CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9394, 22 March 1898, Page 2

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The Annual Meeting.

Tliere were present at the annual meeting of the Wanganni Chambsr of Commerco last (Monday) evening nt the Borough Council Chambers — Messrs A. J. Parsons (chairman), F. M. Spurdle, J. Stevenson, P. Bell, J. C. Brechin, R. M. Gatenby, L. Jones, S. M. Manson, T. Dickson.G. Cunningham, S. S. Griffiths, J. B. Gilberd, J. ti. Stevenson, W. S. Coe, H. Sarjeant, J. T. Stewart, A. D. Willis, G. W. Collins, R. Baddeley, G. Caiman, H. L. Peake, His Worship tho Mayor (Mr A. Hatrick), Mr G. Carson, M.H.R., and Mr A. Martin, hon. secretary. minutes. The minutes of thr last annual meeting, held on December 15th, 189 li, were read and confirmed. FINANCES. The secietary stated tho Chamber had a credit balance of about £23, as against a debit at the beginning of the year. hepokt. The chairman statod that during the i past year six meetings had been held. He noted that iv Melbourne the Chamber of Commerce met quaiterly, and said that though exception had been taken to the few meetings held by the Wanganui Chamber, he failed to see the necessity of calling it together monthly. Tho ma jority of the members were busy men, and it was unfair to call them together unless they had business to transact. He ventured to say, notwithstanding the few meetings held during the year, that no matters of importance had been neglected. He referred to the action of the Chamber with regard to urging on the Government the claims of the Pipiriki road, and eulogised the services of Mr Spurdle in connection with securing the vote of £500 for continuing the work. The membership of the Chamber had increased during the year from 34 to 58, due to the energy displayed by Mr Gatenby. The chairman nei' spoke of the flourishing condition of the town and district, as shown by returns. The Wanganui Freezing Company had exported, during the year, equal to 94,522 carcases of mutton, 1146 bales of w0p1,2145 casks of tallow,and 493 casks of pelts, of an estimated value of £74,000. The saving 3 bankg deposits in Wanganni had increased during the past year by £10,000 over the amount received the previous year, a fact which showed the thrift of the people. The sale of stamps for the period had realised £24,523. The traffic on the Wanganui section of railways was largely on the increase, and the Wanganui section he understood was second in importance in New Zealand. The chairman moved the adoption of his verbal report. The Mayor seconded the motion, and concurred in the remark of the chairman that it was only necessary to call the Chamber together when important business was to be transacted. He also referred to the prosperity of the district, and stated that the savings banks deposits here reached £200,000. The returns at the local post office were equal to those of New Plymouth, Napier, and Nelson combined, and the Customs revenue was as large as that received at Nelson, a port that was visited by large ocean steamers. After speaking of the many 'public institutions and signs of progress in Wauganui, the Mayor dwelt at length on the great necessity there was for an improved port. He considered that with the experience of New Plymouth, Napier, Timaru, and Oamaru it' would be a mistake to spend money on a breakwater, and strongly advocated the necessity of dredging the flats even though it would require an expenditure of £200 or £300 every year to keep the channel clear. He quite recognised that the river would always silt up until it was dredged properly, and contended that Wanganui could well afford to spend an annual sum on river improvement works. He combatted the statements that had been made ahout him having " an axo to grind " in the matter of the St. Kilda, and said that the flats did not trouble that vessel as she could only cross tho bar at spring tides. As the members of the Harbor Board were divided on the question of dredging he suggested that thoy should resign their seats and submit the question to the ratepayers, and not leave such an important matter to be decided by the casting vote of the Chairman. Mr John Stevenson urged the necessity of meeting monthly, whether there was business to transact or not, and pointed out that on taking office the chairman had expressed a similar opinion. Their experience had "been that often important business had been introduced and transacted at meetings where nothing was on the order paper. He drew the Chamber's attention to the fact that nearly the whole of the business transacted at the meetings during the year had reference to the Tangarakau and Wangauni river works, and pointed out that there were other important matters that required the Chamber's attention. There were two sides to the dredging question, and he claimed a perfect right to differ from the Mayor on the subject, stating that equally with Mr Hatrick he had the interests of Wanganui at heart. He referred to Mr Jackson's letter on the subject, and pointed out that the Foreman's estimate of the cost of dredging was over £5000, and based on the expenditure last year it would be nearer £8000. There was little hope of reduction in the very high wharfage dues if the dredging were proceeded with. Mr L. Jones agi-eed that the meetings should be held regularly, and twitted the Mayor with altering his opinions. Mr Gatenby drew the Chamber's fttten tion to the fact that at the October meeting a resolution was passed to the effect that the meetings should be held regularly once a month. Mr Spurdle said that while in Wellington ha had urged on the Minister the claims of the Raetihi-Parapara road, as. also the Pipiriki highway. He was pleased to be able to inform members that not only was the Minister convinced of the importance of pushing on with the road, but the Surveyor-Geneial was also im. pressed with the desirability of doing the Baetihi-Parapara rood. He (Mr Spurdle) was in full sympathy with the Mayor in the matter of dredging, but contended that the work could bo done at half the present cost if a sand or pump dredge were procured by the Board. Mr Sarjeant said he fully recognised the importance of the river, but pointed out that the inland settlers wanted a road to bring down their cattle and sheep. It was nearly 40 years sinoe he arrived in Wanganui with his swag on his back, and ho then came to the conclusion after inspection that there was bound to be a harbor. They had worked at it for 40 years, and the port was worse than ever. He contended that the walls were helping to silt up the river, and ventured the opinion that the Board should soon have a paddook to let over at Putiki. He suggested that the walls should be taken up and deposited on the river side and a drive made to the Heads. He thought tho question of the delay in proceeding with the re-ereotion of the Wangaehu Bridge should have engaged the attention of the Chamber. Mr Willis drew attention to the OhutuParapara Eoad, and stated ,that the Government had promised to make the road when they purchased the land. He suggested that. the Government should now be urged to push on with the road, in view of the probability of the Ohutu Block of 88,000 acres being vested in the Public Trustee. Mr Griffiths referred to the ParaparaBaetihi Eoad, stating that the country through which it passed was fairly flat, with deep ' ravines. It would take but £200, he understood, >to make this road suitable for a cattle and sheep track, and feared that unless this was done we should lose the trade of the inland settlers. Mr Carson acknowledged that Mr Willis had done all that was possible so far as individual effort was concerned iv obtaining votes for the roads, and contended that £2000 would be required to make the Parapara-Baetihi ijoad a graded track, while £30,000 was required to make it a metalled rood. He suggested that the Council of the Chamber should meet once a month and members quarterly. The question of dredging the fats was a debatable one, and he thought the members of the Harbor Board would have to settle with the ratepayers when they went before them. Mr Stewart thought a mistake had been made in pitting the river against the roads. He stated that navigation was now possible twenty miles above Pipiriki. Since 1885 only £10,000 had been spent on the river, and he pointed out that 'that sum represented but 1$ miles of railway and 15 miles of good metalled road. 'He thought a great deal of good had been done for a little money,

