution, " That the committeo of this Chamber considers the signing.of bonds guaranteeing the return of certificates of the loading of goods at the South Sea Islands tends to injure the export tiade of this port, and is generally detrimental to the commercial interests of New Zealand, and that the present system of bonds for bonded and drawback goods should be abolished."

New Customs Tariff.—Your committee having considered the various clau--.»s of the Customs tariff adopted the following resolution, a copy of which was forwarded to the Commissioner of Customs, Wellington, "That tiiis Chamber considers tho interpretation of clause 5 of the Customs Tariff Act is an injustice to the importers ofliquids containing only an infinitesimal percentage of spirits, sufficient to preserve such liquids, and this Chamber regrets that Sykes' hydrometer is not allowed to be used to ascertain tlie exact quantity of spirit in sucbjliquids." Average Bonds.—The attention of your committee having been drawn to this in a communication from the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, decided to concur in the suggestions made, viz , that all deposits required under average bonds from the consignees of goods should be paid into the hands of trust 03

Wool Examines, London".—Your eommitteo having received an intimation from tho Colonial Secretary that an exhibition of wool would be held at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1831, notice of this was given in the newspapers by advertisement, but as no funds were provided by Government to moot such expenses, the notices worj discontinued, and so far as your committee are awire, no exhibits were forwarded'

Steam Service to loscv asd Samoa. — Your committee considering this a matter of great importance to the commerce of this port, in November forwarded a communication to the Government urging the establishing in connection with the present Fiji service, an extension to Tonga and Samoa at tho very earliest date possible. Tho matter having been referred to tho Postmaster-General, lie replied that under the existing financial circumstances of the colony, theGovernmont did not foel justified in incurring the necessary expense. In January last your committeo again drew the attention of the Government -to the importance of subsidising, and the extension of, the Fiji steam service to Tonga and Samoa. The result of your committee's recommendation up to tho present lias not been satisfactory, and they still urge the matter as a great want.

Kauri Gum.—The attention of the Chamber having been drawn to the resolution passed by the Waste Lands Board of Auckland to impose an export duty on gum, at tho quarterly meeting held iu January last it was resolved, " That the Chamber recommends that effect bo not given to such resolution," and a copy ot the recommendation was forwarded to Government.

Haves Goldmin-ixg Company, London*.—lt having transpired that a company had been formed in London under tbe name of the Haven Goldmining Company, and a prospectus with plan of ground having been received, your committeo found on inquiry with tho Brokers , Association that the ground as per plan -was in tho possession of and worked by another company, and it was decided that a telegraai signed by the Chairman of this Chamber and the Chairman of the Brokers" Association should be forwarded to the Bank of New Zealand, London, intimating that the ground reforrod to in the prospectus was in tho possession of aud worked by another Drawdacks. A sub-committee having been appointed to consider this subject, a report as follows was drawn up and adopted at the quarterly meeting in April, and a copy forwarded to Government.

Niiw Zealand Suutixu Company.—The following resolution having Leon passed at tho last quarterly cates the action of the New Zealand Shipping Company in sending ships South to load which ought to bo loaded here bas been detrimental to the commerce of the port." A copy of this resolution was forwarded to tho Chairman tho Shipping Company, requesting his consideration o the matter.

Constitution of Harbour Board.—Tho necessity of making a change in the constitution of tbe Harbour Board having becotno urgent, at the last quarterly meeting it was resolved, " That this Chamber recommends the advisibility of making a change in the constitution of tho Auckland Harbour Board, and would suggest that the three members now nominated by tlie City Council, also tho three members nominated by tho Highway Districts of Ponsonby, Dcvonport, and Borough of Parncll, should be sleeted by the ratep tyers of tho same Borough and Highway Districts, and that all elections for the Harbour Board should bo under tlie regulations of the Local Elections Act, 1570." A copy of this resolution was forwarded to

Reclamation-.—The attention of the Minister of Public Works was drawn to the importance of the uniform completion of this work aud the desirability of calling for tenders for filling in the reclamation, in order that it should bo finished conjointly with the wall.

Analytical Chemist. —The Chamber, considering tho appointment of an Agricultural Analytical Chemist of immense importance, urged the Government to place on tho estimates next session a sum sufficient to meet tho expense of a thoroughly competent agricultural and analytical chemist to givo lectures throughout the colony for a limited period.

Your committee doplores tbe want of interest taken in the business of the Chamber by the members. Tlie meagre attendance at tlie meetings is caused probably by the limited space available for filling tlie various public journals, statistical returns, &c, and suggests that somo effort should be made to place tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce representing as it does, so largo a mercantile community, in its proper prominent aud respectable position. In accordance with the rules your committee now retire, and it devolves and treasurer, seven members of committee, and two auditors for the ensuing year.

