VICTORIA.

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

VICTORIA.

The Argus of tho 24th reports :—: — To-day, the amount of business done \n the import markets was smaller than usual ; the preparation of advices for the mail, the partial holiday (the day being the anniversary of tho Constitution Act), and tho meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on tho subject of the Units of Entry, all having interfered with trade. Candles were in considerable demand, sales of Brandon's having been made at Is. Foreign full weights changed hands, in bond and to arrive, at lOijd, the purchaser taking the risk of any ohange that might occur in the tariff. Malt was in somewhat better inquiry, sales having been made at from 9s 6d to 10s. Sinclair's hams and bacon aro much asked for, but aro scarco ; for haras, Is 6d per lb is required, and the same price is demanded for bacon. Cheese ia also wanted at Is sd. Fine medium congous in half-ohests have been parted with at 2s Id, duty paid. Good western tens tobacco nas sold at 13d. A salo of five tons of Keillor's confectionery was made at a slightly advanced price, the result of changes in tho tariff arrangements. All Byass' stout, in hand and to arrive, hns been bought up, and 9s 6d to 9s 9d, duty paid, is now asked. There have been considerable transactions in Hennessy's case brandy, at 275. Tho market for breadstuff's again shows firmness ; best Adelaide town brands have been sold at L 25 10s to L 26, in trade lots ; medium quality, at L 25 to 1/25 10s ; and country lots, L 24 to L 25. Oats are very firm nt 5s Oil ; but maize is very dull. The Nelly Abbot's cargo of sugar will be offered by auction to-day. Tho recent violent and strange fluctuations in the Customs arrangements have produced tho greatest inconvenience in tho mercantile world, caused by tho need of adapting business to the altered duties and altered mode of collecting them. The intercolonial trade can soarcely sub sist under the difficulties imposed by the revival of the Units of Entry Act and tho collection of import duties under its provisions. From the fact that goods become liable to payment of these rates on entry, merchandise cannot be bonded and reshipped without these duties being paid. It seems that at present a large amount of jewellery and soft goods brought by tho mail stenmer has been allowed to remain in tho hands of the Customs authorities, unontered, merolmnts being unwilling to pay duties whioh it is generally anticipated cannot, in tho face of the inconvenience resulting from them and the growing discontent with the arbitrary manner of their introduction, long continuo iv force.