The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-02-09 00:00:00

TASMANIA.

Accounts from Hobart Town state upon unques•
tionable authority that Mr. Champ has been
charged with the formation of the first Responsible
Ministry under the New Constitution. His scheme
is complete, and only waits official acceptance and
promulgation. The following are the appoint-
ments:—

Chief Secretary, Mr. Champ ; Attorney-General, Mr.
Smith ; Finance Secretary, Mr. T. D. Chapman; Secretary
for Public Lands and Works, Mr. H. F. Anstey. These
gentlemen have all accepted office. The official proclama-
tion may be looked Tor immediately after the Governor's
arrival in town, and the writs will of course issue for
fresh elections without delay. The government will need
an ofr '!ial organ in the Upper House, and Mr. Nairn has
codscnted, it is said, to accept that responsibility.
The Governor had received a copy of an order
whi,;ll has been made by the Queen in Council for
separating Norfolk Island from Tasmania—for
erecting it into a separate and distinct colony—and
for appointing the Governor for the time being of
New South Wales to be Governor of the new
colony. It had been intended at the same time
to place Norfolk Island under the jurisdiction of
the See of Sydney; but as this cannot be effected
without the sanction of Parliament, the island will
remain for the present under the jurisdiction of
the See of Tasmania.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Melbourne, 11th November, 1856:

The state of this market is not quite so satisfactory as
might be expected in ordinary times at this season of the
year. The large arrivals, and the expectation of many
more, have had a serious influence in checking business.
Stocks are undoubtedly low on the diggings, and consider-
able orders are in coarse of execution; but the retailers in
town are very chary in increasing their stocks; except at
low rates. It may be stated, as a rule, that the stocks of
most articles of general consumption are large, and that a
remunerative trade is chiefly done in what are called outside
articles. On the part of importers there is considerable
apprehension that the trade here is about to be overdone,
and this induces them to part with articles in demand at
the low rate now being offered. _ _

In consequence of an error in the aggregate averages,
we reprint our statement, showing the condition of the
Banks of Melbourne. It will be observed by our compara-
tive account of the amounts due to the colonists, that the
Banks have made, during the last half year, considerable
advances, which do not correspondingly increase the amounts
of circulation and deposits. We have made enquiries and
find that this apparent anomaly is explained by the returning
confidence between the importer and the retailer. Until the
begin❑ing of the present year, the business since the late
crisis had been almost wholly in cash, but within the last
few months the credit system has been in a great measure
re-established, the banks have di-counted more freely, and
the remittances to England, on account of consignmentp,
have correspondingly increased. We have pleasure in
stating that the financial affairs of the colonists, both public
and private, are exceedingly sound, and that at no time was
the business transacted by the banks more safe and satisfac-
tory than at present. _ _

LIQUORS : Brandy is very dull of sale even at reduced
prices. Large sales of Martell's at 123 91 are reported
United V. Co.'s has been sold at 12s 9d in moderate
quantities ; it may be quoted at 12s 6d to 12s 9d. The
arrivals of brandy recently have been very large. There are
50,000 gallons in the Bay, as yet unreported in stock, and
upwards of 50,000 gallons of July shipments not yet come
to hand. In rum little has been done, and pricca are
nominal. In both Geneva and Gin very moderato sales
only have been made, and :both at lower prices. Whisky
is unsaleable. The reported failure of the crop in Portu-
gal has not affected port wincs. Holders are generally firm,
and are asking quoted prices. Sales have been made at £55
for single diamond, £6O for double diamond, and £72
for quadruple. Sherry is in limited demand, and no sales
to any extent are recorded. There is not much enquiry for
light wines. Bass's No 3 ale is in fair demand, and its
invariably sound condition renders it always more saleable
than any other sort Inferior brands are dull of sale. Bulk
porter and stout are very dull. Bottled beers are in very
very brisk, and large sales are daily making ; lis 9d to 123
is readily obtainable for proportions, two thirds port4r, one
third ale, of good brands.
TonAcc) is very dull. There are very large stocks of
second rate goods on hand. sheepwastr tobacco in bond is
worth 6d, sod destroyed, 71:1 to 70, Cigars, except
imitation Flavannahs, are dull.

