Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-02-17
Interoourse with Australia.

The continuation of the extraordinary yield OF
gold in Australia, says the Baltimore American,
gives fresh impetus to commercial and personal
movements towards that distant region. At the
last dates from England, some sixty ships were up
for Melbourne and Sidney, and the emigration from
that country was about &c, 000p per mouth. Boston
has not been Indifferent to the prospects of gain
held out, and within the last five months has des-
patched nineteen vessels to Australia; and there
are now seven ships up for the same destination
Respecting the movements at new York, the Ex-
press says that about dozen ships are up there for
Australia, and adds
The other day, we had occasion to chronicle the
magnificent fleet of vessels advertised at this port
for the new Ell Dorado. Some of these ships we
have since learned go out full freighted. One of
them has cargo of ten thousand barrels of flour,
for which she gets $3.50 per barrel freight,-thus
netting the handsome sum of S35, 900 for the voy-
age. We hear of another vessel, engaging 700
barrels at the same price. The Akhar and Lantao
are also nearly full-the former at $3.50 to 81 for
Flour, and 6Sa66 cents for measurement goods -
The bark E. Courier, Baltimore vessel we further
learn, has just been sold to house in this city,
engaged in the Australia trade
Its quite probable that ere long, we shall have
allne of steamers between New York and Mel
bourne; for we see it announced, in our adver-
Using columns that "the book of the Australian
steamship Company are to be opened, on the 18th
lhSl' at Tue ONCE Oh hleSSrS. duncan " Sherman
A few nf our fast steamers, now,-Such as those
we have in the California trade,-would soon di-
vert to our shores much of the carrying and passen
ger trade, which the English shippers now enjoy
The scheme will be profitable one, there is very
little doubt, as the necessity that has suggested il
is certainly apparent and acknowledged. Clipper
ships travel fast it is true-but steam is wanted to
convey such merchandise as flour, for example, to
profitable MARKET much earlier, if possible, than
wind and sails do at present. The voyage is a
lengthy one, and as the description of merchan-
die the Australians want to buy of us, is ordi-
narily of perishable material, speed is object
of the very highest Importance.
The Colonial authorities of Australia have the
power 10 impose tariff,-but the duties levied on
the principal articles of consumption said to
be very moderate, in many cases merely nominal.
The duties often vary, at different ports according
to the wants and exigences of the inhabitants in
each particular locality. AS general thing the
tariff on imports does not exceed eight or ten per
cent.,-but on many articles of prime necessity,
such as our merchants sending forw ard,
the rates are but per cent. The free list is large.
From Baltimore several vessels have been already
despatched, and others now up. Our city is
also about to furnish desirable facility in the
establishment, at Melbourne, of the commercial
house of Messrs. ROGERS, WAKEFIELD & Co. The
last named of the firm is now on his way thither,
and another member, H. NJ. WAKEFIELD, Esl., will
speedily depart.