The annual meeting of this the most representative body in the Colony took place on the 13th instant in their spacious room at the City Hall, and was well attended. The report presented dealt with a wide range of subjects, and, as Mr. Whitehead remarked, is a creditable record of work done. 'A. perusal of it will satisfy anyone that the Chamber amply justifies its raison détre. Fight new members had been elected during the year, ten more were proposed. at the meeting, and others intend joining, so it is to be hoped. the deficit mentioned' by the Chairman as, shown in its finances for The Chairman madealengthy and interest-the past year will not appear next year.
ing speech, in the course of which he touched on' the alleged intention of Li Hung-chang to visit the Courts of the various Treaty Powers partly with a view of gra obtaining an increase in the duties levied on foreign imports in China, and expr the hope that if such idea was entertained it would only be in the form of a consolidation ofall duties, import and likin, into one which would free the goods from all further charge T fear this is too mach to hope. The Chi-whatsoever in any part of the Empire.
nese Government would no doubt readily agree to such a proposal, but what guarantee could they give that would be satisfactory to us that the old squeezes under new names would not very soon reappear? The mandarin will have his squeeze, and, so long as he Jawretchedly pat will seek tomake up his income by illegal exactions. The committee were all re-elected and Mr. G. B. Dodwell was elected to fill a vacancy. Mr. J.J. Bell Irving was chosen as Chairman and Mr. N. J. Ede as Vice-Chairman, but the latter declined the honour, which fell to the next in number of votes, Mr. A. MeConachie.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.