Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-29 00:00:00

that whicl

trade or

the Country had become an DM entirely pro.
strated, and had scarcely done more than give
indications of expected revival. At the opening
of 1850, the revival of commercial business ivr
still only a matter of r Ft- ctly, k

ortunatt,,
ever, the severe experience of 1857 had read a
lesson of prudence to most, if not to all engaged
in frerin inalanpd nantinn in almost every

branch. The propriety and advantage of this
caution has been. slowly yet satisfactorily proved
in the more healthy tone which began to manifest
itself and which has continued to improve through-
out the year. Most of the business done in the
principal branches has been of a consumptive
character, and speculation has been limited.
The prices of nearly all kinds of produce
continue moderate if not indeed low. The
harvest yield was quite equal to expectation,
and food is abundant; labour of every description
finds ready occupation, and so far as general
prospects can give. warranty for expectation, the
year on which we are now entering seems full of
promise. How far these expectations may be
realized with respect to wood, it is no easy or safe
matter to say ; but, on the whole, it does not
appear unreasonable to conjecture, that if similar

prudence and caution be applied to it which have
already operated so favourably in the other
branches, a fair amount of profitable business will
ensue. At the beginning of lest year the stock
on hand of most descriptions of wood was large,
and, pressed by the necessity for realizing, every
effort was made by auction and otherwise, to
force it upon the market. The first result of
this was a large diminution in prices, which
coupled with the desire to make sales, had the
effect of considerably reducing the quantity held
for disposal. The diminution in Stocks thus
produced was speedily compensated for by a con-
siderable though not an over supply from our
colonies, the extent of import being estimated by
the unusually low rate of freights which prevailed
at the American ports, inducing an expectation of
profit out of the saving in rates of carriage. Under
the influence of these causes prices fluctuated
considerably, but on the whole did not seriously
fall off, except in the first instance already stated,
during the early half of the year, by the conclu-
sion of which time the natural demands of the
consumptive trade had materially lessened the
quantity to choose from, and prices received an
upward impulse. Throughout the season the im-
port has been on a moderate scale, and now
at its close we have to report a considerable
reduction in the stock on hand of most of the prin-
cipal descriptions of wood as compared with that
held at the same period of last year; while we
have also to note a gratifying, though small in-

crease in the amount of consumption for the same
period. In this place it is only proper to remark
that the Mersey Dock and Harbour Conservancy

suitable accommodation for so extensive aliranch
of trade as that in wood, are taking
measures to afford increased facilities for its
development, particularly for extending the means
of communication with the interior of the country,
a matter of vast interest to both importer and

consumer

Deals held in St

,ie feet, f)

north Am

an Colonies and the Norther,: Ports of Ear

for the years ending 1

From the subjoined details, it will be seen that the tonr
employed in the North American and Baltic wood trades, dui
the last year, falls short of the preceding year by Nearly 32,

YELLOW PINE.—Of this important and valur"
ies of wood, the import from Canada has I
ar less than that of last year, viz

year endin

February, 1858 ; while the consumption has consider-
ably increased, that of 1858.9 having been 3,836,500
against 3,135,000 in 1857-8, and the stock now remain-
ing is estimated at 2,019,000 against 2,651,000 at the
same period of last year. The increased consumption
of this article may in some degree be accounted for by
the extreme low price at which it was thrown upon the
market; during the greater part of the year it having
ruled at from 12d. to 16d, according to size and quality;
latterly, however, when it became obvious that the im.

ie remaining

_ _Joderate, prices aavancea ana may now Ix
quoted as 2d. to 3d. per foot above the rates previously
stated. From St. John, N.B. the import and consump
tion of timber, neither of which have been ex
_ _

very nearly balance each other, the former being tins y
1,274,500 against 1,190,000 last year • while the latter
1858-9 has been 1,262,000 against 1,502,500 in 1857
leaving a full average stock on hand consisting

