Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 746, 31 December 1859, Page 4

Markets.

SYDNEY.

The 'Sydney Morning Herald' of the 13th inst. gives the following commercial report:— "Business during the past month has been exceedingly dull, and the transactions in almost all our markets have been very limited; the trade only buying sparingly, and to meet present requirements. Some heavy shipments of teas and sugars have lately come to hand, and have caused a decline in the prices of these articles. Although the wool season has commenced and supplies are being forwarded, by the return teams, still there is no improvement to notice—our stocks of most goods being large. The following is the latest report of our markets:—

" Liquids.—Ale in bulk: About the middle of last month there was some demand for first brands, and an improvement of ss. took place, but, owing to late arrivals, this advance has not been sustained, and Bass' No. 3 cannot be quoted higher than last report, viz., £7 ss. to £7 10s. Porter in bulk continues very dull of sale, and Taylor's is ofFered at £G ss. to £6 7s. Gd. Bottled ale and porter is worth from 9s. 3d. to fls. 9d. Brandy is firmer, and, since the arrival of the news by the English mail, holders are aslcing an advance of 6d. ; Martell's is wortli from 10s. to 10s. 3d. Rum is very dull of sale, and 30 o.i). is about 4s. 2d. to 4s. 4d. Geneva is not so much in request and prices rule lower. Eirst brands of low strengths and small quantities are about 13s. 6d. to 14s. Cd. In Wines the transactions have not been very important. Good sherries are in demand at a slight improvement in price. Ports .are very dull of sale, and light wines are not so much enquired for as the season would warrant. "Flour.—Since last month the flour market has been very depressed, and price 3 have fallen £2 to £4 per ton, and even at this decline sales have with difficulty been effected. During tliQ lust few days

the market is a shade better, bub fine Hour does not command more than £20 per ton. The millers quotations arc—line Hour, ,£2l per ton; seconds, £19 per ton; while American barrel Hour has fallen 55., and sales have boon effected at 40s. The temporary demand for the new colony of Queensland has for the present sustained the market and prevented any further fall. Wheat is quoted at 7s. 3d. to 7s. Gd., and at the former figure several large cargoes have been disposed of to the millers. " Teas.—There have been several heavy arrivals during the past month both here und at Melbourne; and, as holders are becoming anxious to realise^ a decline of 10s. to 20.5. per chest has taken place in congous. The rates at which sales have been effected this week range from £7 to £8. " Sugars.—This market is also depressed, and prices rule lower. The cargo of Mauritius^ sugars ex Thames was disposed of last week at auction, and the rates obtained ranged from £34 2s. 6d. to £42 10s. per ton. Pampanga is quoted at £30 10s.; and dark Mauritius, £31 to £34; yellow, £35 15s. to £39 10s. The Company's prices are without any alteration.

"Wool.—The new clip has come freely to hand during the past month, but, owing to the high reserves placed by holders on their wool, the greater portion offered at auction has been withdrawn. The prices obtained, however, are fully equal to last month's; and at last week's sales there was a greater disposition to purchase' than has been evinced for some time past The following are the rates now ruling:—Superior clips, Is. lOd. to 25.; fair to good, Is. Bd. to Is. 10d.: low to middling, Is. 4d. to Is. 7d.; grease, 10(1. to Is. Id.; locks, pieces, &c, 9d. to Is. Id.; handwashed, Is. 6d., to Is. 9d.; scoured, Is. 6d. to 2s. " Sheepskins have been in good request." MELBOURNE. Messrs. Goldsbrough & Co., under date Dec. 10, report as follows :—Wool.—The non-arrival of the English Mail has had the usual effect of causing a certain degree of dullness in the Wool market, some of the buyers operating with reluctance. The feeling we are happy to say is not general, and we have consequently to report having sold by private contract 737 bales at the following rates, viz. :—303 bales greasy from Hid. to Is. o£d.; 434 bales fleece, from Is. Bsd. to Is. 9fd. These lots were of fair quality and condition, and the prices obtained fully equal to last week's rates. Ar. opinion appears to be gradually gaining ground amongst a few of the buyers that next advices will be not unfavourable to the growers, and they are therefore inclined to purchase ; but others prefer waiting to see whether the arrival of the mail will influence prices. The Melbourne sales were not held this week, as it was considered prejudicial to the interests of the owners to offer a large quantity under present circumstances. Two sales were, however, held at Geelong, at which about 800 bales were catalogued, but they went off rather heavily, and past rates were obtained with difficulty. Growers, however, were firm, and the consequence was that for the 300 bales sold, vakie was obtained ; but for the lots bought in the offers were below last week's quotations.

Sheepskins.—We have sold several large parcels of station skins at from s|d. to lOjd. per lb. Butchers' skins are worth ss. 9(1. each. Full woolled, ss. to ss. 9d. each.

The following is Messrs. Lee's report of the flour and grain market;— »

Grain of eyery description lias partaken of tlie general dullness of trade and scarcity of money. Flour.—Holders have been obliged to submit to lower prices to effect sales, the orders for the country very limited in extend At auction, Adelaide brands have been sold at £18. to £.18 12s. 6d.; privately, sales are made,at-■'■£-19. -Chilian: sweet parcels'are held at £18; secohdarysorts, £16 10s. to £17. Tasmanian: little doing. We see no prospect of higher rates ruling this season, as new. flour from South Australia may be daily expected, and as our own crop gets into' the'hands of millers, a much lower range of'prices may be expected. Wheat.—California lias 'been placed at Bs., and we hear of some parcels of Adelaide to hand which have gone direct to the millers. Calcutta sold at auction at ss. 7d. The appearance of the growing crops justify the expectation of a large yield, and will cause prices to recede as the new wheat makes its appearance. '; .

Oats ,have been pressed.on the market, which is very heavy, and very low rates have, been realised. Scotch 3s. Id. to 3s.' 3d.; California, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 9d.; Colonial, 4s. to 4s. 6d. We sold at our Produce Sale, last week—California, 3s. 9d.; Colonial, 4s. to 45.. : 6d., cash terms. The demand for the country has been slack, and as in a few weeks the new crop will be offering through the colony, the present prospects of holders are very distasteful; the stocks are large, and must be either sold at a great sacrifice, or held over for a very lengthened period; still if we should have little addition to our present stocks during this month, there is a chance that at the commencement of the season there may be a greater demand than supply of the new crop, which may cause a slight advance in prices.