Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 668, 2 April 1859, Page 4

Markets.

HOBARX TOWN.

From the papers brought by the Mariposa we obtain but little commercial news of importance. The ' Daily Mercury'of the 14th March, in its summary for England gives the following report of the grain and timber markets, which may be useful.

r Grain.—The last two or three weeks wheat has been coming in more plentifully, which caused a slight'declension in prices, and sales of new wheat have for the most part been made at 7s. 6d. to 7s. 9d. per bushel. This market has been wholly independent of the Melbourne and Adelaide markets of late, for notwithstanding continual fluctuations there wheat has remained steady at the above figures, the supply not being more than equal to the demand. Occasionally Bs._is given for a prime sample of old wheat. a Supplies are coming; forward far more, freely than was the case this,, time last year, which is attributable to Jthe harvest being far more abundant. £Ast year there was a great deficiency in the crops in the, southern s districts bf the island, while this year :there has been a fair average crop. The Commissariat tenders for? wheat-were taken .at figures ranging between 75.9 d. and Bs. There has been ?no movement in oats,* nor is any expected, as the Melbourne market is fully supplied- for some months to come, taking into account the shipments that are on the way;, a few. parcels of colonial oats have flold lat. 4s. 6d. and 4s. 9d., but the demand is very light* Cape barley is quoted at 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. There is no inquiry at present for English barley; the last sale reported was made at 6s. per bushel. .

1 Potatoes.—Not much has yet been doing this season,,there : being at present.no demand for export.. The. supply this year will be very large, and prices are expected to rule low. Sales have been made at £4 and £5 per ton. r . , Timber. —The timber trade has been very dull for some time, and the prices ruling have been very low. Latterly some shipments have been made to New Zealand amongst other places, and there is some expectation that New Zealand will yet furnish, a good market for the timber of this colony. Full cut timber is in, demand, and palings arevery plentiful. With one or,two exceptions prices have suffered no modification the last few weeks:—Palings, sft., 6s. 6d.; do. 6ft., 7s. 6d. to Bs. 6d.; shingles, Bs. to 10s;; do. good, 11s. to 125.; laths, 3 ft., 35.; do. 3ft. 6 in., 3s. 6d.; do. very good, Bs. to 9s. 6d.; posts and rails, 20s. to 225. 6d.; battens, 6s. to 6s. 3d.; market cut timber, s 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d.; full cut, 6s. to 6s. 6d.; boards, one-inch, 7s. 6d. to Bs. 6d.; do. half-inch, 6s. 6d. r . The same journal of the 17th tilt., gives the following report:— ."..■■' With the exception of a little in wheat, scarcely anything is doing in the grain market. Wheat sold to-day at 7s. 6d-. per. bushel, there being no disposition to give more except for a very prime sample indeed. . A few oats have been shipped to Geelong, but there is .no enquiry in this market; colonial are quoted at 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. Cape barley is stationary,at 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d., and English at 6s. The market is abundantly supplied with hay, winch fetches various prices according to the quality; good loose and country pressed is quoted at £5 to £5 10s. Not much-is doing in potatoes at £3 10s. to £4 per ton; in one or two instances sales have been made at much lower figures.

There is no alteration in the flour market, and prkes continue steady. Flour from the best colonial wheat sells at £18 to £19 10s. per ton according to quantity.'. Bran, remains at la. 6d. to Is. Bd, per bushel. ':'...