MELBOURNE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 563, 27 March 1858, Page 4

MELBOURNE.

The following trade report of the 'Argus' for the week ended February 20 is important, though six days previous to our latest advices: —

Business during the past week has been very dulL and, with the exception of the execution of orders for supplies for the up-country trade, there has been but little doing. The absence of the overdue mail has kept the import market in a state of uncertainty, and although at length arrived, it is too late in the week to cause any fluctuation in prices or demand. Whatever business, however, has been transacted has been for direct consumption; and, as far as the amount extends, has given a trifling degree of firmness to most articles of general demand, but not the slightest speculative feeling has been exhibited in any article whatever. .

Flour, Grain, &c.—The flour market continues very steady. There is an utter absence of speculation in this article; but the purchases, being for direct consumption, give much stability to the-market, and, unless heavy arrivals come forward, prices are likely to remain at about present rates. Adelaide country brands are selling at £15 10s. to £16; town brands, £lf> to £16 10s. per ton, a fow lots of particularly favorite brands bringing as high as .£l7. Bran js scarce, with ready buyers at 3s. per bushel. Qats are rather firmer in price, and the demand has improved; Scotch and Irish, ss. 3d.to ss. 6d.; colonial, 6s. 6d. and 7s. per bushel, and coming forward sparingly. Barley (Cape and English) scarce, and in request for seed; Chilian and Californian, ss. 3d. to ss. 9d. per bushel. Wheat in

fair inquiry for grinding, but little as yet coming -forward, prices ruling from 6s. to 6s. 6d. per bushel. Gram has improved in demand, and is readily saleable at £12 per ton. Groceries.—Coffees call for no remark; consumption is very steady, stocks in few hands, and prices firm. Teas have steadily maintained their position, with every apparent prospect ot supporting quotations. The bulk of the cargo of the French ship Eli Lefond, from China, driven ashore near Cape Schanck, has been saved, and brought up by steamers. The portion secured is reported to be generally but slightly damaged; and though the whole quantity will be disposed of by auction in a few days, it is not likely to affect prices of sound parcels of good quality. Sugars. Jiave been very quiet during the /week. The prices procured at late sales have not been such asi to tempt holders to force the market, but as stocks in second hands are moderate, further decline in prices can hardly be looked for. , Timber moves off steadily as brought forward, but at unimproved rates. The wp-country demand continues very good, and whilst this continues, and arrivals are cleared as soon as landed, no further decline in prices is likely to occur. Slates have gone off more freely by auction, arid at rather improved rates.

WELLINGTON.

Wednesday last was Hutt market day. There was a fair show of cattle and sheep, but-jfche attendance was not numerous. Messrs. Smith and Co. sold the undermentioned sheep and cattle at the following prices:— 125 wethers, 16s. to 17s. 6d. each; 195 ewes, 145.; 20 black do., 105.,; 7 head cattle, £3 10s. to £ 10; 1 bay horse, £34. Mr. S. H. Wallace sold 10 head of cattle, the prices obtained varying from £6 10s.^to £9 ss. per head. On Thursday, Mr. Allen sold, for Mr. Dransfield, 10 trunks boots and shoes, and three tons sugar. The boots and shoes brought very low price?, but, being imported from Sydney, no doubt would deave a margin to the importer. Good counter Mauritius sugar brought £54 to £55 per ton.

On Friday, Mr. Allen sold, by public auction, a quantity of colonial produce. Five tons potatoes fetched £10 per ton; onions, 2d. per. lb.; 88 bags wheat, from 6s. Bd. to 7s. per bushel; Chatham Islands seed potatoes, ss. 6d. per cwt. — Wellington Independent, / March 6. Messrs. Bethune and Hunter sold on Tuesday 58 bales wool, 6 at Is. 6fd., 43 at Is. 6d., 3 (lambs) at Is. 6£d., 4 in grease at ll£d., and 2 of locks and pieces at 9d. per lb". The same day Messrs. Johnston and Co. sold 26 trunks boots and shoes, at the following rates: —-Men's Wellingtons at 13s. to 18s. 6d., Prince's at 11s. t& 12s. 6d., bluchers at 7s. 6d. to 95., clothat IOK, 6d. to 145., water tights at 13s. 6d. to 14#. T youth's bluchers at ss. 9d. to 65., women* lace boots Bs. 6d., Cashmere ss. 6d. to 65., kid tops Bs. 3d. to Bs. 9d., slippers 3s. 3d. to 55., girl's lace boots 65.,6 d. to 75., and children's shoes 3s. 3d. to 4s. per pair; also, 3 qr.-casks gin, damaged, in bond, at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per gallon.

On Wednesday Messrs. Bethune and Hunter sold the remainder of Mr. Kelham's stock, including 20 hhds. Burton ale at £6 per hhd., 6 hhds. B.P. rum at ss. 3d., and 10 qr. -casks ;Sandeman's port at 13s. per gallon, 20 octaves Page's sherry, at £7, and 4 octaves superior do. at £8 each, all (including the ale) beings sold in bond. At the same time were sold a doublebodied carriage for £60, a harmonium for ,£11", 2 side-saddles at £4 and £4 7s. 6d. each, 2 saddles at £4 4s. and £4 12s. each, 2 Crimean tents at £2 17s. 6d. and £3 ss. each, and a quantity of tools, &c, all of which brought good prices. The same firm sold on Thursday 51 bales and 4 bags of wool; 3 bales, very fine and well got up, at Is. 9id., 31 bales at Is. 7d., 3 bales at Is. 5d., 1 bale at Is. 5Jd., 9 bales lambs at Is. 7£d., 4 bales in grease at lOu., and 4 bags, locks and pieces, at Bd. to lod. per lb. Also, 1 bale denims, ex Acasta, more or less damaged, which brought 2d. to 4£d. per yard, and half a ton of Poverty Bay apples at 3fd. to 4fd. per lb". The above wool sales merit at least a passing remark. In the absence of advices it is impossible to judge of the prudence of such extreme rates, but probably the expected departure of the Cheetah for Sydney, and of the Southern Cross for London, may have had some influence. There is, however, one point that ought to command the attention of flock owners. While the average price of fleece wool at these sales (excluding the 3 fine bales and those in grease) is about Is. 6£d. per lb., the three excepted bales bring Is. 9|d. or within a very minute fraction of 3d. per lb. above the average—an advance that, even allowing for possible difference in quality, must still amply remunerate the grower for the extra trouble bestowed, while at the same time the character of New Zealand wool is raised by such judicious pains taking— verbum sap.— Spectator, March 13.