Report of Society's Meetings. 391 



quorum of seven, it is not satisfactory to find that only 

 45 members have attended the eleven meetings. Of 

 these, fifteen have attended only one meeting, and two 

 or three others have been present as officers of the 

 Society, so that it may be said that only about 27 out of 

 200 members take sufficient interest in the Society to 

 induce them to attend its meetings occasionally. If the 

 figures are further analysed it will be found that of the 

 45 members putting in an appearance at the meetings, 

 only 21 are engaged in or connected with agriculture 

 and commerce, the balance being made up of profes- 

 sional men and public officers. The absence from the 

 meetings of gentlemen representing the agriculture and 

 commerce of the colony, to further which interests the 

 Society was founded and to whose support the Society 

 has a just claim, has caused me much disappointment. 

 I can only hope that my successor will be more fortunate 

 in obtaining a larger amount of their support and co- 

 operation. 



The subjects which have been considered at the 

 meetings of the Society, although not many, have 

 been of interest and utility. They include what may be 

 termed the Banana Industry Question, Fruit culture and 

 packing, Cable communications, Corn drying, Starch 

 manufacture, Sisal Hemp and Economising Sugar Car- 

 riers. One of the most important matters has been the 

 constitution of a Chamber of Commerce which, although 

 not directly created by this Society, owes its origin to 

 the Commercial Committee called into existence on the 

 suggestion of Mr. Davis. The Chamber of Commerce 

 supplies a want which has long been a reproach to the 

 business people of the colony. Its deliberations are 



