} Mr, {fojn:**. seconded the mouon, vrhich wai tilled unanimously,. Tfcf CtfAiRMAN said his private engagements *«ff •( io pressing « nature as to preclude his •gain accepting the office he now held. In making this itatetnent he should perhaps be open to the charge of egotism, but he felt it ntcesssry to de cline lhe office } hs should, however, still con tinue to gite bis sympathy and support to the proceedings of the Chamber.-

tIGHT DUES. Mr. Pkarce wished to draw the attention of the Chamber to the pretent scale of light dues, wbicb were also levied on vessels entering the harbour from itreis of weather. Thit be consi dered to bt an uddiuil charge, and in t case in Which he had been interested be had addressed a letter to the Collector of Customs on the subject, wbo bad communicated with the Government but hid received an unfavourable reply. He had subsequently addressed a forma] letter to the Col lector of Cusrotn*, and bad enclosed a copy of it to tbe President of tbe Marine Hoard, who in clined to bis opinion, but expressed bis inability to interfere. H* would move- That in the opinion of this Chamber vessels coming Into the Port of Wellington merely from sttess of weather, ought not to be subject to any charge for Light dues ; and that the Chairman be requested to communicate with thi authorities to urge them to alter the existing arrangements, whereby vessels seeking shelter are liable to be so charged. Mr. Huntex ttconded tht resolution. Mr. Pharazyn said he took a larger view of tbe question than that involved in Mr. Pearce'a resolution and thought that the imposition of light duos was altogether premature, lie referred to tbe case of tba West Australian which on leaving England paid for light dues the sum of £5 Bs. 7d. which cleared all tbe light dues of th« English coast, and he understood that ves sels bearing up to aome port of refuge in Eng land were subject only to a charge of a few shillings. Tba charge to the West Australian lot light dues in this harbour amounted to £22 9s. 3d. four times as much as that paid for all light dues in England. 