CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13814, 29 July 1908, Page 5

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

HAMILTON. [FROM OUR OWN COnRESPOSDBN'T.j

Hamilton, Tuesday. The annual meeting of members of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce was held last night, Mr. J. W. Ellis (president) in the chair.

The annual report showed that during the year 20 new members had been added to the roll, and the total membership to data is 119. The balancesheet submitted showed a balance of £6 13s sd. The annual dinner was held in December and proved a success in that it brought together members of Parliament and representatives' from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the chairmen of a considerable number of local bodies. Preliminary inquiries had been made as to the desirableness ot forming a branch of the Employers' Federated Association- lor South Auckland. The report, was adopted. -• . , v .'The president submitted" a ctMprehtSdsivb' re-' -" port, in which he stated that many matters had engaged the- attention of 'the committee. Owing to their action there \ver> now early trains reaching Hamilton from Putaruru and. To Kuiti, and there' were other representations with regard to the railway service which, they hoped would be adopted in 'the near future, when the train service was remodelled. They had been busy in telephonic matters' with . considerable success, and there were now bureaux established at 18 places. They liiftl also .secured the promise of a second wire- to Auckland. The Chamber had moved In the direction of getting a high school lor tho Waikato established at Hamilton, and in conjunction-.with others the Chamber had urged upon Sir Joseph Ward to impress the necessity of establishing electrical power works for, amongst other things, the production of nitrogen from the atmosphere. The past year had been an unfortunate one for the fanners, and their profits had shrunk considerably, but, as evidence of a generally sound condition, the unfortunate season had very little apparent effect upon general business. Good prices for tho coming season's butter seem assured, and wool at' last appeared to bo , on the upgrade. The opening up of the Main Trunk line would put new life, into the district and help to develop the enormous amount of unimproved land not only in the King Country, but also in the more-settled districts. During the past year the Government had made large purchases of native laud, which should be. put on tbs market next summer. ' '

' Ofiicers for the ensuing: year were elected as follows: —President, Mr. J. W. Ellis; vice-presi-dent, Mr. C. L. MacDiannid; treasurer, Mr. W. P. Mason; executive committee, Messrs. A. Bell, J. S. Bond, I. Coates, W. 0. Davis, W. Bey, T. B. Dillicar, W. Uoodfcllow, R. J. Gwynue, F. W. Herdman, E. Hey wood, A. Swarbrick, J, E. Tidd, 11. E. Tristram, J. Varuey, and, J. A. Toting:. With reference to the question of establishing a branch of the Employers' Association for the Waikato and goldfields, the following motion was carried:— That it be a .recommendation to the incoming executive to take steps to form a branch and that Mr. Pryor be Invited to visit the district for that purpose." ~

CAMBRIDGE

[l-lt-JM OUR'.'OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Cambridge, Tuesday.

The quarterly mceting*'of members of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce was held last evening, Mr. C. ii. Treadgold (president) in the chair. The quarterly report of the executive referred to tiie eiforta made- in the direction of securing hr.-poi-tano improvements in matters vitally affecting the welfare' of the district. 'i The report was adopted, details of a function in connection with tho annual meeting in September being left Lo the executive to arrange. Mr. T. Wait* (district traffic manager) wrote, in reply to the Chamber's complaint regarding the law arrival of the Cambridge trains, in which ho explained why the delays occurred and promising that when the time-table was being revised ani endeavour would bo made to remedy the matter. The Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department wrote that the chiming clock had arrived, and as soon'as it could be got to Cambridge arrangements would be made for its erection without delay. The Acting-Under-Secretary of the Department of Justice wrote stating that the plans for the new Courthouse are now in course of preparation. Mr. A. Ramsay, of Tawbare, urged that the, Government be asked to throw open a block of' 7000 acres of native 'lands about live miles from Cambridge. It was agreed to frame a petition and forward it to Mr. Ramsay, with a request that he should, obtain signatures: The question of arranging holidays to fit in with Fleet Week was. referred to the chairman and secretary, who will ascertain the wishes of the tradespeople. The matter of holding a carnival during Easter .week next year was warmly advocated, and a small preliminary committee was appointed to go into the scheme and report. On the motion of Mr. G. IS. Clark the Department is to be approached n;,ain in regard to getting a separate telephone line between Cambridge and Auckland.

It was decided to write to the Minister for Justice suggesting that, ■as it is understood Maungatautari Mountain is to be declared a goldfield, Cambridge, be confuted the Warden's Court for the new field.