THE AUSTRALIAN FLOUR AND GRAIN MARKET.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 231, 6 March 1875, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN FLOUR AND GRAIN MARKET.

The “Argus” of the 24th ult reports : As might fairly be anticipated, considering the large supply expected to come forward this season, the value of both flour and wheat has fallen during the month now closed. The former has declined fully 20s per ton, but on the latter the difference between our present quotation and that of last month is not more than per bushel. For the last two or three weeks flour has been moving off in ordinary trade parcels of 10 to 20 tons at £lO 7s 6d to £lO 10s, and even £lO 5s has also been accepted. For the last day or two, however, holders have been a trifle stiffer, and less anxious to push sales, though we are unable to report any improvement in value; quotations at the close were at £lO 7s 6d to £lO 12s 6d. Wheat has likewise declined to 4s 7d, but has stiffened again, and 4s fld is now got. Supplies are coming forward very freely, as they usually do at this season of the year, but notwithstanding all the cry about these being excessive, fully 10.000 bags less than at the same period last year have come to hand. Most of what is coming forward, moreover, is at present being stored for better prices, hence the slight reaction we have referred to, and the stiffening of prices. The Mikado, the Californian mail steamer, brought forward to Sydney 2124! bags flour. The M‘Leod, which reached that port sometime ago from San Francisco, had 450 tons flour, 220 tons wheat, and 3228 sacks oats. Advices from Christchurch, New Zealand, give a good account of the harvest there. The acreage under wheat is less this year, but the increased yield will give a surplus for shipment |equal to last year. This, however, cannot affect us here to any extent, as the charges to this market in consequence of the duty, &c, are nearly if not quite as much as to England, where also a much more certain and reliable market is to be found. Prices for the season opened at 3s 9d to 4s, but were expected to decline to 3s 3d to 3s 6d. Feeding grains have been heavy, and on feeding oats a considerable decline has taken place. Supplies of new are over the receipts of the same period, but the market previously having been cleared out, considerable scarcity has been experienced. The latest sales reported have been at 4s 7d to 4s fid, and these prices now rule ; but Californian, of which there is still a large quantity, have completely lost favor, and are now quite unsaleable; qualities which were run after a month ago at 5s cannot now be sold at 4s. Milling oats are very scarce, and some late arrivals of New Zealand have realised as much as 5s 3d. Maize has been dull at 5s Bd, but is weaker, and we cannot now quote over 5s 6d. Barley has not come forward in any quantity. We quote for common Cape qualities 4s to 4s 2d, and very ordinary samples of mailing have brought 4s Bci. The Milton Badger, just arrived from San Francisco, has brought a small shipment of oats and barley. Bran has declined to is Qd. Pollard is worth Is 2d to Is 3d. Viclorian oatmeal has been quitted at, £32, and New Zealand qualities have been sold as low as £26 ss. DUNEDIN STOCK REPORT. Mr Henry Driver (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) reports as follows, for the week ending March 3rd:—Fat Cattle. —175 head were yarded at the market to-day, the greater number being of medium quality. The prices obtained were somewhat less than late quotations, some pens fetching but little more than “ store” rates. Best bullocks brought from £8 to £lo 6s; ditto cows, £6 to £8 7s 6d, or equal to about 25s per 1001 b for prime quality. I sold 80 head on account of Messrs Gall, Lindsay, Wilson, and others, and have placed 250 privately at above rates. Fat Calves.—Only a few were penned, and sold at high rates, prime quality realising up to 80s. Fat Sheep._ —Only 650 were penned, and were all disposed of at favorable prices. Prime cross-breds brought up to 18s 6d; ditto merinos, to 9s 6d, or equal to 3jci per lb for the former, and 2pl to 2ld for the latter! I sold 300 at the yards, and have during the week! placed 1000 at quotations. Fat Lambs.—2oo wore! penned, and the greater part sold at from 6s to] 10s 6d each. I sold 70 at yards at rates. Store] Cattle.—l have no importanttransactlous to report, but have placed several lots under offer. Quiet grown steers and heifers are still diflicult to get. The former are saleable at from £5 10s to £6 10s. Cows at from £3 10s to £4 10s. Store Sheep.—l have still to report an active demand for almost every class of sheep (culls and broken-mouthed excepted). During the week, a large number have changed hands. I have placed In various lots, 22,500, at following rates, say:—Cross-bred, 4-tooth and over, 11s to 12s; ditto 2-tooth, 9s 6d to 10s 6d; ditto lambs, 7s to Bs. Merino ewes, 2,4, and 6-tooth, at Ss to 9s 6d; full-mouthed ditto, 4s to ss; ditto wethers, 4 and 6-tooth, 7s to 8s; and full ditto, os to 6s.