VICTORIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 180, 17 April 1866, Page 2

VICTORIA.

The Argus of tho 9th instant reports : — " Tho weok juot closed has presented a fair amount of business dono ; but with tho excop tion of tho Anna Maria's cargo by auction, no very noticeable operations havo taken place, ' trade having boon of a very miscellaneous character, and onore amongst second houses than importers. Some difficulty is at present

experienced in obtaining envringo for goods •destined for tho interior, consequently ordcis to hand have been only partially executed ; tho export trade, however, wears an oncoimi&« ing aspect, aud seems likely to continuo to bo •active. Tho commercial advices from Yietoria have not jwssessod much in'tcrcst, and are by no incaus calculated to affect our markets unfavorably, a conlimianco of firm prices for nearly nil slaplo goods being reported in tho Molbourno prices current. Tho sugars sold at Messrs M'Laudrcss, Ilcpburn, and Co.'s rooms, on tho 4th, realized prices in oxcoss of anticipations, tho wholo shipment of 7200 bags boing most spiritedly bid fo\', and ovory lino finding f. buyor. Taking tho rates obtainod as a guide, quotations may bo nmdo rathor highor than as last given. Tho ten market is quiot j but as advices froi* other quarters aro oncouraging, full prices aro niaintaiuod, and no attompt at forcing tho salo of good teas is made, though sovcral holders havo beoii Tory desirous of quitting parcels of low congous, for which tho demand, howovcr, has becomo oxtremely limited. No bettor states of the markot with respect to proTisions appears likoly, and oven tho supplies of colonial provisions, both bacon, butter, and cheese, arc at present very scanty j for Now Zoaland cheoso Is 3d has been obtained, and for butter Is 10.W1 to 2s. Malt has reached tho large prico of 15s per bushel, and i\ still higher figure has beon quoted as obtainablo for small parcels. Salt is in demand, 'tho stock on hand, both of fine and coarse, having becomo small. Masting powdor is another article which has becomo very much reduced in stock. A fair business is doing in bottled ales and stout. Of new brow bulk ales, sales to tho oxtont of tlio quantity arriving and to arrive havo boon made, and owing to tho recent comparative scarcity, most of tho new beers, as landed, will at onco pass into •onsumption. Nothing particular has been dono in wines and spirits, sales not exceeding avorage current requirements. The flour market has not suffered any alteration in consequence of easier prices boing reported in Melbourne. Tho quantity of Chilian or South Australian here is now too small to be much affected in this direction.