MAURITIUS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2806, 24 July 1866, Page 5

MAURITIUS.

We Lave a week's latec. dates from Mauritius, viz., to the 18th May. Subjoined are extracts of the Mauritius Price Current of that date : — By the mail of 7th. May we invited attention to the reduction of our stock of sugar, and we have now but little to add to our former intelligence. A few small parcels havo, however, since been sold for the Australian colonies at former prices ; but these transactions are of so little importance that they need scarcely be mentioned. The few thousand bags which remained in store at the time of the departure of the lait mail are being gradually disposed of, and by the time the next crop will be ushered in there will be, as we have already stated, no sugars of the present crop remaining. The demand for Austialia continues active, and the few vessels for which cargoes had been purchased by anticipation have "arrived, have been loaded, and have sailed for their destination. It is rumoured that several other ships freighted for a return cargo are now lying in our harbour without being able to find tonnage. The eagerness on the part of purchasers for the Australian market speaks strongly in favour of the first yellow sugars that will arrive in the market ; and we may add that it is very fortunate to find the Australian and Indian markets acquiring more and more importance every clay, and thus forming a healthy competition with the European markets ; so much so, indeed, that we Bhall less dread the serious competition of the beetroot, as well as of the- numerous fluctuations of the European markets, when we shall findan easy egress for our produce to India and the Australian colonies. Our exportations to the present time amount to 239 millions, against 237 ab a corresponding period last year. The -season continues favourable to our plantations. We have had more rains, and the hot weather kow prevailing leads us to expect a very fair crop. The exchange market has undergone no change, and, with the exception of transactions with the banks, tre rate of discount is maintained at 12 per cent. English and Australian sovereigns are held at 14 to 1\ per cent, premium at the banks, although these establishments only take them at par.

Wheat. — Importations hare been very small during the last 10 days, and consist of 2,998 bags. The market bas slightly revived, actual quotations being as follow :— Doodah, sdols. 50c. the bag ; Australian or Chilian, 3dol. 60c. to 3dol. 65c. the 1001b. ; Kurrachee, 4dol. 90c. the bag. 800 bag«, per • Agnes Jessie,' 3dol. 60c. the 1001b. There remain now in first hands only a few hundred bags of Doodah, and 310 bags Kurrachee, as well as 1,000 baga of Kurrachee held by a speculator.