FOUR DAYS' LATER NEWS FROM MELBOURNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 44, 6 January 1862, Page 2

FOUR DAYS' LATER NEWS FROM MELBOURNE.

By the arrival of the " Donati," we nro in possession of Melbourne news to the 27th December. The great event had been the arrival of the Great Britain, from Liverpool, bringing the All England Eleven. This event is thus noticed in the Argit.<t of the 24th December:—" The steamship Great Britain, Captain Gray, which sailed from Liverpool on the 25th of October, was telegraphed from Cape Otway yesterday, at ihree p.m., and arrived off the Heads last lvght. She was expected to enter the Hay at daylight, and will probably reach the anchorage about eight o'clock this morning. The arrival of the Eleven caused great excitement in Melbourne last evening, and by an early hour vehicles of all descriptions were engaged to go to Sandridge to-day, to meet the visitors. At nine o'clock, a meeting of the All-England Committee will be held at Marshall's, for the purpose of arranging the programme of ;>roceedings. A coach and eight horses have hxn kindly provided by Messrs. Bevan and Co. to convey the committee to Sandridge; and Messrs. Hoyt and Co. have courteously p'need a coach at the disposal of Messrs. Spiers and Pond, for the accommodation of some of the friends i>f those gentlemen. It will be at the Cafe at ten o'clock. Messrs. Spiers and i'ond and Wells will leave Melbourne at six o'clock, and will proceed down the Bay to meet the Great Britain. The committee will take advantage of Mr. Throckmorton's offer, ami, at a later hour, embark on board the Lioness steamer, to bring the cricketers from the Great Britain. Triumphant arches are being erected at Sandridge, and bunting of every description is in requisition. A telegram was received Isst evening from Mr. Dyne, Messrs. Spiers and Pond's agent in Sydney, stating that he had had an interview with Mr. Cowper and Mr. Robertson, who on behalf of the Government, promise to give every facility for the erection of a grand stand, &c, on the Domain. We may mention that Messrs. Spiers and Bond have already commenced preparation for giving a large banquet in honor of the arrival of the Eleven, but the day is not definitely fixed. The debarkation and reception took place the next day, and everything passed ofFifi the most brilliant style, the arches, the flag?, the concourse of people, and the procession from Sandridge even exceeding the expectations formed. The cricketers who were all in excellent spirits and condition, were feastedl by Messrs. Spiers find Pond, and on the day following visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and expressed themselves highly pleased with the ground and the arrangements. _ On Sniulay, December 21, the appointment of the twenty-two, who are to play against the All England Eleven, took place, and the following players were selected :—J. M. Bryant Melbourne ; G. Marshall, Melbourne ; 0. Mackinson, Melbourne; J. Mace, Richmond; C. Mace, United Victorian Eleven ; S. Costick Melbourne; F. F. Hamilton, Melbourne; J. Con way, East Melbourne; D. Sweeney, Richmond ; J. Huddleston. Richmond ; W. Stewart, Melbourne; R. W. Wardill, Melbourne ; J. B. Thompson, Melbourne ; T. F. Wray, Melbourne ; B Butterworth, Melbourne ; C. Lister, Melbourne; T. Moires, Melbourne; G. Elliott, Melbourne ; S. T. Rennie, Richmond ;T. Ilopkinson, Richmond. The other two players will be selected from the followin o- list : N. Jacomb, Richmond; T. Book, Richmond: Blanchard, East Melbourne; W.