GROCERIES : Candles are less saleable than they have
been ; Belmont are not worth more than is 2d to Is 20.
Ili consequence of some remarkable difference in the value
of .hi , brand, confluence in it has been impaired, and
Klirfleld and Hale's are preferred. Coffee is firmly
held, at quotations. Stocks are gradually decreas-
ing. There is some expectation of arrivals soon,
but until they have come to hand, an advance
in price may be looked for. Dried fruits generally are
rather easier. Dried apples, almonds, and currants have
slightly declined. The latter cannot be quoted beyond
is lid for prime samples. Considerable sales have been
made at Is. Figs are a complete drug. F leine raisins are
rather scarce and quite maimpain quotations. Hops are
easier, considerable parcels have been offered by the ham-
mer, and is 21 to is 3d for best Tent and Sussex are the
current prices.
OILMeN'S STORES remain unaltered. A better demand
exists, but the stocks are so heavy that holders are glad to
quit the goods they he'd. This more particularly refers to
the shipments of inferior and unknown brands on hand. Of
salt wo have heavy arrivals. Prices have declined, and all
sorts aro very unsaleable. Snap—English soaps are
difficalt of sale, in consequence of their being sold
at invoice weight. Colonial soaps are full weight.
Sugar —Stocks are rapidly declining. The last arrived
cargo of Mauritius was offered by auction yesterday. The
demand was chiefly for good ration sorts, which brought,
as the quotations show, advanced rates. The
grocery kinds are rather of a greyish description,
but nevertheless realised good prices. Altogether the
result of the sale added quite £2 per ton to the previous
market value. Refined sugar is becoming scarcer. No
actual advance has taken place, but the article is firmer.
The advices by the Marguerite, from Calcutta, report that
sugar was not to be obtained for this market, the refiners
haying contracted for all their manufacture till the end of
October. Teas are very arm, and really good are scarce.
Ordinary congous are worth £6 to £6 ss.
BREADSTUF73, &c.: There have been no sales lately of
Haxall and Gallego, and prices are nominal. Californian
flour is not worth more than £l7 to £l9; indeed, during
the week, by auction, £l3 10s to £l5 lOs has been taken
for considerable quantiies, but the parcel was much mixed,
and altogether inferior. Last week the flour trade was
very brisk ; country buyers, in considerable numbers, taking
their 20 to 50 tons, chiefly selecting Adelaide, because
they can depend on the brands. This week, however,
nothing whatever has been done. Adelaide flour has been
arriving heavily, and stocks of Chilian are known to be very
large. The flour market is in a very unsettled
state. The crops in Europe and America are reported to
be of excellent promise, so that this is the only
market for Chili, and California is now a competi-
tor. Then the South Australian harvest, where the crops
are also good, commences next month. We are inclined to
think that a further decline is inevitable. The Californian
wheat and flour is reported to be inferior, and the latter is
stated to be unsuitable for the baker, unless mixed with a
stronger quality. Barley is scarce, and held for Os. Oats
are still advancing, and all sorts of horse feed are in
demand, and likely to rise. Corn ; Colonial oats to-day
have been sold at Cts 6d to 93 9d ; for some superior
samples 10s are asked, and will, no doubt, be preeared.
Good Scotch are now readily saleabie at 03s 5d to 7s. Maize
is selling to-day at 6s 6d, and sweet Adelaide bran at is 91
to is 10d.

Pnovisioris : The stocks are very heavy, and the great
proportiop of very inferior quality, but really prime are
saleable, though not at advanced prices. In addition to
heavy arrivals direct, we notice a recent impOrtation of 700
firkins of Irish butter via California. Best double rose Cork
butter brings 10Id to l Id. Really prime English hams and
bacon lid to is per lb. Cheese of good quality and in
sound condition is readily saleable, according to description
at is Id to is 3d. Inferior goods, and those out of condi.'
tion, all but valueless. Sales of Irish beef at 45 ss, and
Irish mess pork at al:s 10s leave been made during the last
few days. In preserved fish not much is doing; stocks are
large, and holders seem glad to sell at quotations. Dried
ling and cod arc very scarce, and any moderate quantities
arriving in really good order would find ready buyers at
prices above those quoted.
PAINTS, OILS, AND COLOORS, lit 3 ID^St other articles
are overstocked, and moving off only slowly ; the only sales
we can hear of in these articles are of red lead at 365, and
lieseed oil, equal proportions of boiled and raw at, 4s 6d
METALS are generally much neglected, the sales effected
are at prices iuoted, a considerable sale of pig iron (No. I,