UNKNOWN

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2593, 28 April 1869, Page 2

UNKNOWN

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ben»k.us, however, were unfounded as fine weather has now again seSin. Ihe sugar estates all over the island look green and promlstne- and, if the crops are not damaged by ? cyclone during the next two months, there will be every reason to hope that the coming year will be a much more prosperous cue for Mauritius than the last few which have gone by. Mauritius has proved itself very elastic under its late misfortunes. Our troubles appear to be passing by ; and, better than all—the statement of the Government revenue and expenditure for the past year, which has just been published shows a balance to the good of about £ 10,000, a result certainly not expected by any one. As far as the yield of last season is concerned, it must be admitted that it has been the poorest one the island has produced for a number of years. About 50,080 tons of sugar have been exported up to the present date, against 70,000 at this time last year. Moreover, very little more staple remains to be shipped, as is evident from the falling off in the exports to your colonies as well as to all other quarters. Owing to the scarcity of sugars of good quality, a good deal of trouble is experienced in obtaining a single cargo suitable for Australia. You must therefore expect scanty supplies from this until about August next, when the new yield will be in town. The following is the last list of prices issued by our chamber of brokers which are, however, nominal, for all the better descriptions of sugar:—Finest white crystals, 7.40d01. to 7.70d01. per 1001 b ; second quality white crystals, 7.20d01. to 7.35 dol.per 1001 b; cargo crystals (according to quality), l.eodol. to 7.10d01. per lOOlb.; yellow crystals (according to quality), 6.35d01, to 6.60d01. per 1001 b.; very fine yellow counters, 6.20d01. to 6.30d01. per lOOlb.; middling to good counters, 5.85d01. to 6 lOdol. per lOOlb. ; very fine yellow syrups, 5.50d01. to 5.65d01. per lOOlo.; good to fine rations, 4.7-idol, to 5.25d01. per lOOlb.; low to middling rations, 4.25d01. to 4.50d01. per lOOib. As regards the enactment? of our Legislative Council since my last, little of foreign interest has occurred. The Council has voted the loan of £ 100,000 to repair damages sustained by the colony in the hurricane of February, 1868. General dissatisfaction is felt here at the exorbitant amount of military contribution required from our colony (£45,000 per annum), considering that the troops stationed here at present number only 650 men. The Governor has, on several occasions of late, urged upon the home Government that, in view of the late disasters to which the colony has been subject, this excessive contribution ought to be reduced ; but to the disappointment of ail tlje colonists, His Excellency’s despatches on this subject have met with a deaf ear in England. Some disturbances of a serious nature have recently occurred in the neighbouring island of Keunion. They have caused a good deal of excitement among our semi-French population, which is naturally interested in occurrences in an island so near, and the inhabitants of which are so similar to ourselves. The affair began by some misunderstanding between the clerical authorities (who, in Bourbon, form a very powerful body) and the people. At length the citizens of St Denis, who accused (and it is feared with reason) one of the priests of an unnatural crime, assembled before a convent, called La Providence, and were endeavouring to break in the doors, when the place was surrounded by a body of military, who called upon the crowd to disperse. The latter, far from complying, began to stone the soldiers, and it is said one or two shots were fired at them. On this the people were fired on in their turn by the troops, who left thirty-three of the mob dead and wounded on the ground. The French Government is endeavouring to hush up the matter; and it has forbidden any account of the fracas to be published in the Bourbon papers. The news regarding the gold discoveries at the Cape continues unimportant. A company has been formed in London to search for gold under the style of the London and Limpopo Company. Every mail from Natal brings advices of discoveries of small quantities of the precious metal; but the question is—will paying quantities ultimately be found ? The dour market, after having advanced to sdol per 1001 b for best Australian, has lately declined to 4.50 dol, owing to arrivals from Chili. Very little flour is, however, now on the way here, as far as is known ; and it seems, therefore, likely that prices will again advance. Oats, 3 dol to 3.10 dol per lOOlb; moderate enquiry. Bran, 2 dol to 2.15 dol.per lOOlb; moderate inquiry. Tallow, 9.50 dol to 10 dol per 1001 b ; market dull. Freights for all quarters are quite nominal. For London £1 5s is asked, but no shippers come forward. A charter has been made for Melbourne at 16s. Arrivals.—January 22—Layard, brig, from Sydney. January 28 —Marmora, barque, from Sydney ; Jane Bell, brig, from Adelaide. January 31—Sarah, brig, from Adelaide. Departures.—January 30 —Helen, barque, for Port Phillip. February I—Balgownie, barque, for Melbourne. February 2—Lily, brig, for Port Phillip ; Jane Bell, brig, for Auckland ; Sarah, brig, for Adelaide.