COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 78, 2 December 1865, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times, Friday Evening. Scarcely any perceptible change has taken place in quotations 'tanCe our lust report, and on the whole business has been slack. Several pafcols of slopa and boots have changed hands at auction, at prices not remunerative to importers . A cargo of lumber was offered, but withdrawn, from the insufficiency of the prices offered. Brcadstuffs have remained firm, and there is no alteration. Somo supplies of quicksilver, whose scarcity we noticed a few days back, have come to hand in more than sufficient quantities to meet the requirements of tho market. To-day, at auction, this article realised from 4a 3d to 5s 3d per lb, the lowor rates, however, prevailing. In Colonial produce, provisions, and all leading article?, the market is well stooked. In oats, beans, and chaff there if a marked decline in prices, Little his been doing to-day in consequence of the intercolonial mails, nnd sufficient time has not elapsed to test the effect of late advices upon the local market. A very serious interruption to tho trade between Melbourne and this colony is threatened by the extraordinary financial polioy of the Victorian Government, whioh partakes more of the character of revenge against the mercantile community by whom tho protective tariff bas been so far successfully resisted, than ef care for the interests of commerce. It being no .'onger possible, after tho rejection of the Tariff Bill by tho Legislative Counoil, to collect the new duties, hitherto imposed upon the authority of the resolution of the lower house, the old tariff has been reverted to, but an extraordinary use has been made of the power conferred on the Governor in Council to declare what shall bo " units of entry." Under the regulations now issued the duties leviable are in excess of those of tho defeated tariff. And as these have to be paid in cosh before warehousing, and no drawback is allowed in respect of them upon exports, the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce declares that the cortoin effect of tho system will be to destroy entirely tho intercolonial trade of Victoria, and especially to cut off the 'New Zealand markets from Melbourne exporters. Tho experiment of importing carcaso meat for the Hokitika market has not so far been successful. A lot of twelve beasts from Melbourne, which were guaranteed to have beon slaughtered on board the Souchays within 24 hours of tho tirat) of sale, was offered at Throckmorton's store, but the highest bidding was ljd per lb. The "meat was a fair sample, but butohers wero disinclined to purchase, owing probably to the sufiiciencyof live stock on hand. The Auctioneers intimated that they would treat with buyers privately, and Cd wag tho prico put upon the article- At the same time a lot of sheep was offered, but were withdrawn.