ONEHUNGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7000, 24 April 1884, Page 6

ONEHUNGA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

■Thß drdinary meeting of the above Chamber Mas held in the Borough Council Offices on Friday evening last at the usual hour.. In the absence of the President and: VicePresident, Mr. James Sullivan -was unanimously voted to the chair. There was a large and representative attendance of members. . Two letters were received from the Pnblio Works Department, the first, dated April 7, intimating that " sea harrows " had been despatched per vessel to Onehunga, and may be expected in a few days from that date, and that either the Stella or the Hinemoa would be available shortly to make the experiment of endeavouring by means of the harrows to remove the obstructive bank existing between the wharf and the first beacon. This letter was considered highly satisfactory, as affording some tangible proof of a deeire, in this particular, to mete out a degree of tardy justice in a matter of such importance to the whole of the shipping interest of the port. It was stated that the harrows have already arrived, and there will be a large amount of interest created in the trial, which Captain Fairchild prognosticated would prove a success. . The second letter was as follows :—" Bailway Department, Head Office,. Wellington,. 31st March, 1884. Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of the 17th instant respecting the recent alterations in the scale of charges for the Gnehunga wharves, and note your suggestion that the management of the wharves should be removed from the control of the Government. In reply I have the honour to inform you that it is considered that the placing of the wharves in the hands of a local body would bo prejudicial to the interest of the railway, and to the convenience of the general public. I regret, therefore, to be unable to comply with your request.—l have, etc,, Ebwik Mitchblsojr, Minister for Public Works.—To the Seoretary Onehunga Chamber of Commerce." —This letter evoked at vast amount of adverse oritioiim, in whioh most members took part, and whilst its extreme oandour was highly appreciated by most of the speakers, the reasons assigned for non-compliance were most scathingly dealt with. Scores of illustrations were adduced, to show that nothing could be more " prejudicial" to the interest of the railway than the present vexatious arrangements and gross anomalies characterising the administration of the absurd regulations which at present prevail. The state-' ment that local control.would prove inimical to public convenience, was looked upon as a pieoe of supreme irony, seeing that the present management has so long set public convenience utterly at defiance. .Perhaps the discussion on this matter was, in some I particulars, a little indisoreet, but if the Minister's letter was candid, the disoussion on it was the very essence of candour. It was expected that the draft of a local Harbour Bill would have been received from Sir G. M. O'Rorke, and some disappointment was expressed at its non-appearance, though many reasons were assigned for its absence. It was finally resolved that a committee, consisting of the "Vice-President (Mr. William Stevenson) and Messrs. Sullivan and Brierley wait upon Sir Gr. M. O'Eorke at an early period to request him to be good enough to endeavour to have the draft Bill ready for the next meeting of the Chamber, : whioh will be on the 2nd of May.

A verbal report re the general freight charges was brought up by Mr. Brierley, and some alleged inconsistencies were disclosed in the discussion which ensued. For instance, it was stated that goods can be shipped.at Auckland end be transhipped from Wellington to Waaganui, and be delivered at the latter place at a cheaper rate than by direct or other shipment from Mannkau. The Secretary was instructed to communicate with interested parties re this matter, and Mr. P. Molntyre'a name was added to the Freight Committee.

The Newmarket toll-bar was considered at great length, and as it was intimated that the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association would probably consider . the desirability at its next meeting to take steps for the removal of this alleged hindrance to progress, it was resolved that the two members of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association Committee . (who, were present) should assure the association of a hearty co-operation on the part of the Chamber in dealing .with this.' important matter. ; - r. •,.■„.- ~,. r '. : ' '■• [ The question of.'the telephone, as an ecpno; mical and expeditious means of/communicav tion, was also considered, and whilst 'it" wasunderstood that reform in some minor mate ters is very desirable, the general impression was that even in its present form and uses,it is an unquestionable boon to -the town., -

Mr. Damroodie gave notice that at. next, meeting he would propose Mr. . John Chambers, oi Auckland, as a, member of the Chamber ; and. Mr. James Sullivan gave a.similar notice re Mr. James Shaldrick, jun. This being all the business, the usual adjournment was declared, after a sitting of two and a-half hours' duration. • ]