SALE OF SHIPS IN LIVERPOOL 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 638, 26 May 1852, Page 2

SALE OF SHIPS IN LIVERPOOL 1851.

[From the "Euiopean Times," January 14.] "We have the pleasure to hand you our cußtomnr annual statement of the paßt year's business in the sal of ships at this port, and which shows, notwithstanclm the yery depressed btato of freights, andthe great ir terference experienced from the admission of foieig Bbipping to our various trades, some improvement upo the sales of 1850, though at leduced prices. This resu may be somewhat accounted for from the increase cheapness of ships, and which has brought into exif tence a claBS of owners who, at the pnc< s of a fei years past could not occupy this poeition, and wh have yet their stupownlng exjierience to acquire. W may add to this an increased facility for raising mone upon mortgage, and by advance on account of freigb to complete purchases, and procuie the outfit, makin a very little capital go a long way in such speculation.' It is needless to say this is a hazardous and unsouii mode of becoming possessed of chip property ; ur happily theie is too much of it, and, which must i time pioduce a seiioue reaction.

The number of ships sold in 1851 amount to 231 sal, showing an inciease of 23 vessels over the sales of 1850, or 9.83 per cent., ami the tonnage to 90,701, bring an increase of 10,734 tons or 10.73 per cent., of winch but two are foreign, of the collective tonnage of 537 tons. We notice with satisfaction a great improvement in the model and finish of colonial ships, some of which have biought upwards of £6 12s. 6d. per ton, O.M. Arrangements hare been recently made by soraecolonial builders for classing and coppeung their vessels before offering tbem for sale, and which new featuie in the tiade is giving much satisfaction. Last year we advised you of the admission by Lloyds' Committee of six year hacmatac vessels to the Red Star clais, and now we have to notice a further act of justice to those vessels, admitting them to sevi>n years' class. The resolution mns thus : — " Hacmatac, tamarack, juniper, and larch, of good quality, free ivom sap, and not grain cut, will be allowed in the construction of ships in the seven years' class, for the following parts, viz.: Floors ; Ist, 2nd, and third foothooks, and top timbers ; stem and stempost; transoms, knight-beads, hawse timbers, apron, and dead-wood." In new British ships a less business has been effected here than we anticipated, but many contracts have been made, both for London, and Liverpool account at the outsorts. The number of ships launched and in the course of construction in our port this year is 23—a total tonnage of D,2oo—of which 17 are of wood, equal to 7,500 tons —and 6 are of iron, 1,700 tons. The increase of screw steamers is making a rapid revolution in the character of our shipping. Already have they monopolised the trade of the Mediterranean, and are extending themselves along the coasts of North and South America, the coast of Africa, &c, and are destined within no very distant time to supersede sailing ships on voyages of moderate extent, or where coaling facilities can be secured. The number and tonnage built in this port in 185J is 13, equal to 6,130 tons, and this is exclusive of the engine-room, which, if added, would make the tonnage neaily one-half more. The number of screw vessels launched at Glasgow, Dumbarton, and elsewhere, the past year, is very great, und contributes its share to keep down the prices of first-class British sailing vessels. The sales for 1051 of British, colonial and foreign ships, amount to 234 sail, of which 232 are British and colonial, against 214 in 1850, and 221 in 1849, and the total tonnage to 90,754, against 81,028 tons in 1850, aud 78,212 tons in 1849, of which

QUOTATIONS OF PRICES OF SHIPS FOR 1051. £88 £ 8 evr British-built vessels, with Baltic outfit, to class Al 13 years ..16 0 to 17 10 'itto, ditto 12 „ .. 13 10 „ 15 10 litto, ditto 10 „ .. 10 10 „ 13 0 itto, ditto 9 „ ..10 0 „ 12 10 'ltto, ditto 8 „ .. 9 0 „ 10 10 utto, ditto 7 „ .. 810 „ 9 0 lew Mirnmicbi, ditto 6 „ .. 515 „ 612 r e\v St. John, N.8.. 6 „ .. 615 „ 615 utto, ditto 4 „ .. 5 0,, 510 few Quebec 5 „ .. 510 „ 6 5 ither Colonial 4 „ .. 310 „ 410 January 1, 1852.

4 British )69 oIT I e( *" al to l6 ' 250 tons * * Quebec jJl^j „ 21,001 „ 7N. Brunswick |26 olT} »» 29^5 „ 8 Miramiebi..,. { l^\ „ 3,919 „ .0 Nova Scotia . . { ™" j „ 13,891 „ 16 P. E. Island., {^^'j „ 5,200 „ 2 Foreign 537 „

Number and tonnage of vessels supposed to have changed hands in Liverpool in 1851, 360, equal to 150,000 tons.