The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-09-12 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

ARRIVAL 01' THE SARDINIAN'S MAIL

The Melbourne mails, by the Sardinian, arrived

here yesterday Morning
Cholera has ceased in Australia. Heavy rains
had hindered diggers, but the yield of geld con-
tinted good. Total amount of gold received this
Year, to June 19, wee over 900,000 ounces, The
Joseph Tarratt hailed from Melbourne, June 14th,
with 21,000 ounces of gold, for LiVerpool. The
Shalimar arrived June 23, damaged by a gale. The
Atalanta; from Liverpool, had arrived in 79 days.
Trade continued largely in favour of the colony.
At Forest Creek two tons of quartz had yielded
533 minces of gold. In New Zealand the natives
fought with the British troops at Naranauki on the
3d May, and eighteen were killed. Gold had been
discovered!near.Nelson, and a large lode of copper
at the height of 1,800 feet on the Dun mountain.
We find in one of the Melbourne papers, of the
24th June, the following -remarkS respecting the
mishap to the Shalamar :—" The royal mail
shin Shalimar, of the White Star line of
pactets, anchored in Hob son's Bay early on
the morning of the 23d June. Captain -17,.r0wn
reports that the ship had been baffled by E.N.E,
winds, since the 9th of June, and was thus pre-
vented making northwards. Oft the Melbourne
coast the Shalimar had also been unfortunate,
and in a gale of wind to the east of King's Island,
which lasted five days, she carried away the
jib-boom, split the mainsail, main_topsail, sky-
sail, and sustained other severe injury, To the
fact of going so far southward, Captain Brown
attributes his somewhat protracted passage, and
agrees with what has fallen from almost every
commander of ships that have recently arrived in
Melbourne from England, that the run is not only
made more lengthy in consequence of the preva-
lence of the north-east winds, but dangerous to
the ship and excessively annoying and uncomfort-
able to the passengers.'
Mr. C. G. Duffy was lecturing on the ballad
poetry of Ireland at Melbourne to large audiences.
The Hall of the Mechanics' Institute being unable
to contain a tithe of the parties seeking admission.
The committee of the Melbourne Chamber of
Commerce, at their weekly meeting on the 16th of
'June, took into consideration the statements in the
Argus summary for England, per Joseph Tarratt, to
the effect that the " arrival of the Royal Charter in
fifty-nine days from Plymouth had effected a com-
plete change in public opinion on the subject of
routes."
The unanimous opinion of the committee was that no such
change of opinion had taken place, that it was premature to
infer the superiority of screw clippers from one successful
trip, and it was observed that whatever advantages these
vessels present for goods or passengers, that the overland
route, which could be traversed in forty four days, must
command a decided preference for the transmission of
mails.
We think our Melbourne friends are hard to
please if they are not satisfied -arith the trip of the
Royal Charter, unequalled as it is by any sailing
ship or steamer afloat.
A petition is in course of signature to his Ex-
cellency the Acting Governor, praying him not to
sanction the appropriation of any portion of the
reserve known as the South-park, for the pur-
poses of a cemetery for the municipality of
Emerald Hill. The petition states that such a
determination as that alleged, about to be arrived
at, with respect to a portion of the reserve, is a mal-
appropriation of the intents and purposes for which
it was set apart: The reserve was fenced in at a
cost of 11,000. The petition-is lying for signature
at the Chamber of Commerce and elsewhere.
The agitation for the adoption of the eight hours'
system of labour was continued, and au enthusi-
astic meeting had been held at Geelong.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE

