MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 779, 1 October 1853, Page 2

MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Melbourne “Argus.’’) September 141h,, 1853. Gold. The late news from the Eastern markets has had the effect of raising the price of gold, which may now be quoted at from 31. 16s. 3d. to 31. iGs. fid. Portland Markets. — Cash price of flour at the Agents stores, Portland, August 29 : —First floor 32/. per SOOOlbs. ; second ditto, 27/. Land at VV a run am bool. — Messrs. Craig and Macdonald sold last week the following town and suburban allotments, viz., half-acre allotment, corner of Banyan and Timor streets, for 600/. cash; half-acre narrow allotment in Timoc-street, for 350/.; forty acres near the punt at 61. per acre ; and about 25 acres also near the punt, at 12/. per acre.— Belfast Gazette. A sheen did Market foe Potatoes. —Yesterday, Mr. Parker sold some tons of potatoes on the wharf at extraordinary prices. The lowest bid for any of the lots was 4 4 s. per cwt. ; and the highest was 50s. per cwt. ; that is, at the rate of 50/. per ton ! The inference is very natural that there is a scarcity of potatoes at Portland.— Portland Guardian. Stubbs and Son sold yesterday, two houses, off Little Bourke-street, west, for TO 20/. J. A. Hay sold by auction, at bis rooms, yesterday, onions at 112/. per ton. BENDIGO MARKETS. September 10, 1853. Within the last few days a better feeling has manifested itself; but although there is less eagerness to realise on saleable goods, the prices cannot be considered much belter than the ruinous ones which have so long ruled. Flour may be quoted at from 51. 10s. to 61. per bag ; sugar, sd. to 5/) d. per lb.; tea, congou, 51. ss. per chest ; hyson, 4/. 15s. ditto; potatoes and onions, none. Hardware is all but unsaleable at at any price, in consequence of the great distance between this and the Ovens or Balaarat, where the masses are flocking |to. Drapery and slops are selling, in many cases, at little more than English prices. The late panic still continues, and the Auctioneers’ rooms are crowded with goods, besides selling off a store or two daily. Whether this is caused by'the unproductiveness of our gold-field or some other cause is uncertain^ Very few goods of any description are arriving, if the article of grog may form an exception ; it may safely be said that this commodity is the only one arriv* ing here in quantities, and apparently with satisfactory results’ to the enterprising dealers. . ■■■..■■' • ' Sheep, shorn, from 13s. fid. to 15s. ; unshorn, from 16s. to 195.; fat cattle, 9/. to 10/.; horses, draught, from 40/. to 130/.; hacks, from 10/. to SVL GEELONG GOLD CIRCULAR. : The price this week, as was expected, has fallen considerably ; the probability of an export duty being laid on the metal has had the effect of deterring purchasers at the late extreme rates. The banks for the time are.entirely out of the field; the uncertainty as to whether such duty will be enforced, and if so, to what extent, precludes the possibility of their malting calculations or dealing safely ; and until something definite is known in the affair they are.likely to leave the field to others. At this date the price is 765., aud with a tendency downwards. A good deal is offering, but still no amount of business done, the sellers not liking the reduced rate and the buyers not at all disposed to advance.

The intelligence during the week from the Victoria fields generally ,is good, as far.as yield is concerned. The vexed question of license-fee is still agitating the Bendigo side to a great extent, and so vacillating are the tactics of our Governor in the affair,' that speculation as to the ret n’t is impossible. At one time the miners and their petition (through their delegates) are treated with contempt, then they are knuckledjdown to in the most unheard-of manner, —the license-fee is remitted by proclamation, then by a counter proclamation it is made out to be all a mistake, and that the licansefee must still be paid. Verily the dignity of the British Government is pretty well tarnished in the hands of its representatives here. The prosperitp of the Ballarat side is best told by its greatly increasing yield, the amount by escort this week being nearly double that of the previous week. The extraordinary finds there lately have induced a large number thithe-i, hundreds are thronging the road—in fact a' regular rush has set in for that quarter ;;but although the individual success there has not bad its equal in the world, still the very deep sinking and bard labor required on the present field must make Success but partial, and these diggings only fitted for the veteran bands. However, the numbers' congregating there now have a large scope of country proved auriferous, and which without doubt will be found xemunerutivo ’ 1 Trade in all its branches has received a decided impetus from the improvement of our goid-flelds, and there is the prospect of a stirring season., ■ . . Since the last-circular there lias arrived by escort as follows:

