ONEHUNGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6964, 13 March 1884, Page 5

ONEHUNGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The ordinary meeting of the above Chamber was held on Friday evening last, in the Borough Council Chambers, at the usual hour, Mr. W. Stevenson, Vicc-President, in the chair. There was a fair attendance of membsrs. The business commenced by the Secretary reading copies of letters sent: —To Captain Fairchild, thanking him for the great services rendered in ascertaining the depth and nature of the channel where deepening is required ; and to the Chairman and directors of the Auckland Tramway Company, asking if the company wish to extend the tramway to Ouehnuga, and also for full information relative to the company's intention in this matter. Two letters were read from Mr. .J. Maxwell, General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, in reply to a j letter sent to the Minister for Public Works, ' in which were conceded some trifling alterations in the charges made for goods on the wharf. It was, however, the strongly expressed opinion of the Cnamber, that the great incapacity, and lack of ordinary business knowledge displayed by the railway authorities, not only in the management of the Onehunga wharves during the whole o: the time of their jurisdiction, but also in the administration of affairs and management of the railway between Auckland and Onehunga, was most reprehensible. Indeed, so glaring was this incapacity said to be that any man of ordinary business habits and experience would be ashamed to be associated therewith. The Chamber was unanimously of opinion that it would be futile to attempt to obtain any important concessions re exorbitant export wharf charges from the present management, and that all its energies should be devoted to the purpose of obtaining by legislation or other means local control. A letter was also received from the Minister for Public Works, intimating that an estimate of the cost of deepening the channel between the wharf and beacon had been made, the cost of which was declared to be far in excess of that made by the Chamber.—The Secretary was instructed to reply to this letter, and to state that from a knowledge of the nature of the bottom the Chamber is of opinion that the obstructions can be removed at a much less cost than the sum agreed upon, and that the b.b. Stella when placing the iron buoys could, with the aid of a marine harrow, and other appliances, effectually do this work at a very little cost. Other routine business being gone into, the Chamber was declared adjourned, until Friday the 23rd instant, at She usual hour.