The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-20 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

plied with first class goods, avoiding most carefully any
possibility of glutting, they may expect to do well of
their shipments for some time forward. Money is
not very plentiful at present. The banks are charging
per cent for 30 days' drafts on London.
Our late.harvest was a most abundant one, still prices, which,
at the commencement of the season, touched a low figure,
did, oeing to the demand for Melbourne, or the unwiling-
n as of farmers to quit tht ir stocks, advance, and until
within the past month have been well sustained, since then
they have gradually fallen, and wheat can now be bought at
7s per bushel, and flour of the first brands at £l9 103 per
ton. Late adviccs from Melbourne and the other colonies
tend still further to depress the market, and the general
impression is that flour will touch £l6. The weather
has been most favourable for the growing crops,
which promises another abundant yield. I have to
draw attention to a new feature in cur trade, and
one which promises for some time forward to greatly
increase. Owing to the restriction laid by the government
of Victoria on all ships arriving with Chinese, a restriwion
which limits their carrying capacity to one man for every
ten tons, inclusive of crew, as well as to the impost levied
on the Chinese themselves, viz., £lO per head, the latter
for some time past have been landed here, and, in most
instances, have contracted, either with the Melbourne
steamers, or with some of the coasting vessels, for convey-
ance to Guichen Bsy, the nearest pert in this to the adja-
cent colony ; taking this route the celestials evade the head
money, as they enter Victoria overland, and the act bears
only ou arrivals by water. The tradesmen at Port-Adelaide
do a good business with them, as most spend about £2 on
boots and wearing apparel. The captain of the Anglia (a
Liverpool ship), lately arrived from Hong Kong, informed
me that when he left freight had been engaged for 14,000,
and that 26,000 more were waiting an opportunity to leave
the " land of their fathers" for the same d, sfination. The
ranch talked of difficulties, of entering the mouth of the
River Murray, appears to be gradually dying a " natural
death." Two s! careers have entered this season ; one, the
Lefehardt, built by ,••,ur townsmg,n, Mr. J. Laird, entered
last Week, and, in at \iiion to a very valuable freight, took
with her about. 300 Ciiiriese. • The River Murray Naviga-
tion company likewise purpose sending their steamer Mel-
bourne up next month ; elle is a good sized vessel, and
has hitherto been engaged in the Port Elliott trade.
Before closing, I must draw attention to the very uncer-
tain and irregular communication between these colonies
and the mother country, It has become a crying evil, not
one good passage has been made by any of the contract ships
since the March one of last year, brought by the Blue Jacket.
In addition to the long passages, we, untertunete South
Australians, occesionally suffer by the detention of our mails
in Melbourne, a detention arising from a steamer being laid
up, or the mail arriving just after one has left, consequently
having to wait, in the latter case, from four days to a week.
We have just had an instance of the former—owing to the
White Swan being laid up for repairs, the South Australian
portion of the Champion of the Seas' mail was detained at
the post office, Melbourne, for—will you believe it fourteen
days !! Does not this bear out our argument that it is an
injustice for our letters to be sent there at all, and prove the
necessity, in any new contract with steamers, of eat rcing
either a call here, or at King George's Sound. I hope, if
not too late, you will take up our cudgels, and advocate, in
your masterly style, for some consideration for the cornmer_
cial community of Adelaide, who are willing to pay for such,
but do not like giving a " quid" without receiving the
"quo." In conclusion, I have to notice a late discovery
made by Mr. Tolmer (ex-police superintendent), ha has
discovered a plant indigenous to the country, capable of
being converted. into the uses of hemp or flax ; the subject
has been brought before the council, with the intention of
voting Mr. T. a reward. From practical men I learn that
it may be made a source of great benefit to the country, and,
if properly worked, may become a staple article of export.
All that is wanting is perseverance and money, both of
which the country largely possesses.

P.S.—Owiog Ito the non-arrival of the Melbourne
steamer, now some days over due, and the want of another
conveyance to Melbourne, I fear this will be too late for the
Sardinian. We yesterday received, per Lady Ann, news
from home to the 23rd March, announcing the birth of a son
to Napoleon, Emperor of the French. and givirg us full
accounts of the peace conferences. There is a report that
there was an earthquake last night, but I have as yet heard
no particulars. --
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Commercial Intelligencsr, by this arrival, informs us
that, at Melbourne, the markets generally continued in-
active, but the dullness arose, solely, from the season of
the year—communication between Melbourne and the
interior townships being almost cut of—viz., the state of the
roads, and the necessary high rates cf transport of goods.
Business, generally, was healthy, and the markets firm, and
although many of the quotations were nominal, no reduc-
tion from them would be submitted to in effecting sales.
The seed time being over, the farmers in Victoria were
released for a time from agricultural operations, so that
many more drays were offering for loading to the diggings,
and a consequent reduction in the rates of tentage have
taken place. To the more distant townships, a decline of
£3 to £4 per ton has been effected, and to the nearer ones
proportionate alteration. As injury, however, from rain or
long detention on the roads was at that season of the year
highly probable, the reduction of rates did not induce
the transmission of other than absolutely necessary articles.
Attention had been drawn to the supply of some of the
diggings by the river Murray navigation from South
Australia; and we believe some fears are entertained by
many, that actually the trade of the northern townships will
he lost to Melbourne by this means. This, however, the
Melbourne Price Current, of the 28 h July, has no hesita-
tion in contradicting. L may not be generally known that
goods forwarded by this route have to be conveyed, in the
first instance, from Port-Adelaide by sea to Port Elliot,
which latter issituated at the bottom of a deep bay, exposed
to the fury of the south easterly gales, which usually prevail
in the Australian winter. For this port insurance is, even
at exorbitant rates, difficult to effect, and, c tnsequntly,
drafts against such shipments are not negotiable. From
Port El:iott goods are conveyed by the Gooliva Railway to
the south of the Murray, and then pLced on board the
barges for their destination. It is hardly necessary to
remark that, during the many loading and anloadings to
which goods are subjected, injury is even more than
probable, especially during the rainy season, and, as our
readers are no doubt aware, Murray River navigation is,
during the summer months, suspended from want of draught
of water.

