The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-04 00:00:00

AUSTRALIA.

By the mail conveyed by the steamer Madras to Point
de Galle, and brought to this country by the Overland
route, we have had dates considerably later than by the
most recent previous arrivals, viz., from Sydney, January
25 ; Melbourne, January 30 ; and Adelaide, February 2.
Trade throughout Australia is improving, in the face of
very large importations. In New South Wales the re-
turns from the gold fields are increasing, and giving a
new stimulus to trade. The demand for goods at Sydney
is described as particularly brisk. The price of gold at
Sydney was £3 17s. A new mine has been discovered
at Tambaroura, of which great things are expected. At
Victoria trade was improving. Sales of gold had been
made at £3 16s. The Liverpool emigrant ship New
Zealander, 1,300 tons, was destroyed by fire on the 16th
December, at Portland Bay. The crew and passengers
were saved. This vessel arrived out on the 30th Novem-
ber last. She had on board 600 tons of coal. The fire
was discovered at 8, a.m., in the morning of the 16th
December, and by sunset she was burnt to the water's
edge. She was built of spruce and pine, a circumstance
which accelerated her destruction. An examination into
the cause of the fire was proceeding before the magis-
trates. It was reported that the crew of the New Zealander
were discontented before the occurrence of the fire. A
terrible hurricane visited Geelong at the latter end of
December, when, amongst other damage done, the Presby-
terian Church was blown down. At Adelaide there had
been extensive arrivals of goods, and sales had been made
with increasing difficulty and reduced rates.
TERRIBLE FIRE AT HOBART TowN.—Advices from
Van Diemen's Land, dated January 22, furnish details of
a fearful conflagration which had, on the morning of the
20th, ltiid in ashes the most valuable part of Hobart
Town. It originated by an explosion at some stores on
the previous night, and effected the destruction of the
whole houses and buildings in Liverpool, Elizabeth, and
Collins-streets. The Governor, with the military, was
present at the outset, and endeavoured to check the fire,
but were not able until the destruction of property, said
to exceed £300,000, was effected.

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA.

By the British and North American Royal Mail steam-
ship Asia, Captain Lott, which arrived here at four a.m.
yesterday, we have intelligence from New York to the
22nd ult. On the 27th she passed a steamer steering
westward, and exchanged rockets. On the Ist inst. passed
the English barque Dromahair, steering eastward; and
the following day, at six a.m., the barque Elphinstone.
The Asia brought 67 passengers, and $303,000 in specie.
The screw-steamer Alps sailed from New York for this
port on the 21st ult., with $lOO,OOO in specie.
The U. S. mail steamer Pacific had not arrived out when
the Asia sailed.

The screw-steamer Charity, from this port and Greenock,
arrived at Portland on the 21st, having been detained nine
days in the ice.
A violent northwest gale prevailed along the coast,
extending from New York to Boston, on the 18th ultimo.
The tide in New York harbour was much lower than had
been known for years. The slips in many places were
nearly bare, and the ferry-boats at the lower end of the
city had much difficulty in making their landings. At
Boston the gale was unusually severe; a man was killed
by the falling of a chimney, and several other casualties
occurred. At Albany the storm was terrific : houses were
unroofed, chimneys blown down, and great damage done.
The Richmond Inquirer says that W. H. Walthall, a
well-known merchant of Baltimore, had been detected in
forgeries to the amount of several thousand dollars, and
had absconded.
An earthquake was experienced at Macon, Georgia, on
the 20th ult.; it lasted forty seconds. No damage done.
A very destructive fire occurred at New Orleans on the
morning of the 16th ult., on the corner of Natchez and
Magazine streets, consuming thirteen valuable stores and
their contents. The total loss was estimated at between
$300,000 and $400,000.
The Cherokee nation have passed resolutions, through
their national council, stating their opposition to the pas-
' sage of emigrants through their country, also against
their wintering in their territories. They likewise com-
plain against the residence of free negroes.
The Canadian papers from the West and Upper Canada
are filled with accounts of destructive freshets. The
amount of property swept away is very considerable, and
the bridges demolished will cause a serious interruption
to traffic.
N
of importance had transpired at Havana
sinceotthhinegseizure of the Black Warrior. She was still in
the possession of the government authorities. There was
„careity of vessels at Havana, and some to arrive had
been.engaged to load as soon as ready.
I!llyic4S from the Ries Grande state that General Wolf

was concentrating Mexican troops, at Camargo, with a
view of establishing his head quarters.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK MARCH 22.—Money is becoming more
abundant. Loans on first-class securities are obtainable
at 7to 8 per cent. Foreign exchange dull at the follow-
ing quotations :—London, 1081 to 1081 ; Paris, 513 - to
5161 ; Amsterdam, 414 to 43.1 ; Hamburg, 361 to 37i ;
Bremen, 791 to 794.

COTTON.—(From the New York Shipping List, of
March 22.)—The increased firmness noticed in our last
continues, and a further advance has been established.
Quotations show an improvement of to 1, the market
closing firm but quiet. The demand continued active
until yesterday, when there was somewhat of a pause,
owing to the non-arrival of the Pacific • and telegraphic
reports of the increased receipts and declining prices at
New Orleans. The sales during the past three days
amount to 6,211 bales, of which 1,979 were for export,
1,402 flir home use, 2,220 on speculation, and 610 in
transitu.
RECEIPTS, EXPORTS, AND STOCKS OF COTTON SINCE SEPT. 1.
Exports to Total Exports Stock on
Receipts. Gt. Britain. to For. Ports. Hand, &c.
1854..:. 1,973,155 705,027 1,080,891 644,972
1853 .... 2,605,065 1,035,316 1,432,661 777,209
Increase
Decrease 631,910
_330,289 351,770 132,237

Pnovrsioia—The demand for western pork continues
fair, but with increased arrivals the market for prime is
12f c. easier; beef continues in good demand, especially
good shipping qualities, which are scarce. Lard is plenty.
More doing in butter. Cheese in fair request.
BREADSTUFFS.—There was rather a better feeling for
flour, and there was a moderate demand both for shipment
and home use. Wheat is offered at sc. to 10c. per bushel
below our last quotations. Indian corn has declined sc.
to 6c. per bushel.
IRON.—The market quiet, but very firm for Scotch pig
and English bars.
FREIGHTS.—To Liverpool, for cotton, to 7-16 d. per
lb. Flour, 4s. to 4s. 6d. per barrel. Grain, in bulk, 134 d.
to 13td per bushel.
NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 17.—COTTON.—Middlings are
quoted 9c. Receipts during past week, 43,500 bales.
Freights to Havre, 111 c.
MOBILE, MARCH 18.—Markets firm at B.lc. to 9c. for
middling. Stock, 158,000. Freight to Havre, 1-ic.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-TUESDAY, MARCH 28.

Several petitions were presented.

Some returns were moved for with reference to the re-
moval of paupers. Two private bills were passed a stage ;
and after a motion by the Earl of CLIP/CARTY, relating to
a trial at the Armagh Assizes, which was ultimately with-
drawn, their lordships adjourned shortly after six o'clock.