The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-17 00:00:00

INSTITUTION FOR TEM BLIND.

The annual meeting of this institution was held at the
Blind Asylum, Hardman Street, yesterday, at eleven
o'clock in the morning—Mr. W. Brown.,, M.P., occupied
the chair. The other gentlemen present were—Messrs.
W• Bennett, Thomas Dismore, John Drinkwater, W.
M‘lsiaugb.t, Chas. Lister, J. Smith, S. Reckenly, F. S. Hull,
Thomas Mills, and H. Banner. The business was com-
menced by the reading of the following report :

In the past year the funds of the school have• been
augmented by legacies, which amount to £774, an increasa
of £556 on the previous year, Of donations, £2OO, an
increase of £4O on the previous year ; and by £2OO from
he chapel funds, being £5O more than was received the
previous year.

There is a decrease of £lOO in the amount received for
the slie of goods ; of £BO received for the maintenance of
pupils ; of £6O in subscriptions, and £3O from interest on
stock.

The expenses of the institution are about the same as
for 1855, excepting that in 1855 we find £l,OOO for the
completion of the new buildings, for which we had to
sell stock, and there now remains only £250 of funded
property.
The balance owing at the end of 1855 was £785, which I
cafe date will be reduced about £l5O, when accounts for
1856 are made up. This will leave a balance of about
£530 against the school, although in reality it will not be
so great, as there are outstanding accounts for goods sold t)
the amount of about £220.

The number of pupils at present in the school is 31—
viz., 46 males and 35 females.

The visitors have great pleasure in reporting that the
conduct of the pupils has been highly praiseworthy, there
having been few or no complaints of misconduct during the
past year._

From the statement made by the Chapel Warden, it
appeared that there was a balance in hand of £493, and
that, although there had been a decrease of about £2O
in the collections at the door of the chapel, there had
been an increase of £lOO in the pew rents.
After the usual votes of thanks (which will be found
in our advertising columns) Mr. W. Browne was re-
elected president, and the meeting separated.

THE FRUIT TRADE.

(Review for the Month of December.)

CURRANTS: Again the fact of large arrivals forces itself
upon our attention, and during the last month nearly 1,500
tons have come forward. Our imports for the season are
8,533, and have exceeded those of London by 1,400 tons ;
so, that whilst our market has been more than supplied,
London has been short supplied ; and, as anticipated in my
last, has, during the last fortnight, been a purchaser in this
market. Our, clearances still continue satisfactory, although
less than last month ; this, of course, W 3 were prepared for.
It is, however, gratifying to find that the clearances for the
four months, say—September, October, November, and
December. show that consumption, as compared with the
same months of the previous year, has increased nearly 660
per cent. Prices during the season have ruled about 20 per
cent. below last year's, and have been without much fluctuae
tion, opening at the commencement at 74s to 78s for fine;
subsequent arrivals, not being of such good quality, sold at
67s to 745. ; which are the ruling rates at the present time,
and they are likely to he maintained. As a proof this, I
may refer to the sale of a cargo of damaged Tenneriffe, on
the Bth, which brought high prices; first class selling for
69s to 70e, whilst worse being sold from 29i to 525. Old
are quite neglected. The business done this season has
been of a bona fide character, and it has been both to
importers and dealers satisfactory, yielding to each a fair
profit. There has been few purchases made by speculators,
should, however. prices recede, there will be no lack of
buyers, and, as currants are now the cheapest fruit selling,
higher prieae may be expected before we have next season's
supplies. Our statistics for the month are as follows, viz :
Imports 1406 tans against 675 same month last year.
Clearances 464 tons against 257 ditto. Exports 269 tons
against 160 ditto ; and for the last four months, 'Oz.,
September, October, November, and December are, imports
8,553 tons against 2.151. Clearances 2,723 .tons against
622, and Exporti 810 tons against 257 same month last
year. Stocks about 4,800 tons.

