The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

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' . • _,_

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVI

Wednesday.

The iron and coal trades of this part of the
kingdom were fairly represented at the meeting
of the members of those and kindred industries
on 'Change, in this town J.day. Reports from
the works and the collieries showed the continu-
ance of an onward direction in the extent of
business doing, and of firmness, with a tendency
to advance in the prices asked and obtained.
Negotiations were begun to-day in certain cased,
and in other concluded, in respect alike of fin-
ished and pig-iron; but transactions were some-
what checked by the upward movement. This
was most observable in relation to pi-iron wade
in other districts, and sold here by agents on
the spot. Such goods are now getting very stiff
all round, the best kinds being no longer an ex-
ception. The reluctance of consumers to give
vendors' terms is the greater because of the
comparative prevailing quietude at the mills and
forges generally, notwithstanding the undoubted
mending of the markets from week to week.
So considerable is the demand for operatives
consequent upon the increase of works in the
Cleveland district, that the reliable workpeople
in tins neighbourhood—which is the old nursery
for ironworkers—are quite within the require.
'ltems of the industry : therefore, the Irounias-
ters' Association are taking steps to induce Go-
vernment to make permanent the temporary
arrangement under the Factory Act Extension,
allowing boys of sixteen to work all night. In
this other districts unite.

District reports represent the recovery of the
South Staffordshire Iron Trade as proceeding
slowly, but surely, and this view was fully con-
firmed on Thursday by the general testimony of
tile iromuasters attending the INeekly meeting
at Birmingham. It can scarcely be said that
there is any appreciable increase of activity at
the principal works since last week ; but there
are now fewer works virtually unoccupied. Bu-
siness is diffusing itself more generally; and if
there are not many great prizes among the ape.
cifications placed, blanks at all events are fewer.
Prices for the commoner descriptions of iron
continue disproportionately low, owing to the
severity of the competition with the North; but
for all the branded makes there is a steady de-
mand, at full prices. The production of pig-iron
is on the increase, and new furnaces are in pro-
gress of erection or preparation in several
places. As the native ironstone is being rapidly
exhausted, these new furnaces will have to de•
pond for their supplies of ore chiefly on North.
smptonshire, whence the mineral imports are
already verp considerable. Hematites, both ore
and pig, are still in much request; but the high
prices demanded are a great check upon busi-
ness. The lock out in the Scotch iron trade.
which shows signs of extending, is likely to
prove beneficial to this district, by referring
orders here. Already inquiries have been made
which promise to lead to new business.

QCKENSLAND EXIGRATIO!..— The Phip " Young Austra•
ha, " 1000 tone burden, belonging to Messrs. T. St.
Mackay, Son and Co., sailed on the 17th instant from
Gravesend for t2ueenaland; Captain, James Cooper;
Surgeon-Superintendent, W. H. Mondelet. Eeq.
tron, Mre. Mills. The " Young Australia- is the 99th
vessel that has sailed on the Land Order Symtem of
I:migration, tinder the immediate direction of the
' gneensland Government Office. 32, Charing Cross, Lot-
In. She She contlins 239 souls, divided into paying, assis-
ted and free passengers, and ronsisting of 99 members
of families, 106 single mem 34 single females.
i

05 07 THM FP.MNCH TRZATY. PIM the wine
trade has undergone important changes and consider•
able development during the iast ten years cannot be
biter 'hewn than by instancing the fact, that while the
conrumrion of wines in 1860 (the first year of the
French Treaty) wa. 7,358,192 gallons, it had increased in
1869 to 14.840,158 gallons, or doable the quantity. Ac-
e )retirg to the Government returns, the houses which
paid duty on the largest quantity of wine in the Port of
London during the ye,ir 1869 were the following. Ali.
',ended also is a list of the houses whi,h paid duty on
the largest quantity of foreign spirits during the year
1869 :

WINES (FonntoN) , SPIRITS (Foasui3)
Gadon4 Gallons
W & A Hilbey 717.243W & A (*Rimy 284.025
F W Coeens
Hamlet Freres 147.4)0 Nicholhon and Co. 180 986
Bove. & Beckwith 125.227 II Taylor & SOO, . 133,452
IL *Hooper and Sons 124.038 Trower and Lawson 125.245
Dingwall and Cm 121,278 Dingwall & Co. .. 112,636
Cduiliffe & Co.
mon & Lightly 85,750 Bond, Forbes AG Co. 98.919
I Mot, timid.; &Co 84,859 'Bishop k Sons.... 95,057
J Allnutt jun dr Co 81.092 I ziesiger & Evans .. 88,315
D Taylor & Sous 76.073 11 Barnett it Cm.. 67,704
An Light Wines are acknowledged by inedical wien to
be a I onmt desirable beverage, and a large portion of the
above increase comes under that head, the importance
of these figures should be borne in mind in any revision
of the Frenob Monty.

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