Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-26 00:00:00

STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE.

Mr. Samuel Griffiths, in his weekly circular, sayi
"Reports have been. currently circulated during the-
week that the Prussian Government had abolished the
duties on all kinds of English Iron. It is true nen-
tiations have recently been on foot with the Prussian
Government, with the view of effecting this very
desirable object, but we are sorry to say that they have
utterly failed for the present, and so far from the duty
being abolished, no change whatever has taken place
in the duties on any -kind of iron imported by
this country into Prussia. The preliminary meeting of
the Ironmasters will be held next Thursday at Dud-
ley, no doubt present rates for finished Iron will then
be confirmed for next quarter. The Iron trade of
all the
Staffordshire continues sound and healthy,
the mills and forges' being in full operation.
The activity
in the Pig Iron department is unabated.
• The meeting at
Wolverhampton on Wednesday last,
was far above an average in mint of numbers.
The market .was .buoyant,..
bordering' on a little
_
excitement, and a very large quantity of Pigs changed
hands, with fully the turn of the market against
buyers ; the best kinds of Mine Pigs being in increased
request at improved rates. The sales effected were Na-
tive Hydrates, and best All Mine Brands. Large lots of
Cleator Moor [hematite, Barrow Haematite (Schneider,
Hannay. and Co.'s), and Workington were disposed of,
and indeed all kinds of Forge Pigs were in active
demand, and sellers generally asked 2s. 6d. a ton
more money (which was in many. cases paid) upon
the prices which ruled three weeks since. The orders
from the United States this week are on the late moder-
ate scale • the same may be said with regard to the
South Americani States. On the other band, the demand
for Australia and other Colonies, the East Indies, and
the Mediterranean,is considerably more brisk,more orders
having come to hand for these markets for Plates, Sheets,
and Hoops, than have been received for several
weeks past. The demand for Shanghai, Canton,
and Foo -chow - foo, for Nail Rods, and ene or

-two other kinds is • very :good, but freights have
advanced to no '!less than 80s. for Liverpool ship-
' meats to Shanghai, which -bids fair to put a dead lock
on shipments of Iron for.the China market for the pre-
sent.. The -shipoWners -are crying out for protection,
while they are ..adVancing the freights no less than
25 per cent., .to the ;great injury of our trade in
the Chinese ports. •On the whole the' trade has
improved consulerablfin every department during the
past week, the Pig makers generally having sold heavily
for forward deliveries, are not disposed to sell except at
an advance of 2s. 6d. ;-and the increase in- the orders for
Malleable iron this week has improved the tone of the
market in this department. The official list of prices of
Finished Iron as -fellows :-Common Staffordshire
Bars, £7los. at the works; Best Bars, £Blos. ; Sheets,
£9; Doubles, £lO 10E,-; Nail Sheets, £8 10s. ; Latin,
£12.; Boiler Plates, t,9; Best and Best Best, in pro-
portion ; Common Rods, £7 10s. • Hoops, £8 10s.;
Gas Strip, £8 ; 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 mouicum of
Flue Cinder, £3 to £3-ss. ; Mine Pigs, deterioriated by
Cinder, £2 12s. 6,1. to £3 ; Grey Forge Cinder Pig Iron,
£2l2s. 6d. to £2 i 75.•6d, ; Melters, Nos 1,2, and 3, £2lss.
to £32s. ; superior makes of All Mine Melting Iron, £3los.
to £4, according to make and quality. Favourite
Shropshire and Forest of Dean Brands, £4 10s. The
Glasgow market for Beath Pigs has been very sensitive
during the past week, and a pressure of speculative
sales sent prices down on Monday last to 555. 61
Subsequently the buying became stronger, and the
market has gradually recovered itself to the starting
point, 575. 9d. cash, and closes firmly with a prospect
of a further advance. Warrants, prompt cash,
575. 9d. per ton ; one month open, -58 s. ; two
months ditto, 58s, 3d. ; three months ditto,
58s. 6d. Gartsherrie, 595. ; Calder, 58s. ; Coltness,
575. 6d. ; -Glengarnoek, 58s. The shipments for the
week were 10,357 tons, against 9,331 tons, corresponding
week of last year. Copper.-At the Truro ticketing on
Thursday, 4,906 tons of Ore were sold, realising
£29,417 Os. 6d. ; this, compared with last week's sale,
shows an advance in the standard of £5 7s. 9d. per ton ;
if compared with the corresponding sale of last month,
the advance in the standard is £8 Bs. Sd. per ton.
The large sale of Foreign reported in our last sheet,
has considerably stiffened-the market for English. The
demand continues active for all sorts, smelters, however,
take orders cautiously at present rates. Fixed rates are
likely to advance either id. or ld. per pound before the
end of the year.-Lead : The market :more healthy;
smelters firm holders, and more hopeful for the
future. English Pig, £2l ss. to £2l 10s. ; Sheets,
£22 55. to £22 10s. ; Patent Shot, £25 ss. to
£25 10s. ; Spanish Soft, £2O 15s. to :
Market without change for English, with a quiet
steady business doing. Holders of Banca are firm at
late prices. • Several parcels of Straits have changed
hands this week at full rates.-Tin Plates : The demand
in this district is perhaps a shade better; the trade,
however, feels a degree of that languor which has-
characterised it during the whole of the last three
months; prices unchanged. Spelter : A ritoderaie.
business has been done durini the week ; on the spot
- £2l 17s. 6d. ; for spring deliveries £22 ss. to £22 10s,
'Zinc; English Sheet £27 ss. Swedish Steel; Keg
ecarce, price £l9 to £l9 ss. per ton; Faggot £2l;
Regulus: French star £5O. Quicksilver ; £7 per bottle
' of .75 lbs , less three per cent., of course tare and tret
allowed.