Exchange on London—The Banks at present buy at par, and sell at 2 per cent, premium. Freight of gold delivered in London, 4|d. per oz. . ■ t Wsi, Paterson. Kardina-street, Sept. 10th 1853. ADELAIDE MARKETS. Grain and pLorn.— At the Company’s Mills, Stevens and Colce, Thursday.—Fine flour” 24/. per ton; second do., 22/.; bran 'and pollard, os. 3d, per bushel; wheat, 9s. do. —Exclusive of bags. At the Hiadmarsh Mills, T. Magery.—Flour, 24/. per ton ; bran and pollard, Ss. 3d. per bushel; wheat, 9s. per bushel. Market Prices, Corn Exchange, Currie-street.— Flour, 244. per ton ; wheat, Bs. 9d. to 9s. per bushel; barley, E.,105. do; barley, C., Bs. 6d. do.; oats, 9s. do : Cape do., 7s. Gd, to Bs. do.; bran, 3s. 3d. do.; pollard, 3s. 3d. do. —Adelaide Times, September sth.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND MARKETS. Hobart Town, Sept. B.— Wheat, 12s. Od. per bushel. Flour, 28/. to 30/. per ton. English barley, 1 Os. to 1 Is. Cape ditto, 7s, 6d. Oats 12s. Peas, 15s. Beaus, 14s. Hay, 14/. Pressed ditto, U/. Straw, bl. Potatoes, l-l/. to 17/. Port Arthur coals, 605.; New Town, 455. Sawn Timber, 245. Shingles, 50s. Palings, 40s. Turkeys, 6s. Fowls, per couple, 7s. Egu-s, 2s. Cd. Butter, 2s. to.2s. 6d. ,Bread,Tld. per 4-Ib. loaf. Apples, 20s. to 255. per bushel. City Market.—Wholesale.— The recent news from Melbourne has had the effect of imparting increased vigour in the markets. The prices of colonial produce, especially in the grain market, are much firmer than since our last, and prices of these articles, with the exception ot English and Cape barley, have an upward tendency. Wheat—the supply has been rather larger for the last few clays, but the buyers are eager, and superior samples have been sold as high as 11s. English barley is dull of sale. Cape barley may be regarded as almost a drug in ■ the market. Oats—large quantities have heen exported, but the demand still continues brisk and prices have a tendency to go up. Flour, it will be perceived, on reference to our price list, has risen. Loose hay—the supply of this article has not been quite so plentiful as formerly; The supply of potatoes is but scanty. With regard to sawn timber, it is difficult, in the present fluctuating state of the market as to tins article, to form a correct opinion ; we think, however, on the whole, the prices are slightbly depressed. Yesterday’s price list is subjoined :—Wheat. 11s.fid. to 12s. per bushel; English barley, 10s. to 11s. per bushel; Cape do., Bs. to 10s. per bushel ; oats, Us. to I2s, per bushel; peas, very scarce, 20s. per bushel; beans, none; tares, none; flour, per ton. 28/. to 30/.; hay, loose, per ton, 14/. to 15/.; do. pressed, per ton, 16/.; straw, per ton, 5/.;

