Tue changes in values in our import and export market during the last ten years would scarcely have been predicted by a sano merchant of 1872. That all our staple imports, as well as tea and silk, should suffer 80 serious a decline in prices, and that exchange should fall fifteen per cent in the same time, and have no effect in staying the downward course of the value of exports, would Lave been considered impossible, Yet these things have come to pose, asa glance at the market report of the North-Ohina Herald for the 21st September, 1872, will show. Before making comparison of the values at that avd at the present time, we may mention that there was nothing exceptional in the transactions for the week ending at that date ten years ago. It seems to have been quite a usual feck, and the results what we are too mach accustomed to see. The business in cotton goods had not been large, and, except for drills, cash prices were lower. Unusual quietness pervaded the market for woollens. There was little demand for metals: opium, sugar, and other miscellaneous articles were all quiet, and freights showed no particular activity. On the other side transactions in tea had been on a more than for some time pre-was quiet; about 1,000 bales having been settled for the week. So far as the general charaoteristics of the market go, trade at this port ten years since was exactly what it is at the present day.
But how different are the values now compared with those of that time. Grey Shirtings of 8.4-Ibs, were sold in 1872 at Tle 1.81 to 1.88.
There were then no such varieties of makes as we have now, and a range of seven candareens per piece seems to have been sufficient to inolade the Chinaman's wants in ordinary to best goods. Oar last week's market report chronicled, la the few transactions that had taken place, sales of 8.4-Ibs. shirtings at Tls. 1.74 and Tls. 1.19, and we dare say there has often been even a greater range in prices. There is a difficulty la approximate ing the values of grey shirtings, ten years ago and now, owing to the changes in the qualities of the cloth. And in MexicauT-cloths we see that the same varieties of quality have been introduced as the range in price in 1872 was from Tls. 1.43 to Tls. 1.52, whereas our last report gave them at from Tls. 1.01 to Tls. 1.60. American drills of 15lbs, weight were then worth Tis, 3.4 to Tls. 3.5; the rate for 14lbs. goods is now Tls. 2.75 to Tis, 2.80. La fancy articles we notice that velvets wore quoted at 3 mace per yard; the present price is 11 to 12 cents lower. It appears by a telegram quoted in our issue of 2st September, 1872, that the price of middling Orleans cotton in Liverpool was 10;54. per Ib. and ten years aftorwards Renter quotes the price at 7d. per lb. The difference here is about 30 per cent., which with the diminution of shipping and other charges enables cotton manufactures to be sold in China at the rates which have been current during late years, Thus cheap goods mean large trade.
The quotation for a well known mark of scarlet camlets was Tis, 16.2 ten years ago, and for that colour and make of Spanish stripes 72 candareens per yard. The same goods were sold last week at Tls. 10.18 and 494 cand reens, respectively, which represents a all of between 34 and 85 per cent. on the value of these the two chief articles of woollen imports. It would be of little or no use to institute comparison between the present value of wool and its cost in 1872, without taking into account other things, notably the cost of dyes and chemicals, at the two periods, In Metals, Dawes nailrod iron was quoted at Ts, 4 to 4.15; a sale is reported last week at Tis, 2.40. Lead was neglected at quotations in 1872, as it has been for some time in 1882, but the value of L, B. is stated to be Tls. 4.65 to 4.70; the last sale reported by us was at Tis, 4.00. In coals, Cardiff has fallen from Ts. 12 to Ti. 8.5 to Tle. 9
Anthracite on the contrary has advanced from Tls. 10 to Tls. 114, bat the quantity consumed now-a-days is very small, Newcastle N.S.W. was worth Tls. 9.25 and is now quoted at Tls. 5.70, Japan, apparently Nagasaki kinds, have fallen eight mace and Formosa Tis, 1.75 per ton. Great as are the differences in values which we lave mentioned they are increased by exchange having fallen in the mean. time from 6s, 234. to 5s. 2§d. for Bank bills, One the other band freights have declined; those homeward being 70s, per ton by steamers in 1872 against 40s. at the present day. Tnsurance and shipping charges are also lower, and these reductions with the altered value of raw materials leave about same margin for profit and loss on the import trade now as was the case a decade since.
The value of Congou was Tis, 15 to 27 on the settlements for the week in 1872, while last week pur. chases were made on a range of from Tls. 12 to 262. Rather faller partioulars are given of the transactions in the Green tea market, Moyune and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.