Mr Manson stated that though the policy of the Government in the pas* had bsen to procure the landd from the natives at a ridiculously low price, the Premier I was quite prepared to do all in his power I to have the lands vested in tbs Public Trustee, when the natives would have power'oifcher to sell or lease. The motion re the adoption of the report was then carried. THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows : President and Chairman, Mr H. Sar. I geant. Vice-Presidents : Messrs Gatenby aud L, Jones. Council: Messrs J. Stevenson, Spurdle, Willis, J. B. Gilberd, Griffiths, Caiman, Cunningham, Parsons, Bell, Cummins, and J. L. Stevenson. Secretary: Mr A. Martin. Treasurer: Mr J L. Stevenson. The Mayor and member for the district, Mr J. T. Stewart, and the other officers are members of the Council ex qfficio. new iiraniEßS. On the motion of Mr Gatenby the following were elected: Messrs W. H. George, W. G. Bassett, and E. Perrett. OVERCHARGE ON ODODS, Mr Cunningham brought up tho question of over-oharge on goods landed on the wharf on Thursday, and pointed oat that the law compelled tradespeople to close on the half-holiday, and the Railway Department charged Is per ton on all goods not taken delivery of. He stated that he had written to the Minister, who at first recognised the charge' was unjnst, but afterwards said he could make no concession. - Mr Willis said that two years ago l.c had spoken to the Government on the matter aud the concession was granted, the only question being as to what day Bhould he seleoted. On the motion of Mr Spnrdle, the matter was left in the hands of the President, vice presidents, Mr Cunningham and the mover. [river scenery. On the motion of Mr Spurdle, it was decided to authorise the officers of the Chamber to bring under notice of the Government the necessity of preserving the scenery in the Ohotu Block, fronting the Wanganni River, it being pointed out that the River Trust Board's reserve of a mile on either Bide only applied to Go- , vernment land.

Votes of thanks to the officers were passed and the Chamber adjourned.