The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-12 00:00:00

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

MELBOURNE, Feb. 25.—The tendency in the gold
market has been upward, and the price of gold has been
for the past two days 3/ 16e. 6J. per ounce. The rise
(according to Clark's Gold Circular) has caused a large
quantity of gold to be released from deposit in the camps
at the fields. In oonsequense of the number of first-
class vessels on the berth for London the demand is
likely to c•'ntinue good for some time.
The Journal of Commerce says :—Orders from the in-
terior are coming in, and a proportionate amount of
our stock is finding its way to the disgings. Advanced
rates have been paid for eevera.l articles, especially
caadles, which are held firmly for a further advance.
No change to report in ale or beer. A good deal of spe-
culation going forward in butter, but little going into
consumption at is sd. per lb. for first brands. Coffee
without material change, good samples getting sctrcer.
Some sales by auction o, dry goods have brought good
rates when compare.' with prices lately current, but by
no means remunerative to shippers. In a short time,
however, we think a better feeling will exist. No
transactions in tallow to note. As there is shipping
offering for dead weight, melters could cororpand
extreme rates. Hides - are very firm. Large parcels.
much wanted. At Auction s.anualislo.esinterior ,broug)st
11s. ; heavy well cured are worth 133. to
13s 6d. A few lots (small) have changed hands at firm
rates. There is no desire to operate in wool at present
prices, and there is no supply. At the weekly produce
sale there was a spirited compsttion, and prices of wool
ruled id per lb. over the rates of the previous sale.
Breadstuffs declining in value."
MELBOURNE LABOUR MARKET. —Thu market keeps
tolerably well supplied with labour, both skilled and un-
skilled. There exists a good demand for first-rate plough-
men, employers being very particular as to competency
in that branch of agriculture. The demand fur mechani-
cal labour is improving, and the prices now given for
every branch leave the employ 6 no just grOund for com-
plaint, considering the reduced state of the markets.
Females are in good demand, and at very high eages ;
but really good thorough servants are extremely scarce,
families having girls of that description will advance
wages sooner than lose them. With rations—Married
couples (without families), 701. to 801. ; ditto (with fami-
lies), 551. to 651. ; gardeners, 521. to 65/. ; grooms, 521. to
601; stock-k-eper,, 501 to 551; s .ep ierd-t, 301 to 35/ ;
hutkeepers, 26/ to 28/ per annum. Farm labourer•, 20s
to 25s per week ; ploughmen, 25s per week ; shearers,
16. s to 20s per hundred ; sheepwashers, 25s per week ;
male cooks, 20s to 453 per week ; waiters, 203 to 383;
and blacksmiths, 50s to 60s per week. Without rations
—Blacksmiths, 4l to 4/ 103 per week ; carpenters, lOs
to 12e ; masons, 12s to 14s ; bricklayers, 12s to 14; ;
plasterers, 12s to 14s ; quarrymen, 10s to 12s ; and la-
bourers 8s per day. Stonehreakers, 53 to Os per yard ;
corepositsrs, is 4d per 1,000 ; pressmen, 4/ to 51 per
week. Female domestics—Tnorough si rvaet.s 30/ to
351; housemaids, 261 to 301 ; laundresses, 301 to 351 ;
cooks, 35/ to 40/ ; nursemaids, 151 to 251; and needle-
women, 251 to 301 per annum.
GEELONG LABOUR MARKET, Feb. 23.—The labour
market has been moderately supplied with fewest, domes-
tic servants during the past week, and the demand has
been good. We have a gold demand for threshers, bul-
lock drivers, and some other descriptions c f farm ser-
vants, also for married couples, and ploughmen are more
in request, but at the same time wages are rather tend-
ing downwards. The remarks which we have had to
make very frequently of late still apply, viz., that me-
chanics are not much in demand.

BALLARAT, Feb. 21.—Trade has been rather dull, and
complaints are again numerous among our 'dealers, the
start that we noticed in our last having died away. The
Chalk dills and that neighbourhood still contiliue to get
off a quantity of goods. Magpie has only a small con-
mmptiun. Fiery Creek is now fully supplied direct from
town, and we are unable to clear off any of our surplus
produce in that quarter. A good many of our large
storekeepers are selling off at present, which also tends
to keep down prices. All sorts of farming produce
command a ready market, and the supplies horn towns
are greatly stopped, as it is found that they cannot be
landed herd from that quarter so cheaply as by our far-
mers in the neighbourhood. Flour is quoted at 391 to
411 for Chilian, and 421 to 451 for colonial. The•price
cf gold is qu,ited at 31 16s 3d to 31 las 6d, and in some
instances 31 17s has been given.
HOBA.RT TOIVN, Feb. 19.—The markets are quite firm.
In wheat and flour there is no alteration to report.
Very little of the former arrived from the interior.
Wheat 12s to 134 per bushel; flour, first quality, 421 to
451 per ton ; oats Os 6d per bushel ; butter 2s per lb;
beef 8d to 9d ; and mutton 6d to 7d per ib.
LAUNCESTON, Feb. 21.--Fanners are beginning to
bring the new wheat into town, but choice samples will
not realise much over 103 per bushel. Flour is on the
decline, and may be bought for 311 per ton cash. The
merchants are again shipping fl iur co Melbourne. Flour
must come down in price in Launceston, as it is dearer
here than in any of the neighbouring colonies. Flour
321, seconds 301 per ton. Wheat, prime samples, 103
6d. per bushel. Oats 5s per bushel. English barley 7s,
and Cape Os per bushel.

ARRIVAL OF THE ALBATROSS.
The Eagle lino of packet ship Albatross, Captain
Allen, which for the last fortnight has been beat-
ing about the Channel owing to adverse winds,
was towed into the Mersey ou Saturday evening.
She left Melbourne on the 18th of January, and
has 18,000 ounces of gold.