CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 79, 14 August 1868, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

— — ♦ — An ordinary monthly meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce committee was held In their rooms, Wilson and Alport's buildings, this afternoon. Present: Messrs W. Montgomery, (ch.iirmnn) Palmer, Aynsley, Curtis, Richardson, Inglis, Nathan, ana Twentyman. Tho minutes of last meeting wero read and confirmed. The Chairman said the sub-committee appointed to consider the subject of imprisonment for debt, and the state of the law relating to arrests had met, nntl decided that they could not recommend the Chamber to take any further action In cither matter At present, Tho decision of tho Committee waa approved. Tho Chairman said that Mr Day liad ceased to lie a member ef Uie committee, through non-attendance; and it wonld bo necessary to elect a member to fill tho vacancy. A ballot was taken and resulted In tho reelection of Mr Day, The Secretary read a letter from tho Registrar-General, Wellington, enclosing a parliamentary papor, containing abstracts of certain principal results of a census of the colony, taken In December, 1867; and Intimating that tho staastlcaof New Zealand, for ISGG, liad boon transmitted to the Clumber by tho same mail. The Chairman said according to tho rules of tho Chamber, It wonld lie necessary to appoint a day during the current month on which the annual general mooting should bo held. It luid also been usual to elect a subcommittee for preparing the report of tho previous year's proceedings, and it was suggested that this should be done again. On the motion of Mr Aynsley, the 27th InH. wivs fixed for tho general meeting, and ou the motion of Mr Nathan, Messrs Ilennab, Montgomery, Aynsley, t and Nathan, wcro appointed the sub-committee. Messrs Heywood and Carruthers were next elected auditors, in place of Messrs Todhunter and \PLean, who liavo left the colony. Mr Ricliardson called attention to tho alteration in the mode of transmitting goods from vessels arriving in Port Lyttelton to Christchurch. Hitherto It had only been ncce-5-sary in lightering to use a boat note, but now tbe names of consignees liad to be given to the lighters in order that sucli might be supplied to the railway authorities when tho goods were landed at their wharf. This break in the transit of good* had besn earned by the lighterage lieing now distinct from tha railway, instead of working in connection with it ns formerly. Ho had brought tho matter forward without notice, tw a large s number of the shipping agents being present," he thought they might find some means for obviating the difficulty before any serious results acc-iied. In tho event" of heavy cargoes arriving, and requiring dispatch in lantling, some confusion would certainly occur If matters were allowed to remain aa at present. There were two ways in which the difficulty might be met— first, either by ships only parting with goods to servants of con-* stgnces, or giving with them a copy of the manifest bearing the common brand in order that the lightermen might hand it over to the railway authorities, who would then become responsible for proper delivery of I*lo goods. Tho question might not bo ono which tho Chamber could deal with in the ordinary way, but still its discussion would probably lead to sonu* plan being devised for savlug trouble and confusion, A vory lengthened discussion took placo on the subject, the majority of the speakers being of opinion that the Government should continue the lighterage. The Chairman said as the law stood at present, the Government could not do anything of the kind They could not go beyond tho railway wharf nor take cognizance of anything outside of it. Mr Ricliardson explained that he did not bring the matter forward as a grievance against the Government, but that it might be discussed by the shipping agents with whom tho remedy rested, After some further conversation, tho matter was permitted to drop without any plan being decided upon. Mr Nathan said whilst the General Assembly was in session, it would be very advisable to obtain an alteration in the tariff for corn sacks, but at the suggestion of tho chairman, lie deferred further consideration of tho matter until the annual general meeting. The meeting then adjourned.