potatoes, per ton. 15/. to 17/;; f 71. to 81. per .ton ; turnips; swcile, per do apples, per bushel, 255. ; fowls, percoupk r . \ o ' 6L f |! ditto, Bs. Id. ; geese,, each, 95.; turkeys! I eggs, per dozen, 2s. to 2s. 3d.; butter, LI t h I| ‘-; 1 to 2s. 9d. ’ P ib -> 2s. | Wholesale prices of Firewood-—Log g uia .. E s 20s. per ton ; log she-oak, 325. to 35grp er t ’ los> *>c T Launceston, Sept. B.—The mercantile news « i ) from Melbourne, together with the iutelii«r enc „ eceir e4 I ing the new discoveries at Balaarat, and the istate of the diggings, have given an upward to flour, sales of which were made this 39/. per ton, and a further advance is looked for m “ &t BATAVIA MARKETS. We have been favoured by Messrs. Caldwell r and Co. with a sight of Messrs. Paine, Strict irs * D * - Co.’s market report, dated Batavia, August 22 d which we make the following extracts flour is without transactions, there havin'® been I ricail importations; We learn that considerable p arc f° Cew be expected from Australia, in which case tbs *** would soon fall very low, asoiir own mtirkst P r ' Ccs , limited ohe for the article. The demand for snV the A ustralian colonies has been brisk, but tl r have kept back the new crop, so that no lam/ 6 rair ‘ 3 have as yet changed hands. Higher prices can for that quarter than for the European markets Ja the competition is confined chiefly to the bi4e Bgll : hers, little or none of the lower qualities bein» for the colonies. Within the last.week the weaii ** taken a favourable change, and should it contino *u* crop will be got in without any material daroa» % l “ e the; previously unusually wet season. More if foai has existed for rice than d aring the previous considerable parcels have changed hands pmc**)! for Europe. - L , Peppers, both black and white, as also Calebs are tremely dear and scarce, while the demand codV ' * and all lots offered are taken at once for shi" mQea > Nutmegs and mace are dear, high rates b‘ei l! c,* a J;?T' them for the colonies, while the reduction-ofdut / England causes a -lively demand for that quarter a! *** All the lots of good spice have found ready sa i eat to 170f. for ar prime lot. For about twenty picnles iv!f* has been paid. ‘ ' Freights have been very dull, and will continue - 0 until some movements in exchange, cause,larger skin merits of produce. The Marshall Bennett has "been taken at 31. for England, but even at a lower rate " r U employment now offers for ships. Exchange remain! unsaleable, with unusually large amounts unsold. 'lf!, small sale of imports that have been made during fo 6 year, keeps the usual purchasers out of tho. market 1 while very large sums in bank bills have been receded from Australia, to pay for purchases for tact o'u ter. Dollars dull at f. 2-80. We bear of a saleh' Entrepot at f. 2-75. Coined gold without eaauirv Gold dust saleable at f. 40 per ounce. *** '* SINGAPORE M AIIK E IS. . , _ . . , August IStb. Arrack.—Batavia m good demand and sci>cs at 1' I to 15 dols. per half leaguer. , Coffee. —of the late imports recent sales of 200 pels ~> inferior Bugis (last year’s crop at auction) which averaged 10 § dols. per pel. A further lot of Bally has ; been sold at 8 dols. 90 cents to 11 dols. and declining. The article is still in good demand for the colonial markets.. Australian Copper is in request at from 21 dols, t) 25 dols. per pel. 'Pepper continues in demand at advanced rates* supplies are readily taken at 6f dols. to 7 dols, for black, Singapore, and dols. to 6 dols. 60 c. per pel. - for Rio. While is worth 13 dols. to I3| dols. per pel and scarce Long—imports and sales at 11| dols. (g . 11 \ dols. per pie. J " |! Sugar,—Continues very scarce, and commands our last rates, which were 5| dols. for first quality Siam - '' ; and 4 dols. 85c. to 5 dollars, per pel. for Nos. 1 and 2. And import of 2000 piculs inferior Java which was up up at auction, and only , a small quantity sold at 3| dols, to 4 dols. 80c. per picul. Cochin China is worth 3 J dols. to 3| dols. per pel. - Rice.—ln consequence of more favourable advices'from China an advance has taken place in prices here, and we quote Arracan as worth now from 52 dols. to 57 dols. and Bally Badong and Ampanan, 62 dols. to 64 dols. per coyan. Sago.—ln good demand at 3 dols. sc. to 3 dols. 10c. with boxes for pearl, and 2\ dols. per pel. for flour. Sandlewood.—An import of 5000 pels, per Alert, but no sale reported. Wheat.—lmports and sales at 24 dols. to 3 dols. per hag. Singapore, August 15th, 18.53,—Produce continues in active demand, and most of the leading articles arereadily bought'up on arrival, at extreme rates. Tbed mauj for everything suitable for the Australian markets is still brisk, and there is an appearance of its coatinuicg so for some time. Tonnage to the colonies is very abuc. : dant, and rates of freight have, in consequence, given way; vessels are offering for dead weight at g/.lOe. to 31.f and measurement goods at 3/. 15s. to 4h per too. . SHANGHAE MARKETS, :

We learn that up to the sixth no settlements of new. teas Lad been made, although musters of thirty chops were in the market, and some balf-a' dozen had arrived, for which the brokers were asking, for cash, Ho bows, 14 taels., Ning-chows 20 taels. Similar to the Canton teas, the musters exhibited at Sbanghae are said to be inferior in both make and quality. Of fine, best - quality teas their will no doubt be a genera! scarcity this season. —Friend of China, July. ‘ . . ■ CANTON MARKETS. We are indebted to Messrs. Cald well, Train, and Cor for two or three commercial circulars from Canton. We give the following extracts in addition to the Gammer* cial news from China already published:— “ Canton, August 3rd, 1853. —Since our last circular advices, under date of the 21st alt., we: have received - nothing from the north, but you will probably havelste dates from Shanghae, by a steamer daily expected at Hong Kong. By the Chinese reports it Would appear that disturbances in the country are extending, and meanwhile arrivals of teas here are moderate, while in > imports nothing has been done during the past two weeks except for local consumption and on speculation/, in consequence of the extreme low price. Our quotas tions ipclude duty. • , Teas.—Transactions since oar last hare been limited

