MAURITIUS. Port Louis, March 5.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3045, 30 April 1867, Page 4

MAURITIUS. Port Louis, March 5.

Beferring to our report of the sth ultimo, we now beg to resume our market advices. The January Australian mail came to hand on the 2nd instant.

Sugar. We append a memorandum of clearances sinoe our last, from which you will observe that shipments to Australia and New Zealand have been moderate during the month j but prices of all descriptions of grocery sugars have been fully maintained, and within the past few days there has been an active demand, and a large business has been done, especially in white crystals and fine syrups. The quantity of grocery sugar remaining unshipped is very limited, and we think it would not be prudent to calculate upon suitable samples being obtainable in one or two months hence. Under these circumstances we should nob be surprised to see a further rise in price?. We may quote as under : — White Crystals : Finest, 7 dollars 75 cents. White Crystals : Good to fine, 7 dollars to 7 dollars 50 cents. Yellow Crystals : Fair to good, 7 dollars. Counters : First, 7 dollars to 7 dollars 25 cents ; third and second, 6 dollars 25 cents to 6 dollars 75 cents. Browns : Fair to good, 5 dollars 25 cents to 5 dollars 75 cents. .Rations : Good to fine, 5 dollars 25 cents to 5 dollars 50 cents ; low to middling, 4 dollars 50 cents to 5 dollars.

Exchange. Owing to the small shipments to Europe, document and other commercial bills are very scarce, and the banks have been compelled to advance their drawing rate to an unprecedented extent, in order to restrict the demand upon them for remittances. At this moment the Oriental Bank draws on London, at 90 days' sight, at 5£ per cent, premium. The marked increase that has taken place this season in exports to Bombay and Australia will, we expect, be continued next season ; and, as shipments to the United Kingdom must consequently be proportionately reduced, we think it probable that the course of exchange on Europe will not rule in favour of remitters as has heretofore been the rule during crop time. Document bills on Australia, at 60 days' sight, remain nominally at 5 per cent, discount.

Freights. We have scarcely any improvement in rates at present to report, but the advices as to freights from the Indian ports are decidedly better ; and as we have very little handy-sized disengaged tonnage in harbour we have little doubt that an advance will be established on the miserable rates that have ruled lately.

Imports. Salt Beef remains depressed, and, in the [absence of any transactions, quotations are nominal. Salt Pork ia scarce, and French is Beijing at 16 dollars 5 cents per barrel of 901b. Butter does not aa yet show any improvement, and we Jean only quote 30 dollars per 1001b. for best quality. Tallow : There is now but little inquiry for this article, and prices are purely nominal. Wheat : The stock in first hands is still large, but holders show some firmness. A parcel of Calif or nian reshipped from Australia has been sold at 3 dollars 25 cents per baa; of 1501b. Flour : A parcel of Australian, ex ' Star of Hope,' from Launceston, changed hands during the past month at 3 dollars 874 «ents per 1001b.; but we understand only 3 dollars has been offered for parcels recently received, per 'Formosa' and 'Eva Joshua,' from Melbourne; but the holders have refused this price. Bran : Australian cannot be quoted at a higher figure than 2 dollars 25 cents per 1001b. Oats : Indian have been sold at 2 dollars, 25 oents per 1001b. No Australian have arrived for some time. Memo, of Clearances

To the Australian colonies, New Zealand, from the sth ultimo to date. February 7— 'Fleur de M*urice,' for Melbourne, with 415 tons. February 11— 'Atlantic,' for Auckland, with 180 tons ; 'Edith Smith,' for Adelaide, with 405 tons. February 13—' Result, ' for Sydney, with 285 tons. February 18 — ' Salacia,' for Melbourne, with 340 tons ; ' Star of Hope,' for Launceston, with 338 tons. February 26— 'Nereid,' for Nelson, N.Z., with 310 tons. Vessels Loading. 'Eva Joshua,' 2B6 tons register, for Melbourne, on owner's account. ' Formosa,' 330 tons register, for Melbourne, on owner's Account. 'Frances Henty,' 447 tons register, for Melbourne. 'Thomcs Brown,' 278 tons register, for Mel* bourne, at 15s and 5 per cent. Bi/tra, Brothers, and Co.

Messrs. Ireland, Fraßer, and Co., of Port Louis, Mauritius report that the " Oriental Bank negotiates drafts at 60 days' sight, on Melbourne and Sydney, at 5 per cent. ; and on the other Australian and N«w Zealand ports, at 6 par cent, discount." "British sovereigns are worth 6, and Australian 5 per cent, premium." " Charters for the United Kingdom, at 203. per ton. For Australia and New Zealand, small vessels obtain cargo occasionally at from 15s to 20s per ton."