CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 674, 30 January 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPORT.

The following is the principal portion of the report which was to have been presented to the members of the Chamber of Commerce at tha annual meeting, but which lapsed for want of a quorum : In submitting the following report of the transactions of the chamber during its tenure of office, your council has first to point out that the period brought under review is shorter than is ordinarily the case, owing to the fact that at its recent incorporation the year of the chamber was made to terminate on

the 31st December, instead of on the 10th of March. If, however, the ground, to be covered by this report is less than usual, it will be seen that some of the events that have occurred during the perio i in question are of cousider- • able importance. NORTH ISLAND RAILWAY. S'irst in prominence among the events of the vear are the steps that have been taken toward the prosecution or railway works in this island. Dor many years it has been felt that 'the prosperity of the North Island was retarded through the long delay.in the construction of those main lines of railway which had always been recognised as a necessary part of the colonial Public Works policy. .A. number of the residents of this city and district bad, with commendable energy and foresight, •endeavored to mitigate this evil by the establishment of a company for the construction of what is known as the Wellington-Manawatu Kailway. This line, admittedly of the highest importance, is, however, but a part of what was needed, and it is therefore with considerable satisfaction that your council congratulates the chamber on the fact that the legislature, at its recent session, decided upon the immediate construction of a line from Marton to Te'Awamutu, which, when completed, will bring Wellington into direct railway communication with the City and District of Auckland and all the intermediate country. That this line is to be carried by the central route cannot but be gratifying to this chamber, which has always been the consistent advocate of the adoption of that route the one most conducive to the best interests of the colony, opening a 3 it does the largest amount of good country to both the principal ports of the North Island. Another line, the construction of which was strongly supported in the last annual report, is one through the Manawatu Gorge to connect Palmerston North wifh Woodville. This Das also received the sanction of the Legislature, and is to be put in hand forthwith. It is understood that every effort will be made to have this line completed within the next eighteen months, by which time it is estimated that the Wellington-Manawatu Kail way will ■also be finished. By the middle of 1886 Wellington may, therefore, be expected to be in direct railway communication with New Plymouth on the West Coast, with Napier on the East Coast, and also with works in progress which will at no distant date connect it with Auckland and all the ceatcal country of the North Island. Wellington-Manawatu. —The construction o£ this line is still being energetically prosecuted, and, out of the entire length of 83 miles, 63 miles are under contract, while tenders for the remaining 20 miles are to be invited shortly. The permanent-way is completed from Wellingtou to Johnsonville,.and it Is anticipated that by the month of April next the line will be finished and opened to Parramatta, a distanceof 16 miles from Wellington. Further contracts are in hand forjthe formation of the line as far as Paikakariki. At the Palmerston end contracts are let covering the line from Palmerston to half-a-mile south of Otaki. The contractors at that end have been retarded by exceptionally bad weather, but it is hoped they may yet complete their works by the contract date. It is anticipated that the entire line will be finished quite within the time originally stated. The company has procured a portion of the rolling stock required for traffic at the Wellington end, and expects to receive by the Kenilworth, due in February, the passenger carriages necessary for the equipment of the entire line. The company is advertising for public sale about 20.000 acres of agricultural and pastoral land, including the township of Linton and suburban sections. Manutahi to Hawera. —The gap of about ten mileß which exists at this part of the FoxtonNew Plymouth line would have been completed ere now but for the failure of one of the contractors who had undertaken the work, and ihe intervention of a great deal of unfavorable weather. ■ It is now expected to be ready fer traffic about the end of February next. Napier-Woodville,—This line is now open as for as Tahoraite, and further tenders are about to be invited for the balance of the work. Wellington-Woodville. —The work of the formation contract for eight miles beyond Opaki, which was let at the date of the last annual reoort, has been delayed through bad weather. ’ A further contract of a little over eight miles has since been let, and the two contracts are now proceeding together. This section is making but slow progress, and as the ' line between Masterton and Woodville will pass through some exceedingly valuable country, your council is impressed with the importance of the work, ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE.