700,500 against 688,060. The value of this descript
when of prime quality varied but little throughout
year, and remained at from 3d. to 4d. per foot, over I
average string measure. Small average and infer
quality yielding only hi. to 2d. per inch over. Fr
Other Ports the quantity received here although a ]it
in excess of that of last year falls considerably short
the import for the average of many preceding
This wood appears to be losing favour in our mar'
compared with that from Quebec and St. John
import of it is 87,000 against 77,000. The col
tion has been 90,500 against 81,000, and the
52.600 against 66,000. It• sells at 12d. to 15d., ac(

ing to size and quality.
RED PINE.—Of this the import and consumpti
both largely exceed those of last year. The import NI
282,500 feet against 189,000. The consumption 1
exceeded that of any of the last four years, being 303,(

against 245,0001a5t '3, ear while the stock is 159,000 agai
179,500, and is considered moderate. The low pr
at which this article has been obtainable has led
the increased consumption noticed above. Through,
the season it has been selling chiefly at 16d. to 11

although in special cases, where large average and I
fresh quality have been offered, 19d. to 22d. have b
realized. •

The import of this has been la;
184,000 feet against 379,000, while the consumption
sensibly fallen off, 315,500 being the amount consun
against 402,500, and the stock remaining is 211,1
against 142,500. This increasing stock, with declin
demand, is a discouraging feature of the trade in t
article; but it may be explained as chiefly caused
large importations of a better article in the shape
United States White Oak, principally from Virgir
which goes freely into consumption on its arrivalhei

QUEBEC OA.

WpWiencehaving shown that it is much better a,dal
for the construction of railway carriages and wagg(

from its superior durability ands

from Canada. According therefore to present appe
ances the Thornton Oak from Virginia is likely to sl
plant that of Canada in this market, unless the ht
can be brought here at rates considerably reduced frl
those hitherto current. We quote Quebec Oak at fr,
2s. to 2s. 4d. per foot, but at these prices it is slow

QUEBEC ELM has been brourrht forward in vc

limited quantity compared with the import or lasi, yuni
this year the import has been 111,000 feet against
154,000. The consumption has largely exceeded the
import, having reached 148,500; and the stock on hand
now is 62,000 against 99,500. It has been in active
demand throughout the season, yielding from 161. to
20d. per foot for moderate averages, while fresh wood of
large size has been sold at 2s. and upwards.
QUEBEC Asia.—Of this the import has been large,
amounting to 23,000 feet against 17,000. The con-
sumption is only about half of what it reached last
year, 15,500 feet against 30,500. The stock is large in
comparison with the demand, 18,500 feet against 11,000
It is worth from 14d. to 17d. per foot.

HARDWOOD.-111 uns man 1.110 AWE,/ It
sumption have been less than those of last
the stook has also diminished. The import, `,
against 506,000; the consumption; 4220
430,500, and the stock

3,000 f

mfaofrtaerbrkyeartrit\y,p, --,..,,,, u 6..,
j77—,000. The smallness Of On stock may be accounted
the low prices hi, which it has been forced on the
o.llW.ion sales from the quays immediately
Early in the season the stock, which was
largo-, consisting chiefly of old and inferior wood, was
l'reought into competition with the new arrivals, and had
to be disposed of at very low rates, thus depressing
prices to an otherwise unnatural extent, from which,
however, the market has hardly if at all recovered. From
St. John, 15 to 16 inch average has lately been sold at
from 16d. to 18d. per foot. Other kinds in proportion.
1 QUEBEC DEALS'-01 these the import and con-
sumption have been on a greatly increased scale, com-

pared with those for several years back,-11,295
standards against 7,883 for the previous year. The
consumption 11,200, against 6,168, and the stock on
hand is now 3,664, against 3,569, The large influx of
these deals may without doubt be accounted for to a

season; awl wti

le very

ow rates a

1, alone enabled them to be put in coca•
• New Brunswick and the Other

06 lOs

to .t 8 for third
^^ for second

10
first quality

lity more par

st price is

U 53, a