COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 99, 13 May 1880, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Wednesday evening.

Mr. Alfred Harrison sold to-day the farm of the late James Cairns, Waterton, at L 6 10s. per acre. The farm is 100 acres in extent, is laid down in English grass, and is well fenced. The purchaser is a Waterton resident. The stock and implements brought fair prices.

MELBOURNE MARKETS. The Australasian of April 24th reports : —A London telegram of the 17th inst. reports a permanent downward tendency of the grain market, owing to the weather being propitious for the grain crops, and owing partly to the inliuence of American supplies,, which continue to arrive on a large scale. The total quantity of wheat afloat on the 16&h was 1,910,000 quarters, being a slight increase on the previous week’s returns. Wheat has continued to decline ; it receded Is. per quarter on the 16th, 19th, and 20th ; on the last-named the quotations were 545. 6d, to 555. 6d. per 4961 b., ex warehouse. Flour had not declined so much, but still maintained the quotation of the 19th inst., viz., 395. 6d. per 2801 b. for Adelaide. New Zealand wheat on. that date was quoted at 465., c.f,i.; 525. ex ship. In Melbourne the market has not been strong ; no inquiries for wheat for export have reached us, and sales have been on an extremely limited scale ; prices also exhibit a declining tendency. Last week closed with quotations ranging nominally from 4s. 4d. to 4s. sd. for prime, to from 3s. 9d. to 4s. and 4s. 2d., according to quality. A quiet trade demand for flour was experienced at L 9 10s. to L 9 12s. Gd., the market on Monday maintaining a similar aspect as regards both flour and wheat. Arrivals for the previous week showed a very large decrease, the total received at Melbourne being 6,529 bags of flour and 6,878 bags of wheat, while only 392 bags of flour and 322 bags of wheat went forward to Willi&mstown. On Tuesday breadstufis were noticed through the auction room, but otherwise little inquiry was experienced, and we were without any outside sales to report. About 1,900 bags of wheat were disposed of publicly at prices ranging from 3s. B|d. to 4s. 44 d. At the latter figure only *l5O bags were quitted, and really good was sold at 4s. 2jd. to 4s. 3Jd., so that the trade done showed a further slight decline. No inquiry for export reached, us. Flour likewise manifested a declining tendency. At auction, L 9 10s. was accepted, while privately we heard of 80 tons being quitted by one seller at L 9 7s. 6d. to L 9 10s. Flour to-day was disposed of at L 9 10s., f.0.b., and also at L 9 10s. delivered. In wheat 400 bags prime were placed privately at 4s. 4jd., ex store. The auction sales comprised 4,800 bags, at prices ranging from 2s. to 3s. 10|d., 4s. to 4s. Ikl., and 4a. 2d. to 4s. sd. Feeding grains have only been noticed for trade purposes, and though no large sales have been making, a satisfactory business, on the whole, has been transacted. Oats have been moving off at all prices from 2s. to 2s. 4d. for common to good feeding. On Monday a parcel of 250 bags milling was placed at 2s. 6d., at which price also the market was firm and business was done at auction to-day ; privately good feeding was disposed of at 2s. 3d. Malting barley had been in demand, and on Tuesday about 1700 bag? were disposed of at a full price, withheld ; we have no sales of barley to report to-day. Considerable sales of bran have been made at lOd. ; pollard also is saleable at lid. to Is. Victorian oatmeal commands Ll 7 to LlB ; pearl barley, L 24.