MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR. Melbourne, Victoria, 25th August, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 675, 2 October 1852, Page 2

MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL CIRCULAR. Melbourne, Victoria, 25th August, 1852.

Sir,— Correct information as to the state of Markets in this Colony, being a matter of increasing importance, we beg; to inform you, that we propose to circulate a sketch of the prices of Imported Goods, and give slate of Gold Market, blinking up the exact quantities as officially reported every two months ; and as great pains will be taken to render this circular as complete as possible, we trust the information may prove useful. Spirits. — The market has of late been very bare of good Spirits, and high prices hare been realized. The average of late pales may be taken as follows : — Brandy (MarteH's), 16s. per gallon; VV. I. Rum, 4s. 9J. per gallon ; Geneva, ss. per gallon ; Gin, -—per gallon; Whiskey, best Scotch, dn. per gallon, — all in Bond. Beer and Porter— Selling 1 freely at from 11s. to 12s. per dozen for bottled, and £8 per hogshead in wood. Wines.— The chief kinds used are Champagne, Claret, Marsala, Port, and Sherry. Prices vary acrording to quality : for the latter kinds £25 to £50 per pipe may be quoted. Provisions. — The demand is very great and daily in» creasing, and supplies of most articles quite unequal to the demand. Present rates may be quoted for Bacon lOd. per lb. ; Hams, Is- s<). per lh. ; English Cheese, Is. fid. per. lb ; Dutch ditto, 10. per lb. ; Herrings, white and red, 30s. to 355. per half-barrel ; Oatmeal, 4d. per lb. ; Pearl Barley, 3£d. per lb. ; Split Peas, 15s. per cwt. ; Preserved Salmon, Sardines, and Pickles of all kinds in demand, and saleable at paying rates. Fruit. — Pine parcels of dried, very scarce, and there being nothing but inferior lots in market, it is impossible to quote rates for good samples. Linen Goods — Canvas of heavy Nos. in great demand* and No, 1 to 4 fvould fetch from Is. lOd. to 2s. per yard. Tarpduiirig alap would realise a good profit on invoice, being good for tents. Woolpacka, and three-bushel bags : large supplies still on hand. Ducks and Drills will be wanted as the season advances. Rope — Wool-lashing and, lines for agricultural purposes a fair supply, but bew paicels would meet with buyers. Drapery Goods and Slops — Twenty-five to thirty per cent, on good invoices can readily be obtained — on woollen goods something more. Coals— English £4 lOs. per ton. Gold— Since the first discovery of the precious metal in Victoria, the yield lias gone on steadily increasing; the average of the last two months (as per official reports) being about 90,000 ounces per week, but this represents far leas than the real quantity, as a great deal is brought down and exported, which never appears in any official statement. This is also exclusive of the overland escort to Adelaide, ■o that it is believed, that only one-half the produce of the gold fields is officially reported. The following is the statement up to Saturday the 21st instant :— Government and private escort brought in last week . . . . 32,228 Ounces. Gold previously shipped from Victoria 1,330,840 „ Ditto shipped coastwise .. .. 5,796 „ 1,336,636 „ which at 655. per ounce, gives a total of . . . . £4,344,057 The price of Gold in this city has varied since the first j parcels came to market from £2 16s. to £3 ss. per ounce, rising steadily every month till its present rate. — The real value wa3 at first imperfectly known, hence the large profits realized by the first exporters, amounted in some cases to 50 per cent., when the parties availed themselves of the Bank advance. Now that capital is flowing in for investment in the article, the price will be nearer the actual value, and will ultimately be very steady. The plan for establishing Mints for coinage at Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, will, if carried into effect, a&o tend to make prices more stationary, and profits on shipments of raw gold to Europe much less. — Still it will be a good remittance for proceeds sales, of which parties at home would do well to avail themselves in giving orders regarding their consignments. The New Tariff Bill of this province is now in operation. The only articles on which duly is now levied, are Spirits of all kinds 7s. per gallon. — Wine Is. per gallon. — Tobacco, Cigars, and Snuffs, 2s. per lb. — Coffee, 10«. p«r cwt.— Tea, 3d. per lb.— All other goods, wares, and merchandise free. P. Just and Co.