MELBOURNE, 24th June.—Little change has taken place
in prices generally. Business has been, and still is,
dull and inactive, but this, we think, arises mainly from the
season of the year, and may be termed periodical dullness.
At the same time, though comparatively but little is doing,
the markets are healthy, and holders, with a few exceptions,
are not inclined to submit to any lower rates. The
probable close of the war will throw a large
amount of tonnage into competition, and thus
materially reduce the rates of freights. This will
induce extended shipmen's to the advancing colonies of
Australia, but, as doubt'ess a large immigration
will accompany them, this prospect does not appear to
intimidate holders, and the general impression appears
to be that in the Spring a steady demand will be found for
all coming suitable goods. Little variations have taken
place.
LIQUORS : Brandy has become very firm, and a slight
advance boa taken place with a still upward tendency. A
parcel of United V. Co.'s of about 100 hhds, has been sold
to arrive at 13s 6d. Whiskey is now freely offered. Old
Tom in bulk and case continues scarce. In wines : sherries
continue at our last quotations, but ports, (particularly of
finer growth) are still looking up. In bulk beer trade is
dull, Bass's No. 3, worth £lO, being the index of the value
of other brands. In bottled beer some large transactions
have been effected during the last few days at 12s for best
brands, ale and porter in proportion. The demand for bulk
porter is evidently decreasing, a colonial compound having
been introduced at a much cheaper rate. Several sales by
auction of syrups and liquers have taken place.
TOBACCO, CIGARS, &0,, are a trifle lower, sales of Barrett's
having been effected as low as is 7d, while No. 2 Manilas
have changed hands at 48s and 493.
GROCERIES, Oilmen's Stores, &c.—Prices are scarcely
ma!ntained, several arrivals both of tea and sugar having
come to hand ; and while we believe offers for large parcels
of the former, at a shade under our quotations would not
ba refused, the late and the expected arrivals from Mauritius
tend to keep buyers cautious of stocking themselves with the
latter commodity. Coffee fully maintains quotations, with
an upward tendency for better samples. Oilmen's stores
generally are very dull. Hops remain inactive. Candles
are declining from late high prices, and should arrivals
continue heavy, they will further recede. A sale of Hale's
at 1,6 d per lb. is reported.
BREADSTUFFS.—FIour is quiet, with every prospect of a
further decline, and as it is beyond all doubt that there is in
South Australia a very much larger quantity of flour and
wheat than can he possibly consumed there, large imports
thence may be looked for, this market being the only outlet
for this portion of the produce of that colony. An impres-
sion has gained ground that prices at Chilian ports will
have given way to a very great extent, and that large ship-
ments will be made to these colonies in consequence. This
feeling checks speculation, and there is little or no present
demand for the gold-fields. Imported biscuits are very slow
of sale, the low prices of flour nourishing the competition of
colonial made, which are rising in public estimation. There
is no change in the grain market, except that holders of oats
are firmer. Good samples of barley are inquired for. The
stocks of rice continue to accumulate, but importers are
keeping out of the market.
METALS : There is very little doing in this branch of
trade. A sale of Staffordshire has been reported at £lB,
but this must have been an exception. The demand for
lead, sheet and pipe, increases, there being a disposition to
speculate in this article. Sales of shear tin have taken place
by auction at 7d per lb:
Paontsrotas : The late arrivals of butter, hams, &c., have
not only checked the advancing rates, but prices have
declined and the previous demand has slackened.
PAINTS, OILS, &o.: A slight decline is perceptible, the
best quality only of white lead being saleable. Chinese oil
has declined to 55, and as considerable quantities are on the
way from Adelaide, a further decline will doubtless occur.
SOFT GOODS : There is very little doing and quotations
are consequently all but nominal.
SUNDRIES : Pitch continues unaltered, a great portion
of that on hand is mixed with " coal," and consequently
nearly ustless ; new arrivals must take place ere improve-
ment in price can be quoted. The arrivals of slate has
supplied the late demand, and this article is now quiet.
There has been some speculation in American lumber, and
for the parcels now in first hands a considerable advance is
demanded. English coals of good quality are scarce and in
demand, and there is some difficulty in giving an accurate
price. A cargo of Newcastle (N.S.W.) changed hands at
£2 15s in the Bay. Three-bushel bags are worth 20s per
dozen. There have been large sales of American mining
tools, slightly damaged by sea water, at which fair prices
were realised. The stocks of American furniture are be.

c)ming exhausted.
MELIV)URNE 'WOOL MARKET : Our last was per " Joseph
Tarratt," on the 7th inst., since which this market has fully
maintained the advance in price then named. From the
unsettled state of the weather during the last few weeks,
Fellmongers have been unable to dry their wools, conse.
quentiv the supply is now on a limited scale, and any good
lots offering are readily taken up for remittances at our
quotations, which are—For scoured, 18d to 22d per lb ;
handwashed and slipe, 14d to 16d per lb; fleece (none
offering). The quantity shipped has been as follows :
From Oct. 10th, 1855, to May 31st, 1856, 10,846,253 lb. ;
value, £697,280. From May 31st to June 14th, 208,439
; value, £17,246. Total, 11,054,692 lb.; total value,
£714,526.
TALLow.—This article has declined in price, owing in a
great measure to the general dullness of trade just now
prevailing here, and from the impassable state of the roads
to the various gold-fields, thereby checking the demand for
local use ; and with the prospect of peace before us, we do
not anticipate any enquiry for shipment for some time to