CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4884, 16 November 1876, Page 7

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A general meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held on Friday,, the 3rd November, in Mr. Carroll’s office, Lambtonquay. • There was a very large attendance of members. Mr. Levin, the Chairman, presided. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman : I have to report, in reference to the resolution moved by Mr. _Dun-i can regarding the extension of the jurisdiction; of the Resident Magistrate’s Court to the extent of £IOO, that the Government were com-: munioated with by the committee, and that the extension has been gazetted. I have to apologise, gentlemen, for not having called you together at an earlier date. In accordance with our rules, the quarterly meeting of the Chamber should have been held in September, but the committee thought it desirable to postpone the meeting until Mr. Carroll had effected certain alterations in the room in which we are now assembled, and which you will presently be asked to authorise the committee to rent for a period of one year- I have on : previous occasions pointed out the importance of the Chamber haying a habitation of its own ; and I think this room is in many respects suited to its wants, having besides the advantage of being under the same roof as the offices of the Secretary, Mr. Carroll. Of course it entails considerable outlay, but I think you will agree with me that the time has come when we should no longer trespass on the kindness of one of our members for a place in which to hold meetings of our Chamber; Since the last meeting the Wellington Harbor Board .‘Bill, in the initiation of which the Chamber took a prominent part, has been before Parliament, but owing to (he refusal of

the Legislative Council to sanction the borrowing powers for which it provided,* lb o measure was withdrawn. I can hardly regret this as in a great measure the advantages we hoped to obtain under the Bill will be provided by the Corporation, that body having obtained the power to borrow £19,000 for making additions and improvements to the Queen’s Wharf, and no doubt they will see their way to reduce the charges which have been found to be disadvantageous to the interests of the port. I would allude specially to the charges on goods sent here for transhipment. I still hope, however, that at no distant date the wharf and harbor will be under the management either of a Harbor Board or the General Government, and I hope that the subject; which is not only of local interest but which has agitated nearly every port in the colony, will he considered by the Government of such importance as to induce them during the next session of Parliament to introduce a comprehensive measure applicable tothe wbole colony. Ido not think, gentlemen, I have anythingmore to say, except on one subject of a purely personal character, and which I am sorry to say involves the severance for a time of my connection with this Chamber. lam about to leave New Zealand on a short visit to England, and of course I must resign the honorable office of Chairman of the Chamber. I can assure you, gentlemen, that I am very grateful for the honor yon have done me in twice electing me to this office, and I can only say that I strongly hope the Chamber’s sphere of usefulness, under more able guidance, may long continue. The Chairman, who had resumed his seat, again rose and said : Mr, Hunter reminds me, in reference to the Debtors and Creditors Act, which was before Parliament last session, that most of the recommendations emanating from this and other Chambers in the colony have been introduced into the Bill. I also recollect that I forgot to mention that the committee of this Chamber, moved by committees appointed in Carterton and Masterton for the purpose of urging on the Minister of Public Works the necessity for a speedy commencement of the valley portion of the Masterton railway, in conjunction with the members for the Wairarapa and City of Wellington, waited on the Minister for Public Works; and I may state that the answer which we received was deemed satisfactory by the gentlemen at whose instigation we sought the interview, i Mr. Bannattne begged to propose that the room in which the Chamber was at present meeting be rented from Mr. Carroll at the rate of £IOO per annum for one year, with the right of rental on the part of the Chamber for another year, or a longer period, should it be considered advisable. Mr. Duncan seconded the motion.