LioNoas.—Spirits are not so firm, 11s 3d for best brands
of brandies being quite the top price. Rum has been in
better demand, and our rates are fully maintained. For
Scotch whiskey, in case, there is an increased enquiry, and
our maximum rate of 235. is readily procurable. Liquors
are very dull of sale, and, in fact, are not suited for general
trade. Good Ports and Sherries fully maintain (potations,
while inferior sorts are somewhat neglected, and more
difficult of sale. Beer, both draught and bottled, is some-
what easier, as our prices show--.E9 10s. per hbd. for Bass
No. 9, and 12s per dc?. for Byasq,a b Atled, ale and porter
in equal proportions, are the highest prices we can quote.
METALS generally remain unchanged. A sale of Muntz's
patent sheathing, with nails included, has been made at
Is 3d. Galvanised iron wire, for fences, is getting more
into demand, and considerable sales have been made at
from .£32 to £34, for Nos. 3 and 4.
LEATHER : This trade has been brisk, and we give the
following results of sale :--Black harness, 34s per hide;
brown, 26s per hide; kip, Is 6d to is 9cl per lb.
SOFT GOODS : The market is very dull, and it is
difficult to give quotations. Holders are, of course,
desirous ofclearing out winter goodse which cannot be done
withoUt spbmitting to reductiOn in prices. Drapery
goods, moderate invoices (say to the extent of £3OO to
.€400) well assorted and suitable, are saleable at 20 to 25
per cent advance. Picked selections are of course worth
more, while light summer descriptions are unsaleable, and
those of American manufacture will not realise cost
price.

- Wow.: Since the sailing of the Champion of the Seas,
the rplarket has remained ing.ctive, and prices are not
quite so firm. The quantity offering is but small, although
sufficient for the present demand. The quantity of wool
shipped this season up to the 19th of July, was 11,238,854
lbs, value £726.396 sterling. Our quotations are for
scoured wool, 19d to 22d per lb; hand washed and slipe
do , 14d to I6d.

TALLOW: We have to report a further decline in the
price of mutton tallow, which is now difficult of sale at
our quotation. Beef and mixed still maintain their prices,
although the demand fer either is very limited. Prices are
nearly as follows :—For beef tallow, 6'35 mixed do., .638,
and mutton do., .6'43 to £45 per ton.
HIDES: We have nothing fresh to report in hides.
Prices are unchanged.
SUNDRIES: White lead continues in tolerable dema,d,
but not at paying rates. Polar oil is in demand.
American timber is nearly cleared from, first
hands. Speculators are firm at £l6 103 to £l7 for
white pine t and g boards. Imports are not likely to be
very large, and an improvement, in price is anticipated
when rates of cartage recede. Laths aro wanted, and
worth 2Th 6d to 30s for Mobile. American chairs are
cleared from first hands, and next importations of Balti-
more cane and wood seats, and rockers, may be expected
to realise remunerating rates. Cooking stoves, of approved
patterns, are saleable at 25 per cent advance on invoice.
Common cutlery brings Fio per cent advance, and superior
wrought 20 per cent. The demand for building ironmongery
is improVing, and prices are 25 per cent over invoice
rates. English shades sell at .41 to 42 10s per dozen,
and long strapped at 5s to 10s.
PROVISIONS, &c.: Butter, which had fallen a trifle, has
rallied. For really prime doable rose Cork, is 4d is
procurable, and the article is firm at that price. Candles,
sperm, have lately declined but are now steady. This
steadiness arises in consequence of orders from Sydney to
purchase Belmont's at a limit of is 3d. Cheese of good
rna4°t andip good condition, fully bears its price. A sale
of prime double Gloucester has been made at Is sd.
FLourt: Considerable business has been done, and a
brisk demand for speculation has been commenced. The
best brands of Adelaide are firmly held at 6'24, with an
upward tendency. American has advanced 6'3 to £4 per
ton.

FREIGHTS : There are a moderate number of ships on
berth, and rates remain steady, but there is not much
activity ill the mart.let, as there is but little export trade,
We quote wool to London Lid per lb. To Liverpool, id.
Tallow to Liverpool, 40s to 503 per ton. Hides, .15.
Gold 34d to 4d per ounce to London; 4d to Liverpool; do
in large quantities 3d ; dead weight, per agreement, 30s
per ton; light goods, 50s to 64