Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 440, 21 January 1857, Page 6

Markets.

• MELBOURNE MARKETS, (From the ' Argus,' December 22.) The markets generally during the past week have presented a very dull appearance. This may be accounted for" in great-mfeasure by the advanced rates of cartage to the interior, a disinclination toincrease stocks at the close of the year, and a firmness on the part of > holders on the plea of the decline of the shipments from home. Speculative purchases have been few and the considerable quantities of goods offered by auction during the week have taken at lower rate?. The approach of $he holidays and the general appearance of markets hold out no hopes of either activity or improved prices until the year has fairly set in.

! Flour and grain are depressed in value, and a i gradual decline in prices has been visible during , the past week. The cargo of flour per C. H. , Talbot (6,000 barrels Haxall flour) has been ordered on to Sydney, and a couple of shipments have been made for V. D. L\ These easements of stock have not, however, relieved the market. Shipments of both flour and wheat of the new crop are on the water from 1 South Australia at the present moment for this i port, and this fact gives but little prospect of any present improvement in the market, ! Small lots' of Adelaide flour, to execute special ! country orders, have been purchased as high as 1 £20 per ton, but best brands in any important ' quantity are not quotable. Wheat we quote at ■ 6s. 9d. to 7s. 3d., A considerable 'pare'ei of good New Zealand (not of native growth')^ has been parted with at 7s. Colonial oats have receded in value considerably, the best samples not being worth more than Bs. per bushel. Scotch oats have declined in value, but not proportionately, being still worth ss. 9d. to 6s. 3d,; at the latter price Calcutta oats have been parted with during the early portion of the week -by auction. Maize is wholly neglected, and quotations nomi-. l nal. Rice is in less demand, and prices have receded, notwithstanding the news of an advance in the East. For fine Patna £19' is at present the extreme vt lue. Wool. —Messrs. J. H. Clough & Co. report: Upwards of 1,600 bales have been brought forward for public competition during the week. Notwithstanding the adyance in exchanges, we cannot report any change in the mai'kets, prices I averaging the same as previous sales. In addi- | tion to our sale on Thursday, we have moved I some heavy parcels at current rates, viz. for I superior clips, 19f d. to 22d.#air to good I7d. to 15d.; inferior to common, 15d, to 12|d.; scoured, 20d. to 23d.; hand-washed and slipe, 15d. to 17d.; greasy fleece, from 9d. to 12d. The MiLiiS. —I)ight;s mills.—Fine flour, £20 10s."per ton; seconds., £19 ditto; Haxall, £25 ditto; bran. Is. 9d. per bushel. Hadley's Steam Flour Mills.—Fine floiif/ #20 '^er ton ; seconds; £18 ditto; bran Is. lOd. perbushel; wheat bought at 7s/per bushel.'