MONETATARY AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Independent, 25 February 1863, Page 1

MONETATARY AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

London, Dec. 29.

Bank of England rate of discount 5 per cent, for short datud paper 3| to 4 per cent, business, as usual at Christinas, dull. Consols, 92 j to f. There has been latterly an increased demand for Victorian and New South Wales Government securities. The London Cliarterred Bank of Australia baye declared a dividend of lour per cent, for the half year. The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company's dividend for half-year fixed at seven and a half per cent. At a meeting of the shareholders ot the Atlantic Telegraphic Company, it was resolved to lay another submarine cable to America, the British ' Government guaranteeing eight per cent, on completion of the work. President Lincoln's speech also favorable to the measure. y The Diiectors of the Great Eastern Steamship Company have been empowered to raise £10,000, ab a mortgage stock, to enable them to work her. Colonial Government Securities. — Victorian* 6 i per cent. (April and October), 108 fto lUOJ ; New '■ South Wales 5 per cent. (1866), 101 jto 102£ ; Queensland, 111 to 113. Exports to Melbourne during the pa9t month amount to £775,121, against £503,626 in Octoher ' November; increase, £271,495. This consider- I able increase is spread, with few exceptions, over ' ' all descriptions of drapery goods, hardware, ■ wrought leather, and metals, also spirits, wines. j and beers. Oils, paints, and glass are mostly lower. To Sydney and Moreton Bay, the month's total gives £411,851 against £326,027 in the provious month — increase, £85 814, arising from a moderate increase in season's goods, hardware, metals, woolpacks, spirits, beer and wines ; oils and paints are mostly below the average. Pro vision ing goods in small supplies. From Rotterdam, the Tolleus. with 15,440 red and 880 green cases geneva and 3.7C0 boxes candles ; also, the Kinverjak, with 16,200 red and 200 green cases geneva and 1,800 boxes candles, both for Melbourne. London Wool Report. — Last sales closed 12th December. Total number of bales catalogued, 74,615. As sales progressed, a tendency to depression became manifest. The advance established at the opening was lost, and prices may be quoted on the average as equal to last sales rates, except for faulty Sydney s, which sold rather higher. The number of bales from the Australian colonies and the Cape during 1862, amounted to 823,557. Prices of cotton at Liverpool fair : — New Orleans, 27£ d.; fair Surat, I7gd. ; Egyptian, % id. Rates of exchange on Calcutta, 25. ; on Bombay 2s. and one-eighth half-penny per rupee. Tho produce market in better demand at an increase of one-fourth of a penny per Ib. Leather — Prices of good Australian improved. Bank.-— Scarcely any in stock ; market firm at late prices. Horns bones, and skins, all Australian, offered for sale disposed of at firm prices. Tallow market quiot. Lower prices been accepted. No large transactions. PYCon the spot, 445." Corn. — Wheat declined 2s. per quarter; and barley Is. Oats remain at previous prices. Sugar in good demand at an advance of 6d. per cwt.