COMMERCIAL.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 6, 11 February 1890, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

London, February 6. Quotations for frozen meat and wool remain unchanged. Australian wheat, ex-warehouse, 395, very restricted. Sugar—German beet, 11s 9d; Java, 15s. No 1 best Scotch pig iron, f.o.b. in Clyde, 52s 9d, active. Hobart, February 8. Reports of this season’s wheat yield are unfavourable. Advices dated 3rd January, from America, says :—“ The bottom of the market for New- Zealand hemp seems to have dropped out, and it is impossible to make sales or get an offer. We attribute this to the large amount taken from London and the large shipments on their way from New Zealand direct, and especially to the fall in Manila and sisal of about one cent per lb, with no inclination to purchase even at the decline. New Zealand hemp can only be used for twines and very cheap rope, and must sell at prices from one to two cents below sisal, and five to six cents below Manila. The comparative high price; of Manila and sisal has raised the price for New Zealand flax as a substitute for manufacture of cheaper twines and rope, possibly for mixing with Manila, but of that we are not quite sure. The large quantities of hemp coming forward will be used in some way, and we trust will be regularly and largely imported in future, but there is the ob- . jection raised in a great many imi portations as to the quality not being up to requirements, or as agreed on, ■ leading to dissatisfaction and claims.”

SHOCKING MINING DISASTER. .London, February 7. By a colliery explosion at Newport, in Wales, 300 miners have been entombed. Two hundred of the miners have been rescued. A large number of others were suffocated, and 60 corpses have been recovered. Later. A hundred and twenty miners were killed by the colliery accident at Newport, and scores of bodies have been \seen in the. colliery, but the rescue parties are unable to reach them. The majority of those rescued were seriously injured. The explosion was heard for miles round. Those bodies which have been recovered are dreadfully mangled. There was a fearful scene at the mouth of the mine as soon as the news of the accident was confirmed,

ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL. Lisaon, February 7. The report that Portugal is requesting the Powers to convene a Conference on the Zambesi question is denied. Paris, February 7. The Parisian bankers are remitting 100,000 sovereigns to Portugal. London, February 7. It is understood that Lord Salisbury will comply with the request for a Conference on the Zambesi question. It is reported that the Portuguese continue the system of terrorising the inhabitants in the disputed East African districts. AUSTRALIAN. Sydney, February 7. The Inspector-General of Police here says that the statement of the Paris Le Temps, that only 82 convicts have escaped from New Caledonia during the first five years is ridiculous, for it is well known to the police that during that period the escapees numbered many hundreds. The majority of them may not, perhaps, have escaped from immediate custody, but they got away from the islands by availing themselves of certain liberties granted to them. In consequence of his proposed visit to England, the Hon, J. White has decided to dispose of all his thoroughbreds after the Autumn Meeting, but will retain Abercorn and the sires and brood mares at his Kirkham Stud Farm.

A tram motor while running to Botany Bay this morning capsized. The driver, a man named Bogan, was terribly injured, being literally crushed to death under the boiler. The fireman had a miraculous escape. Melbourne, February 7.

The average heat during January was five degrees higher than any month since the records have been kept, and was quite unparalleled throughout Australia, .. Brisbane; February 7.

The Chamber of Commerce have received information from the directors of the Canadian-Pacific Railway Company that nothing has yet been done with reference to the establishment of a steam service between Vancouver and Australia. Adelaide, February 7. All the captains in the militia have resigned their commissions as a protest against the appointment of a major to command the third battalion. Fielding, February 7. Yesterday a farmer was driving a mob of one hundred pigs to Makino to the railway station when twenty dropped dead from the heat.