MELBOURNE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1885, 23 June 1863, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

lMroirr Market.— There has been but littledoing hi the import market to-day. A good deal of excitement has been caused by the proposed new tariff for South Australia, as published in our telegram in this day's issue, and to which, it is understood, the tariffs of the other colonies are to be assimilated. There have been numerous inquiries for rice and salt, but we have heard of no actual transactions. Holders do not seem inclined to push sales pending the result of the proposed changes. Our Geelong contemporary thus analyses the proposed new tariff :— Comparing the newly proposed tariff with that now hi force, we find that the changes hi South Australia will be these:— Wines in bottle will be raised from 2s to 4s per gallon, wines hi wood remaining unaltered. Malt, heretofore untaxed, will be charged Gd per bushel. Hops will be raised from 2d to 3d. Unmanufactured tobacco will be lowered from 2s to Is. Snuff will be raised from 2s to 4s. Tea will be raised from 2d to 6d per Ib. Keflned sugars from 6s to 7s ; unrefined from 3s to 5s 6d ; molasses from 2s to 3s Cd. Coffee from 2d to 3d, Cocoa and chocolate, heretofore untaxed, will be charged 3d per lb. Dried fruits, heretofore untaxed, 103 per cwt. Opium, heretofore untaxed, will be charged the same as in Victoria. New taxes will also be laid on Eice, 4s per cwt; candles, Id per lb; oilß, Gd per gallon; and salt £2 per ton. There are to be no alterations in spirits, in beer, or in manufactured tobaccos. Should the same tariff be adopted in Victoria, the changes will be these : — Wine in wood will be reduced from 3s to 2s, and wine in bottle raised from 3s to 4s. Hops will be raised from 2d to 3d. Cigars will be lowered from 5s to 4s, and snuff raised from 2b to 4s. Eeflned sugars will bo raised from 6s to 7s, unrefined lowered from 6s to 5s 6d, aud molasses raised from 3s to 3s 6d. Coffee and chicory will be raised from 2d tfi 3d. Kico from 2s to 4s per cwt The new taxes will be on cocoa and chocolate 3d, on candles Id per lb, on oils 6d per gallon, and on salt £2 per ton. These changes will be, with the exception of the reduction on wines hi wood, beneficial. That reduction was intended as a concession to Adelaide, and is not appreciated as such. The duty should therefore remaui as it is. The advantage of doubling the duty on rice is also problematical. "■' A small tax on other grain would have been better. It is premature, however, to pass judgment on the Boneine in its present inchoate state.— Herald, June 3.