The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-04 00:00:00

MAURITIUS.

COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT FOR THE MONTII OF JULY.

There has been a calm in the commercial trans-
actions of our port since our last; July is one of the
dullest months of the year for business. The con-
tinued arrival of specie places matters in a very
different position to that of last year as regards ex-
change, but the high rates of freights, food, provi-
sion, &c., and labour, as well as the chance of low
prices for our produce, are causes of some inquietude.
Freights must be high, especially for the next three
months, but as it is probable that the houses in Lon.
don will provide partly for the demand by charters
there, this may prevent exorbitant rates. The
scarcity of food, having enhanced the price, will
augment the expenses of the planters however, it is
to be hoped that the falling off in the importations
from Calcutta will be temporary, as our stock and
consumption is well known there ; added to this the
chance of good freight from this port to England will
tempt vessels to load for Mauritius. Unfortunately
the price of labour from the want of the labourers
asked for, must increase ; the crop is abundant, and
yet the number of labourers are decreasing.
We give this month the value of our imports and
exports for the last quarter. The imports are nearly
double the exports, which is accounted for by the
comparative small portion of the crop issued from
April to June.
Specie included in the above amounts :
Imports. Exports.
X s. d. £ s. d.
26,760 0 0 300 0 0
36,433 19 4 5,098 0 0
500 0 0

Great Britain

India .. ...
Australia . • ...

63,693 19 4 5,398 0 0
Total of irnporti and exports

not including specie 224,933 10 6 132,479 111
Taking the imports and exports for the year ending
the sth of July last, a correct idea may be formed of the
extent of our trade, as the whole of the late crop is in-
cluded in the exports.

Imports. ports.
Totals for the year X s. d. Ex
s. d.
ending July s: 1,234,600 12 10 1,569,213 14 10
The totals for the
year previous were
as follows: 1,143,177 16 11 1,502,855 4 9
These figures are a proof that the trade of our island
is in a healthy state, as we are producing more than we
are consuming. The enormous sums expended in im-
migration remain, however, to be added to our expen-
diture.

EXCHANGE AND MONEY-MARKET.
Exchange on England has not varied. The large
supplies of specie which have continued to arrive, prin-
cipally from India, and the little business doing in
shipping for the present, will keep the rates without
alteration ; three to 4 per cent. discount is the rate for
six months' bills. Private bills on India may be quoted
at 51c. per Company's rupees, 50c. having been refused.
Local discounts are effected at from 10 to 12 per cent.
Treasury bills have ruled at 2} per cent. premium.
The Mauritius Bulk announced in the Government
Gazette that the amount of its notes in circulation was
23,560 dollars.

There is to be a half-yearly meeting of the directors
and shareholders on the 18th.
Sugar—Nothing worth notice has been doing in pur-
chases. None of the new crop has been in the market,
but a few hundred bags have arrived for shipment. The
last crop may now be said to be brought to a close,
although some trifling shipments may remain.
Total of the late crop shipped to the end
of July 139 966,8161 b.
The very favourable weather during the last month
will tend to increase the quantity of the present crop,
and competent judges in the different quarters assert that
it will surpass that which has preceded it. A calculi •
tion in detail has been made by a gentleman whose long
experience entitles his opinion to some weight, espe-
cially as most of the estimations are made upon the spot.
The result is 146,000,0001 b.

Less about 6,000,000 for consumption will leave
140,000,000 for shipment. From this estimate, in the
district of Plain Wilhelm, there will be an increase on
last year of about 3,000,000, in Susanne about 3,000,000,
in Painp!einouses 3,000,000, in Flacq about 4,000,000;
the produce of Grand Port will remain about the same.
Rice—Until the last days of the month prices flue•
tuated between 3 dollars 60 cents, and 3 dollars 90 cents,
holders wavering, although the supplies fell consider.
ably short of the consumption ; from the Ist to the
30th ultimo, only 8,600 bags had arrived; since then
7,000 bags have been received. The news brought
by the late arrivals from Calcutta promises little in
favour of our future supplies, and holders arc be-
come more decided. One of the largest holders has
brought up a few parcels, and the price on Saturday
(31st) was at 4 dollars 25 cents., at which rates sales
were made. Since then 4 dollars 50 cents, is refused,
and there is little doubt that 5 dollars will be obtained
before the end of the week. It is certain there will be
a falling off in the importations for some weeks, as only
one vessel was loading at Calcutta at the beginning
of June; two more were chartered at the high freight
of 3 rupees 8 annas. News from the above port by
the coast to the end of June announces a further rise in
freights. s _

The stock of rice in the colony naturally attracts at-
tention. In our commercial retrospect for May we said
that experience led us to believe that the consumption
was more than 36,000 bags per month. As the quan-
tity is reduced, we are better enabled to establish the
fact, and have now no hesitation in fixing it at 38,000
bags per month since the Ist of January last. We get
at the present stock as follows: Bags.
Quantity on hand on the Ist of January last... 167,305
Imported from the Ist of January to the 31st
of July

