ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 662, 6 December 1851, Page 4

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Birmingham Wool Sales.—Birmingham, July 30.—The new wool mart, the establishment of which was announced in the Times a few weeks ago, was opened yesterday under very promising auspices. The first sale of the season was held in Bingley Exhibition Hall, and commanded a large attendance of the agriculturists of the midland counties, and the woolstaplers of Bradford, Leeds, and other parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The wools were exposed in bulk, each party’s clip being sold separately, excepting cots, black fleeces, and locks. The clips offered on this occasion consisted for the most part of the fine and middle sorts, there being but a few supers. The quality of the wool sold may be considered as a fair average of the growth of the immediate midland districts, where it was chiefly produced. The quantity offered for sale was not so large as no doubt would have been sent had the sale taken place earlier in the season. The stock exhibited consisted of about 15,000 fleeces. There were also piles of skin wool, varying in quantities of 3 to 17 sheets each. At the commencement of the sale an attempt was apparently made by one or two of the old collectors and buyers of wool in the neighbourhood to excite some suspicion as to the terms and conditions which it was proposed to impose upon purchasers; but Mr. Nossiter, the broker, was awake to the intent of his interrogators, and gave satisfactory answers to all questions put to him. He announced that the wool would be packed for the parties selling, and that due allowance would be made for any loss of weight which might have occurred since the time of weighing for sale. As the servant of the sellers he held himself responsible for seeing that justice was done to purchasers. At the close of the proceedings the general impression was that the various wools sold had realised their value ; while at the same time the purchasers from the north expressed perfect satisfaction with their bargains. The arrangement of the wool, and other matters under the control and superintendence of Mr. Nossiter, met with general approbation. The following prices obtained may betaken as the average quotations of the sales of the day:—First-class clips, from Is. 2d. to Is. 2|d,, and other qualities in proportion ; cots, from 9jd. to 9£ ; locks, 7Jd. to 9d.— xu. xu. neraia, rvov. 4.

FRANCE. The Octroi receipts for the first six months of the present year, have amounted to the sum of 17,653,000 f., being 277,000 f, more than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The present annual revenue, after deducting 1,095,000 f. the amount of new taxes exceeds by 90,000 f. that of the year which preceded the year of the Revolution of February. The revenue from wines, liquors, and provisions, presents a marked increase, but on building materials, there is a large diminution. The entrance duties levied at Paris for the Public Treasury have increased as well as Octroi ; they amounted during the last six months to 6,804,000 f., which is 107,000 f. more than in the same period of 1850, and 823,000 f. more than in 1847.

7 he establishment of a bank at Algiers appears to be decided on. Hitherto the only institution of credit there has been the Discount Bank. The director of this latter establishment, M. Litcbtlin, has been summoned to Paris to be consulted on the subject of the New Bank, the statutes of which, it is said, have been drawn up, and will be very shortly submitted to the examination of the Council of State.

The prospects of Louis Napoleon are decidedly looking downwards. After moving all France for a revision of the Constitution—a revision which was intended to make him eligible for re-election—his project was defeated, the following being the result—

Number of voters 724 Constitutional Majority of three-fourths .543 For the revision 446 Against it 278 Then following a debate upon an organised system of petitions which the President and the ministry has produced in favour of the revision. Amongst the speakers were Lamoriciere who declared that he and his friend who had combated anarchy in the streets, would use the same sword to prevent usurpation. Cavaignac and all the solid old generals of the Republic are now pledged against the designs attributed to the President. The ministry offered to resign, but Louis Napoleon had declined to accept their resignation.