The balance-sheet was read, but it contained only the amount of subscriptions, £135 19s, with office expenditure. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said : Before vacating the chair o£ this Chamber, I have great pleasure in referring to the progress made by the provincial district of Auckland during the past two years. The census returns, recently completed, give us a population, including 40,000 natives, of 145,000, against 118,671 for IS7S, showing an increase of 26,329. These figures are a larger increase than can be shown by any other part of the colony. The exports for the year IS7S were £622,597, and for this year £881,84=2, making an increase of, in round numbers, £260,000 for this year. The shipping tonnage entering this harboui for the year IS7S was 121,242 tons; cleared out with cargo, 102,000 tons. In ISSO the entered tonnage was 123,756, and the outward tonnage 104,000. The Post-office and Auckland Savings Banks, with an aggregate of 8517 depositors, had deposited £226,340, or an average for every twelve of our population a little over £26 10s. This shows the frugality and industry of our workingclassesand theprosperity of our town. I have obtained from the officer charged by the Government with the statistical enumeration of all the particulars included in the census returns figures, which show the j

great progress that has been made in this part of the colony since 187 S. The figures are rather long to read,-but I will give them to the reporters, who may probably print them for general information. There is a very large increase on most items of productive wealth. Here are the several items. I should say, however, tliaK these are probable summaries for each class of agricultural and pastoral statistics, but I believe they will be found pretty accurate.

Approximate summary of live stock, &c, in tho provincial district of Auckland for the years IS7S and IS3I :—

Cattle, Horses, &c.—Horses, ISSI, 22,875 ; IS7S, 20,932: increase, 1943. Brood mares, included in foregoing, ISSI, 4525: 1873, 3075: increase. 550. Mules and asses, ISSI, 71; IS7S, G2: increase, 9. Cattle, including calves, 1851,133,208 ; IS7S, 127,575 : increase, 5365. Breeding cows, including in foregoing, 1881, 41,831 ; 1878, 42,395: increase, 2433. Sheep, including lambs, ISSI, 680,912; IS7S, 510,277 : increase, 120,035. Breeding ewes, included in the forgoing, ISSI, 331,090; IS7S, 275.573: increase, 55,823. Goats, ISSI, 40G3 ; 187S, 4737: increase, 220, Pigs, ISSI, 43.G7C; IS7S, 34,459: increase, 9211. Other stock, ISSI, 139 ; IS7S. in : increase, 2S.

Poultry.—Fowls, 18S1. 199,258 ; IS7B, 190,139 : increase, 9119. Geese, IS3I, ll.SSO; 187S, 7659: inereaso. 4211. Turkeys, 1881, 47,009 ; 1878, 40,500 : in. crease, 7103. Ducks, 18S1, 29,990; IS7S, 20.849: increase, 3143.

AxsuAl Production of—Butter, 1531,1.945,037 Ins; IS7B, 1,634,355tbs : increase, 311,2491b5. Cheese, ISSI, 303,8591b3 ; IS7B, 205,220 : increase, SCOSlba.

TmtAsniKQ Machines, Etc.—Steam, ISBI, 35; 1878,11: increase, 24. Water ISSI, 17 ; IS7B, 0 : increase, 8. Horse, ISSI, 01; 1878, 72: increaso, 10. Reaping machines, 1831. 279; 1878, 231: increase, 4S. Steam ploughs, 1831,15 ; IS7B, 3: increase, 12. Steam harrows, ISSI, 9 ; 1578,1 : increase, 8.

Lasd Fescf.d asd in Crops. —Total number of acres fenced, IS7B, 573,940; 1831, 531,832: increase, 42,114. Wheat. IS7B, 4540 ; 1881, 5379: increase, 833. Barley and Oats, IS7S, 5383; ISSI, 0285: increase, 002. Potatoes, IS7S, 4550; ISSI, 0502 : increase. 2012. Sown Grasses, 1878, 380,974; ISSI, 452.550 : increase, 71.012. Other Crops, 1878,11,509 ; 1881.12,015 : increase, 500. (Owing to reclassification of headings, the increase is not so large as it otherwise would be.) Total number of acres of crop and grasses, IS.7S, 400,992 ;'ISSI, 432,857: increase. 75,505.

Bjieweries.—lS7S, 15; ISSI, IS. Land, buildings, machinery, ana plant, ISTB, £55,280; ISSI, £50,C30.

Flax-mills.—lß7S, 10 ; ISSI, 17 : decrease, 2. Quantity produced, IS7B, 042 tons ; ISSI, 580, Maxofactohies.—Machines, works, &c, 1878, £054,993 ; ISSI, £999,893.

Quartz Mixes axd Machinery.—Gold produced, 1878, 105,020023.; ISSI, say, 55,0000z5, Quartz crushed, 1878, 109,059 tons ; a SSI, cannot estimate. IS7B, average value per ounce, £2 Us il(L; ISSI, about the same.

