AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11659, 16 February 1900, Page 5

AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

(Per United Press. Association.)) AUCKLAND, February 15. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce the retiring president (Mr John Burns) gave an address. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £249, an increase of £65 for the year. The chairman's address dealt with commercial matters and the products of the province and the colony during the outgoing year. He said: The year past has been one of quiet, steady progress. Our exports and imports were larger than those of the previous year, and a fair volume of business has in consequence passed through the hands of our mercantile firms. Our timber industry has been more than usually busy, the local demand having been greater than the ordinary, while the exports to the south and Australia have also increased. Our mines, are being steadily worked with, .-upon the whole, .fair results, although some of them have, not fulfilled expectations. The gold returns, for the year arc well in advance of the previous year's figures. Kauri gum has had smother record year, and our other staples nil show an increase. The outlook for the coming year, however, is much more cheerful. The grain and nroduce trade business has shown a. considerable advance in volume, but prices have ruled low, with the exception of maize. 1 Towards the end of the year an unusual demand for horse feed from South.Africa had the effect of advancing the prices of oats. The price of the staple, wool, advanced considerably towards the end of the year. . The state of: affairs in regard to the dairy industry within the Auckland province is very satisfactory., We have an increase of about 50 per cent, on last year's production, and this would even have been extended if dry weather had not set .in very early and continued so long. Our port is now, in fact, the third largest exporter of butter'in.the colony. Last year the total shipments of frozen meat were equivalent to 20.000 carcases of 601b each, and this season already wo have sent double this quantity away, and it is to be hoped ' before "ths "season closes to reach 100,000 carcases. Tiie present dry season may affect the quantity, but it is to be hoped that, as there is. every appearance of a change, stock ■will come on again. The quality of the beef is equal to a.ny produced in any part of the world, but for mutton and lambs there is still prr.eat room for improvement. Stimulated by a- strong' demand from Europe and America, our flax industry shows a very marked increase, both in the quantity of the manufactured article exported and the value realised. The production has been nearly doubled, and the increase in prices realised has been about £5 per ton on an average. The immediate cause of this phenomenal improvement mny be traced to the war trouble in the Philippine?. "It is to be fesred that the present range of prices cannot long be maintained, as already there are signs of an approaching settlement. Referring to the exhibition surplus, the President said: Our legal claim to the surplus fluids cannot to g-sinaud. It lias been duly put forward, and I have no doubt tho amount Will shortly be available

for iko erection1 of a, building such as the Chamber urgently needs. The members of the Chamber formed the majority of'guarantors, iind as exhibitors contributed very largely to tile financial succor of the exhibition. The outlay of the members of the Chamber in this way'could, not .have beon less than £3000. Mr Sn.roiiel Yaile was then elepted;#.resident.