to purchases for vessels under despatch. Of congous, settlements have been made of 28 chops at full rates, viz :—Oapaks, 24 to 31*5 ; Monings, 20 to 23; Hon* natns, 18 to 23, leaving in stock 78 chops. -Souchong,, no new arrival. Flowery pekoe, sales 200 chests good superior at 44 to 45. Stock 400 chests. Of the old ao. sales. Caper, receipts 5000 boxes,; no sales. Orange pekoe—sales of 500 half-chests, reported at 22 to 23; stock, 2500 half-chests. Nongyongs and Oolongs-" Musters of 20,000 half-chests of the former ret eived. which two-thirds have arrived. The quality thus proves inferior to last season. Of the old 500 Lalf-chegta, have been taken on English account at 23 for impenw.: Canton Teas.—Young .Hyson sales 2000 bnlf-ches s, at 14 to 16 for cargo to good; gunpowder, 40|> boxes a . 14 to 22 for cargo to superior, Hysonakin 2500 cbes. at IS to 13-5 for Sydney. Congou. 3 chops alio w superior. To fine scented O. Pekoe 6000' boxes 2- 0 28 superior. . Exchange sterling- 5-7 to 5-8 ; E, I, Co.’s Buis eepted, 260 to 265. Freights— 3l, 10s. to 41. to England. .

SUPPLY OF TEA. On this important question the -Fries/ '/ of 23rd July, has the following remarks “ -As regards the pi eduction often, we believe that-a apathetic, generally, are the natives of the provinces, that, whilst a battle might be in its _ neighbouring field the tea.manipulators-would P r0 °,' with their labours as quietly as if they knes* 0 , cop rs belli. Had the Patriot Chiefs a lesser * eiw “ n; j right and wrong, or had they not distinctly repeatedly asserted that they had no desire with the trade of the foreigner, there might w j ter , some fear for regularity in the inland transit. ruption in that way, however, is chiefiy to be bended from the soldiers of the old dynasty, wo» thq correspondent of the Times says—have no 0 to their rapacity : to the people they are as hg er i to their opponents as rats.” , , “As regards the export of tea, however, t . more chance of irregularity than there is ct protiue for producers are not the only parties to the exp o 1 - a | England or to any other part of the world. Firs consideration of this matter we have the manu , turers—Second, the carriers—-Third, the brokers middlemen—and lastly, the foreign first and second parties may be deemed, from was have already said, safe to perform their pad s ° business, Difliculty in completion rests with . others. Hitherto, legitimate trade with China been conducted principally on the principle oi er t r l 3 the balance, in favour of China, being made tip J specie paid for opium imported. Some have tempted to show that, but for this taking advantage the peculiarities of the illegitimate, tire legitimate could not be carried on. This point we will the present ; certain only that tea drinkers will S al lesson or two in political economy from this * e lution in China, and amongst other things barn to u satisfied that a large quantity of tea they n>.ue us ® * if it do s not hear the flavour vf the poppy •**"

'TTnot the demariua Vespasian offered to Titus the time of the subject of an obnoxious impest), that P. er tea at all events is provided for them by aid of the • ov’s proceeds. The difficulty commences with the t g e Chinese merchants, who, as much from w ‘ hension of Tartar repacity as insurgent “ black 8P il ” are afraid to take European manufactures, and 10 nd'them to their usual outlets ; consequently the tea «e want must be paid for in hard “siller,” and if this • not in readiness, the export will fall short. But we ’re writing early in the season, and there is ample time and”* plenty of treasure in England, to supply what may be wanted, to make good our prediction that the import need in no way fall short. ENGLISH MARKETS. Lonnou, Julv Bth.—Arrivals of Colonial wool are still increasing ; there is not much demand for shipping or home consumption, end rather low rates have been rented. In Manchester goods there is little doing by the shipping houses. . Liverpool,— Since last month, the wool market has a charge, and a falling off in the demand tas been apparent, caused by the unsettled position of affairs between Turkey and Russia. The prospects, however, are that confidence will be re-established in a short time. Wool.— Australian and V.D.L. combing and cloth- • e Is. Id. to 2s. 9d.; lambs, Is. 3d. to 2s. 6£d.; locks and pieces, 7d. to Is, IJd.; grease 9d. to Is. 4£d. S. Australian and Swan River ; Lambs, Is. sd. to Is, 3£d. grease, 9d. to Hid.—London, July Btb. The New Yank Herald has an article on the financial in d commercial prospects of the United States, in which it says,— “That the present season of commercial activity and unbounded speculation cannot last for ever ; that fluctuations in the price of money are not altogether things of the past; that we have not reached that degree of Stability and permanent security when the lessons of experience may be safely discarded ; that sudden checks Jnay occur, banks may curtail, and private credits be unexpectedly withdrawn are propositions the truth of which no sensible man of business will be disposed to deny. Nay, more, it must be obvious to all that there exist at the present moment peculiar causes for apprehension.”

Castlemaine Escort ., 39,077 ozs M’lvor do 2,597 •• 0 vens do. .. ,, 3,995 “ Private do. .. 3,098 “ Ballarat do, .. . .. 15,257 “ Total .. 66.021 “