OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 381, 28 June 1856, Page 7

OTAGO.

The Grafion brings a file of the Otago Witness, to the 14th inst. The Education Act, lately passed by the Provincial Council of that Province, wasstill a subject of dispute among our neighbours, the opposition being principally directed against what is termed

he Nominee Clause. Referring 'to the opposition in tlie house of Representatives to the'first ministerial statement of Mr. Sewell, the Editor observes :— •' "\Ve most sincerely hope that, the ultra-provincial policy held by some of .the Wellington members will not prevail. Some of these gentlemen make no secret of their desire to divide the colony, into six 'independent states, with a ;federal' alliance, —in reality, to adopt the American' instead of the British Constitution. We1 object to this (principle in the abstract, but we shall not' discuss ihat question, as 'we have a practical objection'which is likely to be a muclt more effective argument with our readers." •In the Witness of the 7th instant, we find the following remarks on the state of trade" generally in that Province. The mail hence was shipped in the '• Gratitude." " As we have no papers from Canterbury, we cannot give the state of the markets there. We are informed/however, that the selling prices of grain'and flour are much lower, there than they are in Otago : if this" statement be correct, it is possible that we may have an importation from Canterbury. In looking over the markets of the different Provinces of New Zealand, the most superficial observer cannot but be struck with the great variation in prices in ' the various Provinces. Our market appears to be the highest; and as it Is scarcely reasonable to suppose that cash is: more plentiful with us than with ' our neighbours, we presume we have got into ' a vicious sy&tem of fictitious prices. The margin between the price of wheat and flour is greater with us than many of the other Provinces; and this margin, compared with that in Australia, is enormous. With' us," too, all kinds of merchandise appear higher than with our neighbou. s. This may to some extent arise from the limited nature of business ; but' we believe, if all parties were ■ contented with less profits, it would be the same thing in the end to each, aiid it would certainly be a more wholesome system of business.

Should the following statement," which'we find in the same paper,'prove to be correct, no doubt it will be of great ' advan-i tage to the Province: —

" On'private authority we are'informed that a branch of the Oriental bank will he established in Otago, and that the agent of the bank may be expected by the Gil Bias, on her return trip, the contemplated capital to work the establishment being £2Q#OO. —

Dunedin Markets. —Retail Prices current, June 14, 1356.—First flour, per lOOlbs, 30s; Overheads, 255. Bread, per 4lb loaf, Is. Wheat, per bushel, 7s to Bs. Bran, Is. Oats. 4s 6d ro ss.

Beef. 6d to 8d per Ib. Mutton, 6d to Bd. Fresh Butter, Is Bd. Ground Coffee, Is6d. Raw do. is. Tea, 3s Raw Sugar! s*d to 6d. Loaf Sugar, 8d to 9d. Mould Candles, Is. Cheese, 13 to Is 4d. Milk, per' quart, sd. Potatoes, £3 to £4 per ton.. Eggs, per dozen, Is 6d. Sawn timber, 21 s per 100 ft. Shingles, 27s per 1,000. Firewood, per cord, 225.