Land and Buildixg Societies.— 1881, 9; 1878, 6. Annual contributions, IS7S, £59,000; ISSI, £80,000. The new buildings which adorn our city and suburbs are also evidence of our increasing prosperity. I think I am right in stating, excepting only New South Wales, this portion of New Zealand has progressed more rapidly during the past two years, aod upon a sounder basis, than any other part of Australasia. The census returns published at this particular time should be taken advantage of in the coming session of the General Assembly by our representatives, as arguments against the demands which are constantly made by Southern members for railways and other public works to the great injustice of this portion of New Zealand. Our population, area, and great resources entitle Auckland to a much greater expenditure of public money than we have hitherto received. If our members were unanimous in their desire to assist and develop Auckland, and in demanding tha the Waikato railway should be pushed into the interior to connect with the existing lines either in Napier or in Taranaki, I am confident that it could be accomplished in a year or two. Were such a magnificent country to be acquired in the Middle Island, I venture to say that roads and railways would be completed in a short time. The question of direct steam communication with England is one of great importance to Auckland, and I feel I have, ns your Chairman, been somewhat remiss in not calling a speeial general mesting of the Chamber to discuss the proceedings of the Dunedin Chamber with reference to a direct mail service to Europe. Those recent propositions to the Union Steamship Company to take up the service, and that the Government should subsidise them and exclude Auckland as a port of call are, in my opinion, selfish and extremely presumptuous. We possess one of the best harbours in the colony—one might safely say in Australasia. Steamers of the largest tonnage can come to our wharves at any hour of the day or night, regardless of the state of the tides. It is also a fact that we possess inexhaustible deposits of coal, situated upon harbours where also the largest ocean steamers may load their coal, and at one half the price at which it can be supplied to them in any other port in New Zealand. The census returns, the Customs statistics, our central geographical position, magnificent harbours, our available coal deposits, together with the now certainty of procuring, ere many months, a dock of equal capacity to any in the colonies, and with the past experience of the Panama Company, the present Pacific Mail Company, running to Southern ports, warrants me in stating that any direct steam service to England, to be a financial success, must make Auckland its head-quarters, whether our Southern friends like it or not. In conclusion, gentlemen. I thank you for your kindness and consideration at all time j during the period I have occupied this chair. With these remarks, I beg to move the adoption of the annual report.

Mr. J. Lamb, iu seconding the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said the statistics read by the Chairman were very satisfactory, more especially as such efforts had been made to lessen the credit of the colony. He might state, in regard to the shipping, it was a fact that in IS7S imported goods came in Government vessels. That state of things had ceased. It might therefore be understood that the increase of shipping had been very considerable, even more than appeared from the statement made by the Chairman. He thought that Auckland, as she took her proper plaee, would be the premier province of Hew Zealand. One groat cause of satisfaction was the steady progress of agriculture. There was no doubt that agriculture was the source of nearly every form of industry. Gieat advance had been achieved, and if the people sustained the rate of progress, a condition of the greatest prosperity would soon arrive. He had sent samples of the wheat grown in Auckland to America, and had received a reply, that the province of Auckland, from the samples of wheat forwarded, was most suitable for the growth of wheat. They had heard the statistics of the increase iu the number of harses and cattle, which it was not necessary to refer to at greater length. As to horses, a yearling colt bred in tlie province, fetched a price of £SOO, and a five and a half mouths foal was sold at 1250 guineas. These in themselves were great facts. Ho had much pleasure in seconding the adoption of the report. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted.

New President. —On the motion of Dr. Campbell, seconded by Mr. Lodder, Mr. C. C. McMillan was unanimously elected President for the ensuing year.—On the motion of Mr. Aickin, Mr. L. D. Nathan was unanimously elected Vice-President for the ensuing year. Committee.—The following gentlemen were elected the committee for the ensuing year:—Dr. Campbell, Messrs. J. M. Clark, D. B. Cruickshank, T. Morrin, G-. Aickin, T. Peacock, and C. B. Stone. Auditors.—On the motion of Mr. J. M. Clark, seconded by Mr. J. Lamb, Messrs. J. Waymouth and R. Arthur were elected auditors for the ensuing year. Steam to the South Sea Islands. —A letter was received from the Government, to the effect that the application of the Chamber relating to this subject was under consideration.

Analytical- Chemist'—-The Government also informed the Chamber that the resolution on this subject would be duly considered. :

Constitution of Harbour Board.—A letter was received from the Government, to the effect that the constitution of the Harbour Board could only be altered by an amendment in tile Harbour Board Act.—On the moo'ou of Mr. Waymouth, seconded by Mr. J. M. Clark, it was resolved to refer this matter again to the committee to consider what farther action should be taken.

Railway Shed.—An application was forwarded to the Public Works Department requesting that the shed might be kept open till 3 o'clock on Saturdays. The Undersecretary replied thit a definite answer would be sent to the Chamber shortly. A vote vf thanks to the Chairman coneluded the business.