11. Bandfield, Melbourne; O'Mullane, East Melbourne; and E. Mortimer, Kichtnond. Scorer, C. Ilipwell. Umpire, J. A. Smith. The Geelvug Advertiser saj's: —■ " It has been rumoured for sonic days that a large squatter has cleared his run in the neighbourhood of Colac of the ' occupation licensees;' and that he called in the aid of the mounted police the more effectually to do so. This mornins, however, one of the aggrieved occupiers leaves for Melbourne to institute an action for the recovery of damii-gcs laid at .£•2000." - ' _ The JBtdlarat Tribune has the following : —■ £i There is every probability of the match, arranged between Messrs. Mount and Harrison being off, as it appears, Mr. .Robertson, the Superintendent of the .Bank, of whose staff Mr. Mount is a member, has written to him, intimating that he will have to make his election between resigning his'appointinent or his pedestrian predelictions. Mr. Mount's family are anxious that prudentiar»considerations shall outweigh his love of sport, and no doubt they will do so." Advices from the Lachlan state that many large finds have been made in the old ground. In sinking a new hole on the South Lead, eighteen pounds weight of gold fell in a kind of shower from the side. A banquet was held at Carey's and all the champagne on the diggings drunk. Shallow sinking has been found some distance from the old lead, causing intense excitement A telegram from Sydney mentions that a prisoner at Cockatoo was suffocated, by allowing him to sleep in a ward after fumigation with brimstone. Three armed bushrangers attacked the Denison Hotel, Talbragar, and were compelled to retreat after a desperate conflict, in which two inmates of the house were wounded. An inquest is to be held to discover the cause of the fire on board the Empress of the Seas. COMMERCIAL. Prom the Argus Summary for Europe we extract the following items :— In the money market there have not been any changes culling for notice. The local issue of Victorian Railway Debentures of small account has been taken up during the month to the sum of £22,GG0, a sign that these securities are as favorably looked upon by small capitalists as they are by those of larger means. The demand for discounts has been larger during the mouth than during its predecessor, in about the same proportion as trade has increased. "The banks have not made any changes in their rates, which remain at —For " two months, 8 per cent. ; for three months, 9 per cent. ; for four months, 10 per cent. Interest is allowed on time deposits at the following rates :—For deposits at thirty days' notice, from \} t to 2 per cent, per annum; at three months' notice, from 2 to Z\ per cent. ; :it six months' notice, from 4to 4J per cent. Exchange on England remains at par for sixty days' sight, 1 per cent, for thirty days, and H per cent, for small sums at sight. The rate charged by the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the transmission of gold and bullion from Melbourne to the Bank of England is 1J per cent., Including including insurance. The Oriental Bank Corporation charges for thirty days' exchange—On Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, 2s. Id. per rupee; China, ss. id. per dollar; Ceylon, 3J per cent, premium ; Mauritius. 4s. 2il. per dollar ; Singapore, 4s. 1 Id. per dollar. The returns from the gold mines during the month have been above the average of those of the previous three months, but the total production for the year, according to the escorts, has been considerably below that of last year. The majority of the gold fields are, however, now brought within a day's easy approach to Melbourne, and large parcels continue to find their way to Melbourne and Geclong, the ports of shipment, by private hinds. The escorts for last week brought d0wn.40,478^ ozs., against 44,514 ozs. for the corresponding period of last year. The wool season has been a very favourable one, and the clips which have been brought to market have been in excellent condition. It is believed that the increase of this year's clip over that o? last year will not be so considerable as was at first, predicted; Since the arrival of the Northam two public sales have been held in this market. That held at Messrs. K. Goldsbrough and Co.'s, on the ISth, was well attended, but buyers were indisposed, in the face of late advices from the home markets, to pay the full rates realised at the last sale. Growers were unwilling to submit to lower prices, and a considerable portion of the quantity offered (3758 bales) was subsequently withdrawn. About 1000 bales were placed sit from 12d. to 20d. for fleece ; lOd. to 203-d. for lambs ; 8-J-d. to 14d. for greasy ; and lo£d. to 13Jd. per lb. for greasy lambs. On the following day a sale was held at Messrs. J. H. Clough and Co.'s, at which a better feeling appeared to prevail. Of 2500 bales offered, about 1500 bales were placed. Greasy wools brought from 7d, to 13=Jd. • fleece, from 17id- to 2ilJ- 5 and a parciel of superior scoured realised the high price of 2s. 6£d. per lb. There has been an active trade doing in gold this month. The supplies of New Zealand gold which have arrived from Otago have not been offered in this market, but have been brought down by the banks for transhipment. The bauks are buyers of our gold-fields at the rate of £3 13s. 6d. per ounce for standard. This, with the export duty of 2s. 6d. per ounce, brings the cost on board ship to £3 lGs. per ounce, exclusive of charges. There has throughout the month been a good shipping demand, more particularly for the settlement of Dunedin, the nearest port to the Otago (New Zealand) gold-fields, and the market has not only been relieved of a large surplus of stocks, but of a considerable quantity of second-class and inferior goods, the low prices of which > have attracted shipping buyers. The country trade has also shown a steady demand, and although checked during the last week by a second movement of diggers to Otago, is generally considered in a healthy state, and numbers of small traders, without means, having been weeded out, a more legitimate business is doing, and confidence much incroase-.1. The more moderate supplies reported as having been made during October in most articles of general use, has also tended to give a better feeling to holders, although the excessive supplies so long recklessly forwarded to this market still leave stocks, in many instances, to be further worked down, before any permanent improvement in prices can be looked for. For the future, results are in shippers' hands ; excessive stocks arc much reduced, and, with reasonable supplies, the present ruling rates may fairly be considered as established. Business generally is in a fair healthy condition, speculation is not rife, but a steady wholesome trade is doing, with every prospect of its uninterrupted continuance. The trade of the year 1861 may now be looked on as ended, and what with the Christmas holidays, stock-taking, balancing accounts, and other matters attendant on the close of the year, but little is likely to be doing in mercantile transactions for the next fortnight.