Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-10-17 00:00:00

STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE.

Mr. Samuel Griffiths, in his weekly circular, says :7--
The quarterly meetings of the ironmasters have passed
off during the week a satisfactory manner. The
feeling at Wolverhampton, on Wednesday, was firm,
with regard to prices ; and although a goodly number of
local buyers were present, the arrangement of large
transactions in .Finished Iron were, by- mutual consent
of both buyer and seller, deferred for completion to the
Birmingham meeting for the next day. The makers of
best Pigs were very firm, at fixed rates ; only small parcels,
however, were disposed of " before the Swan," where the
aggregate meeting was scarcely up to the usual average in
point of numbers. At Birmingham, the next day (Thurs-
day), the spacious Town Hall was tolerably well filled by
the representatives of the leading. Welch, Shropshire, East
Worcestershire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Durham, and
South Staffordshire Houses. The usual great buyers
from London, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Man-
chester attended, and the meeting, upon the whole,
presented a very cheerful and animated spectacle. The
baying on London account was satisfactory. Manchester,
Bristol, and Glasgow, likewise gave out considerable
orders, while the Liverpool merchants were to some
extent more cautious buyers, than at last quarter, for
finished Iron. An eminent Scotch house has taken a
contract from the Government, for 4,000 tons of Plates
for the Navy, which, we ate happy to say, will be given
out to this district. There was likewise inquiries for
two or three parcels of Rails, which will no doubt be
closed by one of two Welch houses, now in treaty for
them. The real business done in the ,hall was very
considerable, and the sorts which changed hands were-
best Staffordshire bars, angle bars, and, hoops and sheets
for London, rods, hoops, and bars for Bristol, boat
plates for the Clyde, hoops, plates, and bars for Man-
chester, and sheets were in general demand for Liver-
pool and other markets. In common bars, Shropshire
and North. Staffordshire took the bulk of the orders
given out in the hall. The prices of last quarter being
taken as the ruling rates, and were well maintained for
all kinds of Staffordshire Iron. The manufacturers
were not sharp buyers of Pigs ; nevertheless a large
business was done in all native first-class Brands, and
most of the best makers sold their produce up to the
first week of December. Lillcshall and the old Park in
Shropshire cleared off the whole of their make for the
ensuing quarter. These sorts, together with Cinder-
ford, still maintain favour with the manufacturers.
Melters, Nos. 1,2, and 3, being required by the foun-
deries in the district, fetched fully current rates; and as
enquiries are on foot for this kind for Russia and France,
(although not to a very large extent,) still this outlet
gives tone to the market,' and renders prices more firm.
Cinder Pigs and all other inferior makes were languid,
prices drooping, and little business done. The business
done in Pig Iron on the whole was less than last
quarter day. At the same time, for first-class Brands,
no concession in price was made. Pottery makes of all
kinds attracted less attention, and the business done in
this sort was below the average. On the whole, the
prospects for the ensuing quarter are satisfactory, the
demand being of a regular• and steady character, devoid
of all speculation ; and if the foreign political horizon
should continue to clear up, no doubt the prospects of
the trade will brighten with it, the district being more
sound and healthy than it has been during the
last two years. The official list of prices of Finished
Iron is as follows :-Common Staffordshire Bars,
£7 10s., at the works ; best bars, £8 10s. ; sheets, £9 ;
Doubles, £lO 105..; Nail Sheets, £8 10s. ;. Latin, £l2 ;
Boiler Plates, £9 ; Best and Best Best in proportion ;
Coinmon Rods, £7 10s. ; Hoops, £Blos. ; Canada Plates,
£l2, and all other sorts in proportion. Current prices
of Pig Iron :-Staffordshire Cold Blast £4 10s. ; Best
Native Hydrate Pigs, £3 15s. to £4 2s. 6d. ; first-class
All Mine Grey Forge Pigs, £3 10s. to £3 15s. ' • Good
Mine Pigs, with. a modicum of Flue Cinder, £3 2s. 6d.
to £3 7s. 6d. ; Mine Pigs, deteriorated by Cinder,
£2 12s. 6d. to £3 ; Melters, Nos. 1,2, and 3, £2 17s. 6d.
to £3 2s. 6d. ; superior makes of all Mine Melting
Iron, £3 10s. to £4, according to make and quality.
Favourite Shropshire and Forest of Dean Brands, £4los.
The Glasgow Market for Scotch Pigs has experienced
some excitement during the week, and prices have ruled
irregularly. In the early part of the week under review
535. 3d. cash was paid, under impulses given to the
market by the colliers' strike apprehensions. However,
the ironmasters held a meeting on Wednesday, and con-
ceded the demands of the men, whereupon a collapse in
prices took place' when business, was done at 518‘ 6d.
prompt cash. The market, however, rallied a little
yesterday (Friday), and closed firmly at 51s. 9d. buyers,
525. sellers ; cash for warrants. No. 1, G. M. 8.,
buyers 525., sellers 525. 3d. ; No. 3, G. M. 8., buyers
51s. 6d., sellers 528. ; Glengarnock, 535. 6d ; Coltness,
545. 6d. ; Gartaherrie, 565. 6d. -Shipments for the
week, 9,784 tons, against 8,444 tons for corresponding
week of 1858. Copper : Market quiet, without change.
Lead Market languid, with ss. per lon lower prices,

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The Queen and the Prince Consort, with those
members of the Royal Family who have been
sojourning with her Majesty and his Royal
Highness in the Highlands, in passing through
Chester on Saturday, received an address
there from the Bishop and Clergy, and the
Mayor and Corporation. We have fully
reported the proceedings in another column.
Her Majesty, it will seen, was received with
most affectionate loyalty by all classes of the
people ; the interesting occasion, indeed, appears
to have thrown the ancient city of Chester into a
state of no ordinary pleasurable excitement. The
Royal party proceeded on their route to Bangor,
where the carriages of Colonel Pennant were in
waiting to convey them to his baronial Castle of
Penrhyn.
Referring to the contemplated Congress, the Paris
correspondent of the Times says that, in addition
to the five Great Powers, there will be Sardinia,
Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Naples, and Rome, re-
presented.
The organ of the French Government announces
that the French fleet has been sent to Morocco on
account of the attitude which England has
thought fit to assume towards Spain. The latter
Power seems decided to obtain from Morocco a
marked reparation for the insults which she has
so long been subject to, and England sees in that
course a motive for being uneasy: " The appear-
ance of the English squadron in those waters
cannot have any other object than to watch, and
even, perhaps, to counterbalance, those operations."
Such is the language of the Moniteur de la Flotte,
which adds, that the news of the mission assigned