COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 207, 6 February 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Grain is now offering very freely for forward delivery, but buyers as a rule are rather shy of operating, as the opinion is almost general that considerably lower prices must rule ere long. Wheat ior delivery within a week still realises 3s 6d, as the millers have not yet got sufficient stocks to keep them going, but as soon as threshing becomes general and deliveries come forward freely, wheat must fall to 3s, as no export business is likely beyond this figure. A recent telegram from London, dated 19th January, states that New Zealand wheat will not rule over 46s per quarter of 4961b5, and purchases should be based on that quotation. At this price no margin of profit would be left the shipper at over 2s Cd in Christchurch. Oats have fallen from 3s to 2s 9d, and have been coming forward so freely that buyers are getting timid, as the impression exists that tney must fall to 2s 6d,. owing to the absence of outside orders, The crops are undoubtedly turning out well, but in Otago the yield is said to be something wonderful, and in Auckland a very large crop has been gathered, ao that it is quite certain horse feed will be cheap throughout the year. No barley has yet been offered, but it is likely to open at 4s to 4s 3d, according to sample. Butter is in excellent supply atßd. Cheese doea not come forward freely, as the farmers are too busy harvesting to come to town. Taking into consideration the past week being the lirst in the month, the business transacted in the import markets has been hardly up to the average. "We are pleased to state the 4th has passed off very well. Sto'cks have been considerably increased by the arrival of the Alice, from London, on the 4th instant, bringing full cargo of general merchandise. In sugars there has been a good demand for yellow and white crystals. Several large sales have been effected at £32 10s to £33 for yellow, and £34 10s to £35 108 i.b. for white crystals. Trade sales have been numerous at satisfactory prices. Tea—Stocks in finest qualities are very low. The two cargoes hourly expected are anxiously looked for, as at present there is a good opening for a well-assorted cargo. We have to report usual trade sales at full rates. Spirits have not met with much attention, with the exception of JDKZ geneva, which has been placed in large lots at 15s to 18s 6d i.b. for 3 4-32 to 4 gall contents. Tobaccos are getting low in stock; best twists realise is 9d i.b.; aromatlcs almost antirely out of stock. Bottled ales and stouts have met with little sale, lis 6d tn i«-„*«." £ e P*j£ _. is Id to2s 2dd.p. Large sales have been made to arrive at prices withheld. Cornsacks have been placed in amall parcels at 12s to 12s lid, according to make and weight. Galvanised iron is completely out of first hands; stocks in second hands very low. Best brands are worth £36 to £37 per ton. Cement is in good request at 22s 6d to 235.

Melbourne.—The" Argus " of the 27th ult reports :—ln the import markets we have little of interest to refer to. Business generally continues to maintain a (Jull. aud heavy aspect, and sales are made with difficulty. Flour is very inactive, and there are no large transactions effected, though holders evince every disposition to meet buyers. Ordinary parcels are quitted at £ll 7s 6d, while £ll6s would not be refused. "Wheat is steady at 4s lud for northern, and we observe the quittance by auction of 100 bags Tasmanian at 4s 7*d Oats are ex - eeedingly dull, and buyers cannot be got to operate at all. A small parcel of Tasmanian stout feeding was disposed o* under the hammer at 5s 2d. A shipment of Californian was offered at the same time, but there was nothing done, and the whole was withdrawn for ss. Maize is moving off at our quotation of 5s 9d to 5s lod. At these figures we understand that the Melbourne cargo of 600 bags has been cleared out. Other sales nave also been recorded at the same rates. Sugars meet with considerable attention. We note an improving inquiry for Mauritius, and sales have been reported at £33 15s to £35. 4661 mats and pockets, Queensland grown, were cleared off publicly this forenoon, when grainy yellow counters brought £32 ss; medium and grey counters, £3l ss; low counters, £2B 10s; browns, £27 ; and rations, £22 15s to £23 10s. 1054 bags and mats Javas, Natals, and Mauritius sorts were disposed of at same time at prices ranging from £22 10s to £35 los. Candles a-e firm. By auction 550 boxes, in sound condition, were quitted at IOJd. There is a gobd business doing in tobaocoes. We hear of the quittance of a line of Over the Water tens at a very full price—a sale which olears the stock of this brand out of importers' hands. Black diamond twist has likewise found buyers at Is 3\d. - Further sales of lobsters hive come under our notice at 10s 6d. In liquids, Dothing of the slightest importance has been allowed to transpire. THE AUSTRALIAN OOUN MARKET? The " Argus," in its monthly summary, dated January 27th, reports:—The chief and only feature this month is the closing of the old and opening of the new season. Flour has dropped in consequence during the month from £l2 los for good old, to £ll 7s 6d to £ll 10s for fine new, at which it is now selling. Old wheat in like manner fell from 5s 10 Jd to 6s id, and new wheat from 5s 6d to 4s io£d during the same period; and for a great portion of the month parcels of both wheat and flour have been coming forward very slowly, and little impression could be made on the. market in consequence, but of late there has been a much more abundant supply, but the greater portion of what has come forward has gone into store, not being intended for sale at present. It is quite impossible as yet to form an estimate of this season's jield; it is generally admitted that there has been a large increase in the area of production, but of late fears are beginning to be entertained that the actim] yield will not be so large as was at one time anticipated. The arrival of the Macgregor at Sydney from San Francisco was reported on Monday, the 11th, with dates to Bth December. Her cargo consisted of 3000 qroasks of flour. 2872 bags of wheat, and 1145 bags of oats. The M'Leod, which had cleared for Mauritius, was supposed to be destined for Australia. Her cargo comprises 5900 centals of wheat, 4521 barrels of flour, and 7000 centals of oats. Quotations for wheat ruled at Idol 50c to Idol 55c. Common brewing barley is now quoted at idol 50c to Idol 55c. Stocks of Bay Chevalier are exhausted, and no actual quotation can be had. The rates are nominally Idol 75c to idol 800 per 1001 b.. The prices of oats are firm at Idol 50c to Idol 60c per 1001 b. The Nation's Hope arrived last week at Sydney from Californin, with a cargo of oats, sinco which a considerable quantity has been forwarded here. This grain has been selling very slowly, the high price riiliDg for this, as well as for maize, preventing more than a hand to mouth trade being done. At auction, Californian oats have generally realised from 4* lid to 5s Id, but during the past week more than one parcel offered publicly had to be withdrawn, ai tbe bidding did not go oy»r 4b led.

Fanners' parcels of Victorian have not come forward very freely ; of these, however, sales have been made at 4s Od to sb, according to sample. Maize, after touching Os (3d, receded, and the latest sales reported have been at 5s 9d to 5s lOd. Barley, feeding sorts was sold at one time at 4s 6d to 4s Id, but afterwards fell to 4s Id to4s 3d, at which sales were effected this week, thus constituting this grain the cheapest for feeding purposes in the market. In malting barley there is nothing whatever doing, and in the absence of any supply we are unable to give a reliable quotation. Bran has been selling at Is 6d to Is Id. Pollard has ruled at is 6d and Is Bd, and Victorian oatmeal has been moving at £32.