Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 588, 23 June 1858, Page 4

Markets.

The quantity-of grain offering at Christchurch on Saturday -was very limited, owing, no doubt, to the bad state of the roads. Good dry samples of wheat commanded 6s. per bushel; for inferior sorts there was no demand. Fine fiour sold at £18 per ton, being an advance of £2 on previous quotations. we are sorry to hear, have been much damaged by the long-continued wet weather.

Retail Markets.—Monday,- June 21,

Christchttrch.—Flour, 18s per lOOlbs.; bran Is, sharps, Is 6d per bshl. of 201b5.; bread, lOd per 41t5 loaf; eggs, 2s 6d per doz.; butter, (fresh) Is 4d; do., (salt) Is 2d; cheese, (new) lid; lard Is; beef, 5d to 8d; mutton, 5d to 7d; veal, 8d; candles, lOd per lib.

Lyttelton.—.Flour, 22 s per 10016s.; bread, Is per 4lb loaf; eggs, 3s 6d per doz.; butter, (fresh) 2s Od; do., (salt) Is 6d; cheese, (old) Is2d, do., (new) Is.; lard, Is 2d; beef, 6d and 7d; mutton, 5d and 6d; veal, 9d; pork, 9d; candles, Is 2d per IS. ■

Kaiapoi.—Hour, 17s. per 100 ffis; bran, Is.; sharps, Is. 3d. per bushel of 20 lbs.; butter, (fresh), Is 6d; do., (salt) Is 4d; beef, 6d to 8d; mutton, 6d to 7d; pork, 6d and 7d; lard, Is; candles, Is per IB; timber, 23s per 100 ft. delivered on the river.

From papers brought by the Francis, we gather the following intelligence of the markets in the neighbouring colonies. NEW SOUTH WALES. Wheat ai?x> IPlotjk.—Wheat is still scarce, and good samples are worth Bs. per bushel. The flour market is in a state of some uncertainty, owing to the fact that in some of the neighbouring colonies prices were, at the last advices, on the advance, while in others they were retrograding. The mills, however, have made no alteration in their quotations, and it seems scarcely possible (unless large importations arrive) that any change can take place in favour of the buy£r. Fine £20, second quality £18, per ton of 20Q0 lbs. Bran 2s. 6d. per busheL— Sydney Herald, June 5.

Wool, &c.—There have been two sales since ! last report—one on the 31st May, and again this day. The wool sold on the 31st ultimo included some well 'known brands, for which the competition was brisk, and in some instances extreme prices were obtained, and the market left off firm. The wools catalogued to-day did not comprise Any good, descriptions, being inferior in condition, and although rates are lower than on Monday, yet the prices are good as compared With English prices, and in favour of the producer. There was a temporary advance in sheepskins at the first sale; the quantity offered being large, and fell mongers being bare of stock, firstclass skins advanced; but at to-day's sale prices upon the whole are not so firm.— lbid. In Eastern produce we notice increasing animation and expect high prices to rule very shortly. Late advices from China confirm previous news of shipments of teas coming very sparingly to our colonies. Sugars are also held very firmly, it being known that very little can arrive for the next few months. The news from Melbourne confirms a rise in that market of £6 to £7 per ton, with a speculative demand. Coffee is also very firm.— Empire, June 8. VICTORIA. Business in the import market continues wholly unimproved. Holders of most descriptions are firm, but buyers appear decided not to operate until in possession of further advices as to the probable amount of forthcoming arrivals. During the last few days trade in agricultural produce has been dull: that is to say, speculation is at an end, and the amount of business has been confined to immediate requirements. Most articles have given way considerably in . price. Flour cannot be sold in any quantity.at the rates quoted. Although not very much has been imported from South Australia since last harvest, there is plenty of Adelaide flour in the' market at present, some of which is from the produce of the previous season. This comparative cessation of supplies from the great wheat-growing colony during such a long period has proved that the stocks on hand here were much larger than was generally supposed. The quantity of Victorian wheat brought into market cannot have been much greater than it was at this time last year; nor has there been any importation of wheat or flour to take the place of that usually imported from South Australia; yet there is now, in the sixth month from harvest, abundance of flour in the market. That this cannot have arisen from more having been made here than usual at this season, is shown: by the fact that some of the most powerful steam-mills in and near Melbourne have not been at work for some months—not, indeed, since the supply of wheat began to run short I last year. A few new mills of small power have ! been in constant operation since the wheat of this year has been fit to be ground, and these have helped to meet the up-country demand; but even with all due allowance for what has been drawn from this source, it has lately become manifest that our consumption of flour has been over-estimated. This opinion we have expressed on former occasions when calculations have been made, both here and at Adelaide, as to our requirements for the year; and now that we have had a better opportunity of testing the stocks on hand than has occurred for some years past, we are more than ever convinced of its truth. Eight bushei3 of wheat is usually taken as the amount annually consumed by each unit of the population; but it will be found by those who take an interest in these matters that six bushels per annum for each man, woman, and child, is an ample allowance. Although flour has been dull of sale, wheat continues in good request, especially grain of medium quality, fit to be crushed for horse food. Barley has been brought forward more freely of late, but is still'

in fair demand. Oats have not been looked upon with such confidence, and a few, forced sales have caused them to decline considerably in value. Maise is not very abundant; but U and all other descriptions of horse corn have suffered a depreciation in price corresponding with that which has taken place in oats.--Argus, June 3. I Best Adelaide flour is quoted at XI9 per tonScotch and Irish oats at Bs. 3d. to Bs. 9d. per bushel. . TASMANIA. Business appeared to be quite at a stand-still in the grain market to-day, very few sales being effected in any description of grain. Wheat, if anything, was not quite so firm, and purchasers were not disposed to give more than Bs. per bshl. There is a complete stagnation with regard to oats, and the indisposition to effect transactions is very general. English barley still moves off at Bs. to Bs. 6d., and Cape barley is dull of sale at 6s. to 6s. 6d. Hay maintains previous quotations, though the demand is very slack, loose and country pressed hay ranging from £7 10s. to £8 10s. per ton, according to quality j and hydraulic pressed from £9 to £9 10s. Potatoes meet with fair enquiry, and good sorts fetch from £10 to £10 108 per ton. No animation is manifested in the flour market, while the quotations remain as previously given, flour from the best colonial wheat being variously quoted in different quarters, some selling at £17 to £18, and others at £18 to £19 per ton, according to quantity.— Hobart Town Mercury, 3rd of June. .'■...