COMMERCIAL,

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1486, 9 May 1873, Page 2

COMMERCIAL,

Christchurch.— The LytteUon Times of Saturday last reports that in the grain and produce market breadstuff's continue without any material alteration, although a fair business is doing in wheat for shipment to England, where we observe prices are reported as steady. A large export trade for the North is noted, and prime samples of wheat are taken up readily at 4s 3d. up to 4s 4^d for forward delivery, and for stored lines of choice 4s 6d has been paid for export j and for seed, prime parcels of Tuscan is quoted at 4s 6d. Flour continues in steady demand at Lll, with an improving tendency. Barley is still sought after, and really fine malting samples are worth 7? 6d. Oats have gone up most rapidly, and 3s 6d is now paid freely for cleaned milling parcels. It is ramored that large shipments of maize are on the way from Sydney, and if this proves correct, oats will fall in price rapidly. Dairy produce is actively inquired for. Butter sells freely at 9d, and for cheese 7d to 7|d is the moving quotation, and a good business continues to be done. New cures of hams and bacon are not yet ready.

Melboukne. — The Telegraph of the Ist inst. reports :— I To-day, at auction, wheat was only offered in small lots ; about 400 bushels of milling was quitted from 5s lid to 5s 11 Ad, whilst 300 bags of prime seed realised 6s 2^d. We hear of several offers being made privately to purchase at 6s ; but no actual sales at this figure have come under our notice. Tomorrow the corporation will offer some 2000 to 3000 bags of wheat, which has a 6s reserve on, so that millers can go into stock, the result of which will be a languid marset for the remainder of the week. Flour also has advanced, and to-day Major Mills brand was disposed of publicly at Ll3lss,andßochester at Ll 3 17s Cd, an advance from 10s to 12s Gd per ton on last week's rates. Privately, the trade are asking up to Ll4 5s for bakers' parcels. Oats are still in active demand ; inje-auv»w — WtA.day. include about SOOO bushels, for which 3s 9ganHr3s -rn 2 a._ AVag realised for ordinary to medium feed lots,"" and 4a Old to 4s 4id per bushel for prime samples. Maize continues very firm, though in the absence of arrivals there are no parcels offering. We quote 3s 6d as the lowest current value. A small parcel of English barley was placed to-day from 6s 4id to 6s 5M per Dushel. Brandy has been sold at Is 34d per bushel. Cornsacks are quoted quiet at 13s 3d, small sales. Candles remain firm, but the demand is hardly so brisk, many houses . having given orders for Vic-torian-made goods for stock. Kerosene is dull. Sugars still continue to show a strong market, and sales to some extent, have been carried through to-day, principally, however, from tin enrenes of the Jenny Louttit and the .Charles Auguste, from which about 3000 bags have been placed ; medium whites realising L 42, fine grej crystals JL39 15s, yellows L 37 10s, browns L 32 10s. For finest whites L 43 is required, and holders will not sell under this figure. Teas are in fair demand. We note that the sale of the cargo of the Lass of Gawler, from Foo Chow, will be held to-morrow afternoon, by Messrs Everard and Co. at their auction rooms. We hear of business in hops at Is sd. Some demand for galvanised iron has been experienced ; holders are firm, and require an advance on late prices. A line of salt has been moved off to-day. Liquids are moving off freely. Brandies have had a good deal of attention shown to them, and we hear of a mixed parcel of Martell's, Otard's, and C.V.P. having been placed at a full rate. R.W.P. is mentioned as quitted in a parcel of quarters at market rates. Malt liquors in glass are passing freely into trade hands at extreme rates.