Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 496, 5 August 1857, Page 4

Markets.

SYDNEY.

'By the Dart we have commercial intelligence from Sydney to the 9fch ultimo. We extract a few items.

The tenders that have been accepted to-day by the manager of the Union Bank on the part of:the Government of New Zealand, for Debentures bearing eight >per cent, interest, averaged 30s. per cent, premium. The principal is redeemable on the 29th June, 1859; These Debentures will therefore pay the holders at the rate of 7 1-8 per cent, per annum. — Herald, June 20.

Messrs. Frith and Payten sold to-day by auction a quantity of teas, groceries, provisions, &c. The following prices were realised:— Sydney fine flour, £18 2s. 6d. per ton: New Zealand potatees, £11 10s. to £13 per ton; cheese, lOd. per Bi.; half-chests jhyson twaukay at 965. per chesty ten-catty boxes, 19s.— Ibid.

Friday Evening, July 3,1857. Flotte astd Grain....Colonial wheat comes down very slowly; 7s. to 9s. is given .according

to quality; flour has advanced £3 per ton. bran, scarce at 2s. 6d. per' bushel. Messrs, Barker & Co. quote fine flour at £23, and, seconds at £21 per ton; wheat Bs. per bushel: bran 2s. 6d. ditto.

Flotje has been much quieter during the week, but holders are exceedingly firm and the news of a rise at the Cape, which will most likely affect the Melbourne market, will give some animation during the ensuing week. Sales of Gallego and Haxall have been reported at 555;, but this rate has not been confirmed, 51s. being the highest reliable rate that has come under our notice. Adelaide is held at £23 to £24; fresh Chile at £24. £22 has been given for old stock. California is purchasable at £20.

Grain is very firm, but transactions are very sparing; wheat is ' held firm at 10s., but no operations have been made at these rates; maize and oats are unaltered.

Tallow.—The arrivals have been large, consisting principally of beef; 270 casks were catalogued, but sellers have not in all cases met the market, being unwilling to accept less than 48s. for beef where the packages have been first rate; beef in hogsheads realised 465. Mutton Tallow. —One lot sold to the trade, £54 15s. per ton, the only other-one was bought in at £55, but part was quitted privately after the sale at that figure. The") bulk of this season's boiling has arrived, and there will be a great falling off in the quantity shipped during the season 1857 compared with 1856.

Sheepskins are in demand, and may be quoted firmer than last reported. For Hides there is more enquiry, and best heavy have realised Is. advance; one lot, from New Zealand, brought the high figure of 355. Sugars are very firm, and importers are clearing off their stocks of Pampangas at £41 10s. to £42. We notice the arrival of the Imina Brons, from Manila, with a cargo for the Sugar Company.

Flour is firm, but operations are very limited; fresh Chili has been quitted in small parcels at £24; in barrel we hear of no transactions; an extreme rate has been offered for a parcel of about a hundred tons of South Australian arrived at Newcastle.

Spirits are very firm, but the traders evince much disinclination to purchase at current rates. Should a good demand arise, we expect that holders will be stiff, and a further advance may be looked for.

Teas have been moving more freely, and several parcels of congous nave changed hands at full rates. The demand for hysonskins continues limited. :

Wines are more enquired for, but prices are far from remunerative to importeßs. Oilmen's stores are well in demand, and change hands at fair advances on invoice. Candles and butter are very dull. . Oats are not so brisk, and we hear of sales of Scotch, and Irish at 95.-—JBmjpire, July 8.

MELBOTJBNE.

We have a day later intelligence from Melbourne, via Sydney, to the 7th. July. The ' Argus ' of that day says :—■ The course of the import trade has been interfered with by the occurrence of two holidays, by the closing of the banks during two days, and by the very general diversion of the commercial mind from actual trade to the duties of the half-yearly balance-sheet. The day set apart as a holiday in commemoration of the separation of this province from the colony of New South Wales was devoted with tolerable unanimity to stock-taking, and this has not been a light labour this season. In transactions the week has been quiet except in the flourmarket. Large sales of wheat have been effected this day.

Except in the article of gold, there is little doing in the export market. Wool is very scarce. The few sales taking place privately are at slightly lower pates. Hides are coming in moderately, and are selling at a trifling reduction in price. In tallow we have not heard of sales.

In grain no enquiries have been made; we hear from Melbourne that large speculativepurchases had been made in oats ostensibly for shipment to this market.

From Melbourne we learn that the flourmarket had advanced. We notice the arrival of a cargo of Gallego and Haxall, but as it is imported to indent by the trade, it will not affect our markets. Prices are very firm, but we hear of no transactions.— Empire. At Cape Town, May 9, the subjoined prices were ruling:—Wheat 365. per maund (2£ bushels); flour, £35 per ton; maize, 13s.