CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1805, 18 December 1862, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

A meeting of the members of tbe Chamber of Commerce was held on Monday afternoon at the offices of Messrs Bethune aud Hunter. Present:— W. M, Bannatyne, Esq., Chairman ; [W. W. Taylor, Esq., Vice-Chairman ; and Messrs J. H. Bethune, C. R. Carter. G. Crawford, G. Hunter, Harimann, G. Hart, J. Joseph, J. Johnston, W. Lyon, L. Levy, G. Moore, J. Dransueld, R. Stokes, W. Spinks, A. P. Stuart, J. J. Tame, E. Pearce and W. B. Rhodes. The minutes of the previous meeting having' been read and approved of, the Chairman intimated that in accordance with the request of the members, be had addressed a letter to the Colonial Secretary urging the necessity of giving jurisdiction in civil cases of debt to the amount of £50 to the Resident Magistrate at Wellington, under the provisions of an Act passed last session, and that he bad received the following reply to his communication. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 6th December, 1862. Sir, — 1 have the honor, by the direction of Mr j Domett to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th ult, and in reply to inform you that steps will be taken to give an extended jurisdiction in civil cases up to fifty pounds (jGSO) to the Court of the Resident Magistrate at Wellington, under " the Resident Magistrates' Jurisdiction. Extension Act, 1862." 1 have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient humble servant, W. Gisboenb, Under-Secretary. The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington. Some conversational discussion ensued, and ultimately the following resolution was proposed by Mr Moore and seconded by Mr Hunter, — '* That the Chairman be requested to address the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, asking that the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrates' Court may further be extended to 4JIOO, under clause 11. of the ' Resident Magistrates' Jurisdiction Act, 1862.' The resolution as being Jput was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF SECRETABY. The meeting next proceeded to elect a Secretary in place of Mr W. IT. Meek, who had recently resigned that office. There were five applicants for the vacancy, viz , Messrs Carroll, Carver, Cobbam, Rees and Taunton. On the votes being taken by ballot, Mr S. Carroll was declared duly elected. SUPREME COURT AMENDMENT ACT. The Chairman remarked that Mr Woodward was to have bronght forward a proposal for the consideration of the Chamber, relative to the expediency of bringing this Act into operation for the trial of minor cases, as recently suggested by Mr Justice Johnston in his charge to tbe Grand Jury ; but as he observed Mr W. was not present he thought it advisable to adjourn the consideration of the subject to another meeting. THE BETTER SECURITY OF CONSIGNEES. Mr Johnston made some observations to the effect that it would be of great benefit to consignees, if some means were taken to protect , their interests in the case »f goods coming from England having been improperly stowed. The Chairman suggested that Mr Johnston might prepare a measure with a view to the remedy of the evil, and bring it forward at the next meeting, After a vote of thanks to tbe Chairman, the meeting broke up.