The first of the proposed annual conferences of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce took place during the year, and the report of the conference is in the hands of members of the chamber. The following were the subjects dealt with, viz. :—Bankruptcy Law, the Administration of New Zealand Railways, the introduction cf Decimal System of Weights and Measures, the working of the Customs Tariff, Tribunals of Commerce, and Payment for the Carriage of Mails by direct steamers. Copies were forwarded to the Government of the resolutions arrived at. TELEPHONE EXCHANGE. The Chambers of Commerce throughout the colony feel that, in view of the very large profit received by the Government from the working of this institution, a further reduction —* ought to be made in the charge for its use. It is already well supported by the community, the number of connections in Wellington having increased from 123 in March last to 210 at the present date. There can be no doubt that a more moderate charge would result iu a considerable addition to the number of subscribers, and this would again enhance its value to those who use it. There is evidently still room for a large increase ia the list of members among retail traders and householders. COLONIAL EXHIBITION. The Government has announced its intention of promoting exhibitions of colonial products and manufactures, to be held yearly in one or other of the chief centres of the colony. The first exhibition is to be held in Wellington, in the month of August of this year. Such exhibitions may no doubt be made very beneficial in the encouragement of colonial industries, and it is satisfactory to see that manufacturers are taking the matter up energetically.

HAEBOR WORKS. The prospect of a considerable expansion of

the trade of this port on the completion of the several railway lines now in progress and about to be constructed, points emphatically to the necessity of extended harbor accommodation. The enemy displayed in this direction by the Harbor Board is very commendable. In the late session of Parliament they promoted the Wellington Harbor Board Loans Consolidation Act, which gives this bo ly a further borrowing power to the extent of £IOO,OOO, to be expended upon works within the harbor of Wellington. During the year woiks have been carried out giving such increased wharf accommodation that two of the largest oceangoing steamers can be discharged or loaded at the Queen’s Wharf at the same time. Additional shed accommodation has also been provided, and it may safely be sto.ted that this port can give greater facilities for the despatch of large vessels than any other in the colony. This accommodation has been given without further taxing either importers or shipowners, and it is satisfactory to know that other and more extensive works have been decided upon, to be carried out during the current year. ELECTRIC TIRE SIGNALS. The Chamber has brought under the notice of the City Council the importance of having electric fire signals established throughout this city as a means of giving prompt notice of the existence and locality of a fire. The City Council, while admitting the desirablenesss of th» work, is at present deterred from carrying it out by want of funds. TE ARO RECLAMATION. This important work has been delayed through the failure of the successive contractors who have undertaken it. This Chamber thought it necessary, at a certain stage, to express its conviction that it was inadvisable that the reclamation should be carried into such deep water as was proposed by the Corporation. The Harbor Board had previously expressed the 3»me view, which was subsequently endorsed by the vote of the ratepayers. It is to be hoped that the City Council will deal energetically with this matter, and will reclaim sufficient land to relieve the present block of traffic in Willis-street. TRADE WITH BELGIUM. The mercantile community of Antwerp have deputed one of their number, M. de Harven, to visit this colony with the view of testing the probabilities of the establishment of commercial relations between the two countries, and also to ascertain the prospects of the introduction of Belgian immigrants into the colony. The inquiry is one worthy the sympathy of the Chamber, and your council feels that every reasonable facility and encouragement should be afforded to the project by the mercantile community, and by the Government of the colony. A large number of samples of Belgian manufactures have been deposited in the rooms of the Chamber, where they were open for inspection for some time. STATISTICS OF TRADE. The year 1884: has not been a very profitable one for those engaged in commerce in this colony. The prices obtained for our main staple, wool, have not been satisfactory to producers, and the result of the last wheat harvest has been a very di-astrous one for agriculturists. The London market for frozen meat has also been generally depressed, and but few articles of colonial export have yielded a satisfactory return. Importers have also had to contend with a low range of prices throughout the year, leaving small margins of profit. This colony has been, however, by no means singular in these unsatisfactory experiences, which hare teen common to other communities at Home and the colony. Signs of greater activity are, moreover, now noticeable, giving indication of an improved condition of affairs in the year that has just begun. Railway and harbor works have been inaugurated in various pants of the colony, which may be expected to result in the promotion of settlement and general expansion of trade. LAND SETTLEMENT. It is important, however, that the construction of railroads should be accompanied by immigration of a desirable class, so that as land becomes available it may be brought into profitable occupation, and products raised therefrom which shall swell the value of our colonial exports. MEMBERS. During the year eight members have been elected, and six have resigned or discontinued membership.