THE ENGLISH MARKETS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2166, 3 February 1881, Page 4

THE ENGLISH MARKETS.

The following ia Messrs Minna Bros, and Co.’e Colonial Produce Report, dated London, December 17th WOOL. The fourth and last aeries of colonial wool auctions for this year, which commenced on tho 23rd ult,, closed on the llth inst. The catalogue comprised the following quantities : ° Ba'efi. Sydney and Queensland ... 21.891 Victoria ... 28,010 South Australia Swan River Tasmania Hew Zealand 25.380 Capo dV,ISJ Total ... -• 123,971 Against 130,805 bales in the corresponding galea of last year. _ Five hundred bales Australian and 10,000 Capes were forwarded direct from sbip to the Continent and the North, and 16,010 bales hava been held over and withdrawn. About 50,000 bales have been taken for export, of which a considerable portion was Capa wool on German account. . The sales opened with a good attendance or buyers, onr Home trade being well represented, and competition brisk ; prices for scoured merinos, and the better description of crossbreds showing an improvement of id to Id per lb over Angust-September rates; but coarse and faulty wools were in some oases Id and oven 3d per lb cheaper. Good greasy parcels wore if anything rather easier, and frequently showed dd per lb decline towards tho close of the series. At the early part of this month rather a dnll tone waa noticeable in our sale rooms, but at the close a brisker feeling again prevailed. Tho prices obtained for the new wools from Australis (17,000 bales) offered at these sales Jhavo not beea above a moderate level, the absence of a good French competition having been much felt. The new Adelaide wools appear to be well-grown and sound, but Fort though light in condition, were fre--siaontly burry, while New South Wales wools were short in staple, the flocks haying apparently been shorn very early. Very little wool bos boon taken for America, the home growth there having been sufficient for their recent requirements, but trade there is active and prospects are encouraging. Stocks in the hands of Continental consumers must be exceedingly moderate, and we hope ere long to see a revival of the woollen industry in Franco.

WHEAT AND HODS. _ . The wheat market has been inactive daring the past fortnight, the supply of English wheat having been good, with an improvement ra the •quality. Colonial samples have not, therefore attracted the nanal attention and prices have weakened to the extent of Is to 2s per quarter. In Australian, arrived cargoes at port of call have been sold for France at 50s, 50s 6d, and 51s per 4801b5., o.f i. For cargoes on passage there are buyers at 48a fid to 495, while cargoes for January shipment have been offered at 475, D.K., for orders, but no business has been done. The quantity afloat from all sources is large, ‘being estimated at 2,349,500 The arrivals of oats have been large, and in New Zealand!) there have not been many really choice samples. Prices are lower, say Is to 2s per quarter. Wo quote South Australian wheat at 49s 6d to 50s fid ; Victorian, 48s to 50s ; New "Zealand, long berried, 49a to 50s ; ordinary quality, '4sa to 48s ; and inferior, 38s to 44s—all per 4961ba. Australian flour, superfine, 35s to 36s ; households, 33s to 31a, and New Zealand, superfine, 33a _to 35a per 2801bs. New Zealand fine malting barley, 33s to 40s per quarter. New Zsaland beans, 45s to 49s per quarter. New Zsa’and oats, fine, 28s to 335, and common feed, 21s to 255. New Zealand peas, 44s to 46a per quarter, and v«ry choice samples 80s to 100 s. New Zealand oatmeal, 200 s to 210 s per ton.

TALLOW AND HIDES. There has been a goad demand for Australian ■tallow since onr last, and about 8700 casks have been sold this month. Wa now quote good to wery fine mutton 3ls 3d to 365. and fair to fine beet 32s 6d to 33s 3d per owt. Inferior qualities have also been in much request. Stock in importers’ hands is abont 9800 casks. There was a good attendance of the trade at the hide sales yesterday, and abont 14,500 salted Australians were sold, out of 19,200 offered, at an average decline of Jd per lb. We quote heavy ox, 5d 4o Sid; light and cows’, 5d t > Sid per lb. FBBBBBVBD MEATS, The trade generally has been quiet .in all classes of tinned meats. Mutton maintains its frioo, owing to small stocks, but beef is cheaper, a fresh meat from America there has not been a largo business doing, and prices are unsatia**BanL rate raised on the 9th inst. from 2i to 3 per cent. Messrs Biebt, Barclay and Co., of London, report under date December 15th : Wheat—W# have had a dull, dragging trade daring the fortnight, and prices have fallen Is to 2s per qr. Mild open weather has contributed "to this, bnt the cause is chiefly to be ascribed to lower quotations from America, where tigh'ness of money has tended to check speculation. The shipments from that country are small—only 498,000 qrs. in the fourteen days ; bat the quantity afloat from all sources, estimated at "2,349,500 qrs , is larger than it has been for some months past, and the American 41 visible supply” has increased to 27,000,000 bushels. There is therefore no fear of abort supplies, and consumers see no inducement to go largely into stock. Australian being in small compass, baa fairly maintained its value, and is selling at 50s to 51s per 4961bs on the spot. Off coast. Scline, Polly Stott, and Benfrewshire sold at 50s fid on the Continent. On the passage there are sellers at 50a and buyers at 48s 6d to 49a. Cargoes for January shipment, presumably of the new crop, have been offered in vain ns low ns 475, XJ.K., for orders. A parcel of 2500 qrs , for London direct, has been sold at 46s per 4801bs, Australian terms. New Zealand kinds meet a slow I ale at a decline of 2s per qr. ; unsweet, out of condition parcels selling at 40s, 41a ; fair to good quality, at 45a, 475; Tuscan, 48s, 50s per 4961b5, ex store. For flour the demand is very slack, and prices most be quoted 1 a per sack lower, say 34a fid to 35s fid per 2801bs for superfine Australian, according to quality. data With further largo arrivals and unseasonably mild weather, the market has been depressed. The commoner kinds are fid and Is per qr. cheaper, while, in order to force sales of . the fine heavy descriptions, of which the supply x is in excess of the demand, a reduction of 2s baa been submitted to.