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Dunedin Chamber of Commerce.

Report of the Committee of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce for the year ending 30th June, 1881, presented at the Annual Meeting held on the 7th September, 1881,—the President, Mr. W. J. M. Larnach, in the chair.

Your Committee have now the pleasure of submitting the Annual Report of the Chamber, and reviewing in some degree those events of the past year which, from time to time, have been brought under its notice, and which have affected more or less the interests of those engaged in commercial pursuits in the Provincial District of Otago, of which the city of Dunedin claims to be the capital.

The Committee in their last Report expressed their belief that the bad times were passing away and that we were then entering upon a period of renewed prosperity. It is now a satisfaction to note that they were not too sanguine. Their anticipations have been fully borne out-capital in abundance is seeking investment, money continues cheap, and business throughout New Zealand is at the present time in a sound and wholesome state. The last harvest in the Colony was exceptionally good, and though prices have ruled low, the increased yield and fine condition in which crops have been harvested have been all that producers could desire. The Committee regret to have to notice one temporary clog in the wheel of prosperity, which has been occasioned by the reduced value in the Home markets of wool, one of the most important articles of export from the Colonies of Australasia.

At the last Annual Meeting of this Chamber, the feeling was very generally expressed and it was again particularly referred to by the President in his address delivered last February, that the time had arrived for providing Members and the public generally with accommodation suitable for conducting business pertaining to a Chamber of Commerce. The Committee have now much pleasure in stating that the attainment of these objects appears guaranteed by the handsome building in course of erection at the corner of Bond and Liverpool Streets. This work has been accomplished during the present year by the liberality and energy of a number of Members coming forward and subscribing sufficient money to purchase the building site in the first instance, and subsequently initiating and supporting the formation of a small limited Company, with the object of erecting The Dunedin Exchange. Within a few months it is hoped that the building will be finished, when Members will be provided with proper offices wherein to conduct the important business of the Chamber. The Committee desire again earnestly to draw the attention of the public to this institution in the hope that a much larger share of support will be given to it in the page 4 future than has been done in the past. Whether their interests relate to mercantile, pastoral, or agricultural pursuits, each alike will be a subject worthy at any time the consideration of the Chamber. All professions, trades, and occupations depend directly or indirectly on Commerce, it therefore remains with the people of Dunedin and its rich surrounding districts to constitute its Hall their chief factor in all that may concern their commercial progress, and by their universal support give increased weight and influence to the deliberations of the Chamber.

The Committee desire to impress upon Members the usefulness of watching passing events, so that attention may be directed to the prevention of any measure from becoming law which in any way threatens to interfere with the legitimate intercourse of trade, or to affect injuriously the proper scope of commercial operations.

Among the many subjects which have engaged the attention of the Committee during the past year are the following, viz. :—Property Tax, Otago Central Railway, Deposits on General Average, Law Procedure Commission, Direct Steam Communication with Great Britain, American Duties on Australasian Wools, Railway Tariff, Railway Workshops, Intercolonial Conference in Sydney, Trade with Fiji, Decimal System of Weights, Coinage and Measures, Postal Union, Weekly Market, Refrigerating Meat and other Produce for Export, new large Graving Dock at Port Chalmers.

The Committee having served their year of office it will be the duty of this meeting to appoint a President, Vice-President, and Committee for the ensuing year, and the retiring Committee venture to express a hope that the duties entrusted to them in the past have been faithfully fulfilled, and that the results of their term of office have not been wanting in some benefits to the general community.

Appended hereto will be found the Annual Statement of Income and Expenditure, together with Tabulated Statements of Imports and Exports, and many other useful statistics of various kinds bearing on the growing trade of the Provincial District of Otago and Southland, which the Committee have taken some pains in collecting and arranging for the information of Members.