RAISINS : Valencia Raisins still maintain the advance in
price noticed in my last : the demand is, however, inactive,
dealers only buying to supply their immediate wants. The
quality is generally not fine and a considerable quantity of
the present stock is tender. Prices are more likely to ad-
vance than recede, as the entire of our stocks in the United
Kingdom will be wanted before any of next season's crop
can come forward. Our imports this season show an
increase of 9 cargoes or 615 tons over last, being 25 cargoes
or 2,213 tons against 1,598. Prices, rule from 103 to 14s
higher than last year. In Muscatels this season there has
been a small and unsatisfactory business, in consequence
of the high prices abroad and here. The finest
class fruit having cost importers from 115 s to
1255. These extreme prices have checked eon-
consumption considerably, and so long as these high prices
continue, which have prevailed for two or three seasons
back, we may look for diminished consumption. The
season's supply is only 250 tons. Sultana raisins have been
very scarce this season, and prices have been fifty per cent.
more than last season. Black and red raisins have also
been in short supply, and are bought up as soon as they
arrive at good prices. Clearances of all kinds for the
month 639 tons, against 624 same month last year, and for
the four months ending January sth, 1,665 tons against
1,251 same months last year. The exports for the month
are 56 tons against 150, and for the four months 291 tons
:against 209. Our present stock of all kinds will not exceed
700 Uits.

ALMONDS : All deecriptions of this fruit have been scarce
and dear, consequently the demand for cossumption has
greatly fallen off. The imports of all kinds, including shell,
has only reached some 25 tons. Clearances 18 tons.
Exports 2 tons.

PRUNES AND Plums : Comparatively nothing is doing
in either at the present time. The imports for the month
are 107 tons. Duties paid on 27 tons. Imports for the
season 423. Clearances 90. Removals Coastwise, &c., 5
tons. • •

•
NUTS : The Nut market has been very quiet for some
time, and prices are stationaay ; early in the season Bar-
celona sold as low as 365. but for some time they have
been selling at 39s to 393 63. The imports since Sept. are
.5,191 bags. For Black Spanish there is little inquiry,
and prices are 5s to 6s lower,
PIGS : In Turkey there is a moderate business doing at
50s to 60s for middling qualities, no fine offering. Of other
kinds there are few offering. Imports for the month, 176
tons ; olearances, 63 tons ; exports, 7 tons. The imports
this season are 1,160 tons, principally Turkey. Calamat'as
and Malaga have come forward sparingly. Clearances 530,
and exports 163 tons.
ORANGES have, with the exception of St. Michael's, been
plentiful, and have sold at, low prices. St. Michael's, in
consequuce of limited supplies, have brohght good prices.
LEMONS All descriptions have been plentiful, and the
demand has been light ; prices low. THOS. PAnKY.

The Countess of Braziski, a Polish lady of great wealth,
was recently at Baden, when a spark from a gentleman's
cigar fell upon her dress, which took fire. The flames were
soon stifled, and• she received no injury, but £1,300 worth
of lace was effaced from the Earth.
THE CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA.-Tt will scarcely be
believed that there are at present no less than 25,000
Chinese located in different parts of the colony of Vic-
toria, and chiefly employed in seeking for gold at the
various gold fields. Tney are generally underchiels, or
n head men," until they:can repay their advances ; for,
being mostly of the poorer classes, they come here sup-
plied with a passage and necessaries by their richer
countrymen, who either come with them or delegate
another to take charge of them. When the advance is
paid up, they are free to do as they please, and, as they
are generally successful. they are very soon enabled to
effect their independence. As they and the other
diggers do not agree very well, they generally get
located in a spot by themselves and work in companies.
• • , • Somewhere about 200 Chinese are stationary
in Melbourne, connected with the passage to and from
the gold fields of the others of their countrymen. These
are employed chiefly as boardinghouse keepers, except
some twelve or fourteen who are engaged in merc:tutile
pursuits. These Chinese merchants bear rather a
favourable character for honourable dealing, and find
no difficulty in transacting, business with the Europeans.
They receive consignments of goods from China, India r
and the Mauritius, in considerable quantities, and gene-
rally possess a little capital. We understand all the
favourite delicacies of the Chinese epicure are to be pur-
chased in their shops, from birds' nests downwards In
fact, the great number of the race in the colony renders
the supplies required by them a most important branch
of business, and not a little profitable both to our mer-
chants and their own, as, besides food, the general
adoption by the Chinese immigrants of European clothing
has done no little service tothat„branchof business.—
Melbourne Leader.