COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4201, 7 September 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL .

MELBOURNE. The Argus of the 29th ultimo gives the following report —ln tho import market business has not shown the slightest appearance of animation, trade to-dav having been unusually dull. The merits of the new tariff have been very freely discussed in commercial circles, but Mr. Service appears to have given satisfaction to no*one whatever. Private telegrams received in the city state that the Jeddah, the Xorres Strait mail steamer, referred to in our issue of this morning, has been scuttled at Eden, Twofold Bay. This steamer has about 7000 packages of tea for this market. Breadstuff's meet with no inquiry ; sales are trifling and unimportant. Bakers’ lots of flour are quitted at £l3 155., bags returned, but for parcels there is no inquiry, though holders show every desire to meet buyers’ views, and ofler to quit at £l3 to £l3 2s. Gd. without being responded to. Wheat is also nominal at Cs. 3d. to Os. 4d. for very prime, but wo have no sales to report. Oats do not move, and in the absence of any business, prices arc nominal. Maize is held more firmly ; there is less offering in the market, and holders now ask 4s. Bd. Hops have been more inquired for, and wo learn of some fifty bales Tasmanian having been disposed of in parcels at up to Is. 6d., according to brand. A telegram has been received again in the city, which confirms the intelligence already published in regard to the very extreme price at which new hops are expected to open. At the public sale of tea this afternoon. some 14,000 packages were offered, but the bidding having proved very slow, the auctioneers only succeeded in clearing off about a third of the quantity at 10:]d. to Is. Sd. The timber sales comprise lumber, ex various ships. Clear pine realised as high as £l6 ; W. P. shelving brought £9 17s. Cd. to £10: W. P., T. G., £9 to £9 2s. Od. : carpenter’s clear pine, £lO 10s. to £ll 55.; laths sold at 265. 3d. to 255. Cd., and doors at 19s. 6d. to 10s. Messrs. R. Goldsbrough and Co. received the following telegram this morning at -half-past 10 : “ London, August 27.—W00l sales opened higher than previous scries. Scoured advanced lid.; greasy, unaltered ; ciossbreds, higher ; lambs, selling well; largo attendance of buyers. English principal operators,” The Telegraph writes : Australian woolshippers have again to be congratulated upon the results of tho late sales in London. Private cable news has been received which states that prices realised show an advance of 3d. to Id. per lb. on the average, whilst tho principal lino for which competition lias been most active is superior washed. The trade, both homo and foreign, purchased freely. The effect of this sale will be to establish prices, and lead to the expectation that the increased demand lately experienced for this staple will steadily continue, and the prospects of tho opening season bo thus sensibly improved.