Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 555, 27 February 1858, Page 4

Markets.

VICTORIA. (From the ' Argus.' Feb. 5.) Inuring the past week there has been little alteration in the prices of different articles of agricultural produce, if we except oats, which have again declined in value. Flour has been in steady request for immediate consumption, and there has been some talk of speculation, no intention of which can in reality be entertained with the present prospects of the market. In fact, any one inclined to speculate could purchase large quantities for future delivery at prices considerably below those now quoted. Flour will soon be pouring in freely from South Australia, and new wheat of our own growth will-be in the market before many weeks or even days go by. „ - The market is quoted firm at 6s. for good samples of wheat, whilst flour is selling at £15 and £L 5 10s. A fine sample of colonial grown oats was sold at 6s. 6d. per bushel. In South Australia the wheat crop is proving to be much below what it was estimated at a few weeks before the harvest. The failure is rather serious in some districts but cannot be looked upon as general. All will be disappointed in the expectations formed from the luxuriant spring growth, and the average of the whole colony is likely to be less than that of last year. ~ HORART TOWS, The 'Mercury* of the. 10th instant, speaking of the grain and flour market, has the following: —The opening prices of this week show that there is a further disposition to decline,-in con-' sequence of arrivals being expected from the neighbouring colonies. AVheat consequently is not so firm, and the general quotations are now given at 7s. '6d. to Bs. per "bushel, the best samples. Colonial oats are as yet very scarce, but at short intervals we hear of" a few small quantities being sold; the prices realised ranging from ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d. according to the sample. Foreign oats are quoted at a very low figure, ss. to ss. 6d. being the ruling quotations; very little business is doing, though the stocks in hand are large, holders not being disposed to offer their articles for sale at the low prices now obtaining. . During the month, the flour market has manifested a marked improvement, which has been' gradual and uniform, without any fluctuation. Four weeks ago the market price of the best colonial flour did not go beyond £16 per ton. A failure in the wheaten crops being anticipated, through the unusual dryness of thejseason,- orders came in very rapidly from the country, dealers and others wishing to take advantage of the low' state of the market, anil to lay in their stocks before flour reached the high figure anticipated. This occasioned a considerable rise in flour which quickly went up to £19 to £21 per tony and large quantities were sold at that figure. But this advance received a clieck, as arrivals soon began to pour in from the neighbouring colonies, which produced a decline, the closing prices of to-day being given at j£lß to £20 the best samples from colonial wheat. Bran also has experienced a considerable advance the last week or two in consequence of its scarcity: it now realizes from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per bushel. Sharps have commanded a more than ordinary amount i>f business lately, but prices have undergone no change, being still stationary at £10 to £J2 per ton. The same paper has the following:— Very, little is doing in potatoes, which are scarce, the season not yet having fairly commenced; the quotations have experienced no variation, being still given at £7 10s. to £10 /per ton, according to the sample. ■ . I The arrivals of oil during the past month have been very small as compared with the previous month. Since the arrival of the November mail from England, transactions have been almost totally suspended, for though oil had declined so much' in England, holders here have not been disposed tp; submit to any reduction. There have been some inquiries for Melbourne where oil is in considerable demand, but no orders have been yet executed. ; Tn'e commercial panic in England affected the wool market" here to a great extent, and for some time sales were effected with great difficulty, buyers not being disposed to come forward while the state of the English market is so uncertain. Very large exportations of wool have, however, been made this month, and wool has formed the chief item in the exports of the month. The quotations that have been ruling for some time are—fleece, Is 6d to Is 7d; skin, Is 4d to Is sd-, grease, 8d to lid. For some tiroe past the timber trade had been in a very unsatisfactory condition, business being almost in a complete state of stagnation owing to the great depression in the Melbourne market. Latterly the demand has improved, and some conniderable shipments having been made td . New Zealand, the market -has somewhat recov-

j e»"ed its tone, and things generally wear a f brighter aspect. The prices, though still very low, are improving. ~ AUCKLAND. The Mills.—Fine flour, £18; seconds, £15 per ton; bran, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d; wheat, 6s. to 6s. 6d; maize, 75.; potatoes, £5; kauri gum, £9 10s. to £10 per ton. Bread: 2-lfc loaf, sd. . . Building Materials.—; Kauri timber boards and scantling, 18s. per,, 100 feet; tongued and grooved, £1 55.; shingles, 13s. to 145.; palings, 155.; bricks, £4 to £4 10s.; posts and rails, £3 ss.— Southern Cross, Teh. 5.