MELBOURNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 401, 6 August 1859, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

By the " Pirate," from Melbourne, we have intelligence to the 23rd ult. The " Royal Charter " had arrived from Europe, bringing four days later intelligence than that received by the " Salsette," viz., to the 22nd May. Nothing of great importance had taken place ; the few stray items of news will be found elsewhere. The war had produced considerable activity, if not alarm, amongst the inhabitants of Victoria. Volunteer icgiments were to be enrolled, and there is a talk of fortifications.

Much dissatisfaction appeared to exist because of the non-issue of the writs for the elections, so that the new Parliament could not meet for some time. There appears to be some legal difficulty on the subject, with the nature of which we are not acquainted. We obseive the death of Lieut. Col. Neill (the brother of the Indian hero), who was killed by a fall from his horse. Forgeries of Union Bank notes, passed off at the diggings, had been discovered. A gold buyer of the Oriental Bank, at Sandhurst, had been robbed of jgSSUO. A. Mr. Cairns, a manager of the same bank at Carisbrook, had gone out of his mind, and had, it is supposed, made away with himself.

The railways, so far &a opened, were not paying ta the extent that was expected. The Pnblic Revenues show a considerable decrease ; and the yield from the gold-fields had considerably fallen ofF until lately, when there had been an increase, which, if it should continue at the existing rates, will bring up the year's average to that of the last year. The war was having a telling effect on trade. All articles of export were falling, and articles of import were rising. Amongst the latter have to be included wheat and oats ; the price of the former being from 11s. to 125., and oats ss. 2d., with every probability of a further rise ; the news of the war hiving produced a rise in price in Britain and America, and, in fact, all over the world from whence supplies can be drawn. The labour market was dull, and there' are still large numbers of persons out of employment. All the banks, with tha exception of the Oriental and the English and Scottish Chartered Bank, on the receipt of the war news, gave notice that they would no longer give interest on deposits. After an interval of nine days they were under the necessity of returning to thesystem of interest on deposits.

, Mr. Stuart had returned to Adelaide from his exploration of the interior, and reports, having passed through an extensive tract of fine country, well watered—one river being said to be three milea wide. The new country is said to be sufficient to depasture the whole stock of South Australia.

Mblbournb Markets— July 22. Flour amd Grain.— We quote flour to-day £29 for Adelaide; £30 for Haxall and Gallego; and' £27 10s. for Chilian. Wheat is scarqe at 12g. In horse-feed we have to notice some improvement'; holders of oats have held stocks well, and refused to sell at lately current rates. Holders have raised their price Sd. a bushel, and' the market-is" firm at the advance. The news of higher prices for oats in

Europe, in consequence of the war, had also much to do with stiffening rates here, and we now quote Scotch, 4s. 3d. ; Colonial and California!!, ss. 2d.

Teas. — The Tea market remains very firm, stocks small, and no arrirals expected from China for three months. Fine congous £10 to £11 the chest.

Sugar. — Since our last the aspect of the market has altered materially for the worse, and prices have receded £5 to £6 per ton. We quote finest counters from £41 to £42 : second counters at £38 to £40; third counters, ftoni £30 to £38; and low browns, £34 to 35 10s. Crystals of fine quality can be sold at £45, and Cossipore at £52.