Mr. Thomas asked whether the room should be devoted exclusively to the use of members of the Chamber, and whether, it would be accessible to them at other hours than when meetings were being held 1 The Chairman replied that the room would be used by the Chamber exclusively, and would be accessible to members during business hours. He might add that the room would he available after business hours, if wished by members of the Chamber. The resolution was then put and carried. FINANCIAL POSITION. The Chairman said it might he interesting to members to know that after paying all its liabilities up to date the Chamber had a balance in hand, in round numbers, of £3OO. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. The Chairman read the following telegram from Mr. E. Logan Campbell, Chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce :—“ The Auckland Chamber of Commerce have been informed that the Wellington Chamber consider the Bay of Islands as a port of call would not be advantageous to the colony. If so, kindly support this Chamber’s communication of to-day to the Government in support of Auckland. J. Logan Campbell, chairman.” He (the Chairman) might state that the committee had not met since this telegram was received, and he now laid it before the general meeting, in case it should be decided to take any action in the matter. * Mr. Hunter said he should be glad to move that the port of call should be Auckland. That was the position which he had taken up in the House when this matter was discussed on several occasions. It seemed to him that there could be no doubt as to the desirability of making Auckland the port of call in the colony, provided the service was limited to one port in New Zealand. It would be very inconvenient for passengers to go to the Bay of Islands, and considering the large amount of money paid for the service, he thought that the convenience of passengers from England should receive consideration. Therefore he would move, —That this Chamber is of opinion that the port of call for the San Francisco mail steamers to New Zealand, if limited to one port, should be Auckland, and not the Bay of Islands; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Postmaster-General. The Hon. Mr. Rhodes seconded the motion. Mr. DONOAN recognised that the subject before the meeting was as to whether Auckland or the Bay of Islands should be the port ot call, and it was not desirable perhaps to go outside of that question, although he should like to have seen some proposition that Wellington should be the port of call in preference to either of the other places mentioned. Referring, however, to the point for present consideration, he thought no one in Wellington could well advocate that the Bay of Islands should be the port of call in preference to a place of such large importance as the city of Auckland. He trusted that the Chamber and the outside public would give their moral support to the Government in fixing the port of call at Auckland. He regarded it as most unfair that New South Wales should attempt to dictate terms to the. Government of New Zealand, and he was very glad indeed to see the resolution proposed. Mr: Hunter said he weuld like to mention that there was no alternative before the House. The contractors would only conm to one port in New Zealand, and the question was whether that port should be Auckland or the Bay of Islands. The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried. Mr. Hunter suggested that a copy of the resolution should also be sent to Mr. J. Logan Campbell, Chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The suggestion was concurred in, and the secretary was instructed accordingly.

MB. KEVIN'S PROJECTED DEPARTURE. In regard to the announcement made by Mr. Levin during his opening address, as to his intended visit to England, Mr. Woodward said he was confident of the regret that would be felt at the announcement that this might be the last occasion on which they would have the pleasure of seeing! Mr. Levin among them for a considerable period. He hoped and believed that the! Chamber would be glad to retain that gentle-: man’s name as Chairman as long as prao-i ticable, until the next meeting at least, , which, in the usual course, would be in j March next. Ho felt certain that the | feeling of every member of the Chamber was j that he should not be allowed to _ leave without such an expreaasion of opinion as would testify their thanks to him for the valuable and energetic services which he had rendered to the Chamber. The members of the Chamber generally knew, and members of the committee would know still better, how earnest and indefatigable Mr. Levin had been in the discharge of his duties; and those duties had been rendered the more difficult inasmuch os he bad undertaken the reorganisation of the Chamber. He had faithfully discharged, them, however, and the result'was that they bad attained the position in which they stood 1 to-day. He would, therefore, move .that' the cordial thanks of the Chamber be accorded to Mr. Levin for his past services, wishing him success on his intended journey, and hoping, soon again to meet him as a member of the Chamber, and perhaps holding a position similar to that which he hold at present.

Air. Bannartne had very great pleasure in seconding the resolution of Mr. Woodward. As one of tho committee, ha could vouch for the zealous and able assistance which _Mr. Levin had been to them ; and he cordially echoed the sentiments of respect and esteem

that Mr. Woodward had given expression to regarding that gentleman. 1 Mr. -. Hunter had great pleasure in bearing testimony to the debt of gratitude which the Chamber owed to its Chairman, and in testifying to, the trouble he had taken in improving its position. It was a very necessary institution, and if they did their duty to Wellington they would maintain it. 1 At the suggestion of the meeting, Mr. Hunter then put the resolution, which was carried. Mr. Levin, in returning thanks, said he felt very much flattered indeed at this quite unlooked for approval of his conduct. He could only say that he had, taken a little trouble in endeavoring to rescue'thia Chamber and establishing it on a safe basis, but any trouble he had taken had been rendered exceedingly light by the aid of the committee.!