.- 251,145

418,450
Conanmption from the Ist of
January to the 31st of July,
seven months at 38,000 ... 266,600
Exported during that time ,„ 40,580

306,580

Stock on the Ist of August 111,870
There are 54,000 bags of this quantity in first hands;
the remainder is supposed to be in the colony i.n town
and country. This leaves us about three months' con-
sumption, therefore thrre can be no question about the
sufficiency of the supply ; but what is feared is the high
price that will be exacted for what is in first hands.
Freights—The Eleanor is loading for London, and
takes freight at 5/. In another month there will be a
demand for tonnage, which will be scarce, and high rates
will be obtained. The exorbitant rate now paid in Cal.
cutta will induce parties here to be high in their pre
tensions. There are seven vessels announced from
Bordeaux and three from Marseilles, that will probably
return home with cargoes.

REVISED TARIFF OF VALUATION FOR THE PAYMENT
OF IMPORT DUTY ON THE FOLLOWING BRITISH
COTTON PIECE GOODS, &C. ;
Names of Goods.
British cotton piece goods, viz, :
ai m
Long cloth and shirting, white, not
exceeding 45 inches in width ... per yard 0 2
Do. do., gray, do. do. ...
white,
inches wide andite, 26 yards long
and do. 0 1
Mad
ader3'
3 ,

Rate of Valuation,

under ... ••• ••• •• per piece 2 8
Madapollanis, gray, 26 yards long
and under, 35 inches wide and

under ••• ••• •••
Cambric, white, of 12 yards
Do. do., double do. ...
Do. gray, of 12 yards
Do. do double ...
Mulls and mediums, white, of 20
yards not exceeding 45 inches
wide ••• •••
Do. do. gray, do. do. ••
Jacconets• white, of 20 yards
Do. gray do. •••
Lappets, of 10 yards
Lenoes, plain do. ••• •••
Checks, spots and stripes, do.
Book muslin, plain, of 10 yards,
not exceeding 45 inches wide do. 1 8
Net, common, of 10 yards ••• do. 1 0
Dhootees and sarrees •
per pair 2 12
Do. do. printed borders do. 112
Scarf ". ••• •.. per scarf 0 8
Figured lenoes and mountain gauze
of 10 yards ..„ ▪
per piece 2 10
Jean, satinjean, and drills, white
and coloured ... per yard 0 4
Twills, gray and imitation, gray
American drilling
see
Twills, white •••
••• ..•
Gray and white twilled shirtings, not
exceeding 40 inches in width ••• do.
Pocket-handkerchiefs, per piece of
one dozen ••• ••• •••
Moleskins, cartoons, and corduroy,
white and coloured
Scotch cambric of 7i yard;•
Brocades 6.4
•••
Do. 8.4 ••• •••
Quilting, white, coloured, •
and em-
bossed ... per yard 0 8 0
Woorney per piece 1 10 0
Printed and dyed cotton piece goods, via:—
Bandannas and printed handker-
chiefs
Chintz and prints
Do. twills ...
Coloured book muslin, of 10 yards
Cotton velvet, ;plain, printed, and
embossed ...
Gingham, of 12 yards
Gros-de-Naples gingham
Do. checked do.
Plates, Bengal stripes, and prints of
19 inches wide, and under ... per piece 2 4 0
Printed muslin ... ... per yard 0 4 0
Printed garment; or Turkoy red
chintz and prints ... •••
Red cambric and red twills, of 36
inches wide, raid under ... ... do. 0 4 6
Ditto, ditto, above 36 inches wide do. 0 6 0
Ticken
•• do. o 3 6
••• ..• •
Zebra dresses per piece 2 0 0
Coloured mulls, of 20 yards• -- do. 3 2 0
Red mulls of 20 yards . ••• do. 5 0 0
- Jacconets, do. 5 0 0
British linen piece goods, silk piece, goods, and mixed
piece goods, viz. :
Linen, dowlas
Drills and ducks

••• do. 2 3 0
do. 2 8 0
••• do. 5 4 0
••• do. 2 2 0
do. 4 8 0

do. 0 3 0
do. 0 3 0

0 2 6

2 12 0

per yard 0 5 0
... per piece 2 8 0
do. 5 0 0
do. 8 0 0

... per dozen 1 8 0

... por piece 3 0 0
do. 6 0 0
do. 2 6 0

... ... per yard 0 7 0
... ... per piece 2 8 0
... ... per yard 0 3 0
... .., do. 0 4 0

do. 0 3 0

... per yard 0 4 0
dct. 0 7 0
... do. 0 12 0
• • do. 0 12 0
... do. 0 8 0
do. 0 5 0

Irish
Sheeting ...
- Ticken
Scotch holland