MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 23 August 1864, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

By the arrival of the Alhambra, s.s., we are put in possession of three days' later intelligence. The Argus of 15th inst. contains the following : — Little business fulls to be reported in the im ; port market on a Saturday during the dull season of the year, and in tliis respect to-day was no exec])! ion to the rule. So far, the news . by the mail has noi induced any disposition to business. Should holders exhibit a wish to' force sales, speculative purchases may result, but at present the reporters of the markets have a sinecurethere is nothing doing. In flour, some sales of very small lots were mada to-day, at £21 for the best Adelaide. The tobacco market will be again tested on Thursday next, when 443 packages of tv.'isus, half-pounds, and tens, will be sold under the hammer by Messrs. John Levy and Sons, j under instructions from Messrs. R. Towns and Co. Thee is little to report as to the country markets. At Henvhcote, the best flour is quoted at £30 ; at Kvneton, £26 to £30 ; at Kilmore, £28 ; and at Belfast, £25. The clearances of gold during the week have amounted to 3,60-loz., making the total shipments since the commencement, of the year l,0!)0,2-l-3oz., of which quantity 945,2240z. were the produce of Victoria, ami 14-5,0190z. transhipments from New Zealand. The shipments made hence during tlie corresponding period of last year were 985,0370z. of Victorian gold, and 181,44505. of New Zealand gold giving a total of 1,166,4320z. The market for breadstuff's has been very unsettled throughout the week by the arrival of the Rapxla, followed by that of the Alice Thorndyke, from Chili, in addition to arrivals from the same quarter at Sydney' and Otago ; whilst the mail advices from 'England indicate that not only are large exports of breads tuffs making thence for the Australian Colonies, but that vessols expected to arrive from the east and west coasts of America, with cargoes destined for the United "Kingdom, will, in all probability, he re-chartered, without breaking bulk, for this and neighboring poris. Prices, as already intimated, are very unsettled, but range about as follows, as nearly as can be ascertained : — Tasmanian, £19 to £20 ; Adelaide, £22; Chilian, £21 per 2,000 lb., in trade parcels ; for at the present moment there are no speculators in the market, or buyers for bulk parcels. Adelaide wheat is offering on short terms at 9s. per bushel. Oats, though ruling low, are without change, and quotations almost nominal. Dutch and Danish are reported at 3s. 9d. to 4s. : Irish and Scotch, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. ; Colonial, 4s. to 4-s. 3d. per bushel. Barley is in lessened inquiry, and prices are inclining downwa-ds. Cape and feeding sorts are not worth above 4s. to 4-s. 2d. ; maltiug, 4s. 9d. to ss. per bushel. Maize, notwithstanding the rate to which prices in New South Wales have advanced, has undergone no. corresponding improvement in this market, and parcels continues to be quirted at from 4s. 4d. to 4-s. 6d. per bushel. Bran is in good inquiry, and steady at Is. sd. to Is. 6d. per bushel. The Mills. — Trade demand for both town and the country contmues steady, purchases, however, being still made to the extent of immediate requirements only- Prices are naturally somewhat unsetf.ed by the late arrivals, but the millers a-opear indisposed to reduced their prices. Quotations are for Horn-, from £22 per 2000 lbs., upwards, according to quality; bran, Is. 6d. per bushel ; pollard, scarce ; oatmeal, £24 per ton. ADELAIDE. Our dates at the 12th instant : — The Register reports as follows : — " We have to report the utmost dullness as prevailing in the produce market, especially as regards wheat and flour. Advices received by the English mail speak of considerable shipments being made from England to these colonies. This news has further tended to depress the niai-ket. No business is doing. Pri?es are quits nominal, and must be considered merely as approximate. Flour — Sellers are asking about £20 per ton, but no one will offer this rate. Wheat might be bought at about 7s. Bd. to 7s. 9d. per bushel at the Port ,- but there are no buyers, except at a considerable reduction on these prices. Bran is quite unsaleable. It might be bought at about Is. 3d. per bushel. Oats and Barley. — No business has been done in oats or English barley ; but about 2,000 bushels of Cape barley have changed hands at 3s. 6d. per bushel at the Port. Farm and Dairy Produce. — Butter is firmer this week, but all other produce is unaltered, and dull of sale. Copper has fallen considerably m England, and no doubt a much lower price will be fixed here within a few days. We do not hear that any change of prices in imports generally has been caused by the English news. Holders o tobacco ask higher rates, but no business has been done. The following is the official return of all wheat, flour, bread, and grain, the produce of South Australia, exported during the week ended Saturday, August 6 :— Port Adelaide;— Wheat, 840 quarters ; flour, 446 tons ; bran and pollard, 50 tons. Port MacDonnelL— Flour, 12|- tons. Blanehetown.— Flour, 3 tons. Total—Wheat, 840 quarters; flour, 461 i tons ; bran and pollard, 50 tons." . The ' same journal states the revenue xor the quarter at £206,205 ; and for the year, £693,840. For the corresponding quarter of last year, the revenue was £17i;910 ; and for the year, £505,734. .■■■.■■■',