MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 255, 9 May 1866, Page 2

MELBOURNE COMMERCIAL.

By the arrival of the steamer Alhambra at the Bluff, on Sunday morning, we are placed in possession. of later Melbourne commercial. The following is taken from the Argus, 37th and 28th April : — In the import markets business has hardly yet settled down to its usual routine, and transactions in consequence have not been so numerous, though in some instance's extensive enough to bear a speculative character. The market for brcadstuffs continues inactive, and sales are trifling. Wheat however, is offered on rather eaiser terms ; for, Adelaide, 6s. 9d. would be accepted, if a buyer could be found. We hear of an entire cargo of Chilian wheat, amounting to 10,000 bushels having changed haada, to arrive, at 6a. 6d., to one

of the millers. Flour is moved off in moderate, trade parcels at £17 to £17 10s. ; the latter figure has been realised for Butterworth's. In oats we do not hear of any sales. Maize has been placed at 55., and may be quoted at from^ ss. to ss: 3d. Of : Califortiian barley, "we he*ar : of aoine 6,000 and 4,000 bushels, having been sold, ex Douglas, to land, at 5s and 5a 3d. For rice there are more inquiries again, though.without, as yet, leading to business. Quotations are firm at £23 10s. A small parcel of Hennessey's case brandy has been placed* at' 28s 6d. The pickled salmon; per the Douglaa, 50 barrels and 200 halfbarrels has been quitted on private terms. Teas meet* with a fair demand, sales, in parcels, having come under our notice to the extent of equal to 600 chests, in whole and half chests, at prices ranging from Is 4d, to Is 10d., in bond. Candles have been again sold largely, to arrive, some 4,000 boxes having been disposed of at 13^d ' to 14-i in bond, for various brands, such as Belmont's, Cramer's &c. We also understand that the price of the Neva Company's brand has ! been further advanced another halfpenny per pound, the selling rate now being _Is 3£d. Provisions obtain speculative attention, some 450 cases cheese, comprised in several shipments ! to arrive, having found a purchaser at, fully up to 'Is 6£d per pound. As an instance of the extent "of reduction in stocks of malt, and the inconvenience experienced in consequence, we may mention that 25s per bushel had to be paid for a hundred bushels before the requisite quantity could be obtained. The same journal of the 30th says : — The import markets to-day, though closing of the week without showing any increased animation, still sustained the activity by which the day or two immediately preceding was characterised. In breadstuffs trade sales of flour have been made at £17 10s. for Adelaide best brands. Sales a shade .higher are also referred, to, but in too small parcels to be noticed. The flour, per Douglas, from San Francisco, a very fine sample, is offering at £16, without as yet leading to business. " Oali fornian wheat is wanted at 6s. 6d. Maize is very scarce ; our quotation of ss. 3d. to ss. 6d. is a shade higher. We hear of Hennessy's case brandy having been sold to arrive, at 28s. Speculation in candles still continues, and prices have been forced up from a penny to three half-pence. On sales made two days ago, 2,000 boxes changed hands at 14£ d. to 15d. in bond to arrive. A shipment of lobsters in bond has been placed at Bs. 9d. Further transactions in rice are mentioned ; and sales since yesterday, including 450 tons reported in this morning's issue, amount to 650 tons. Teas still meet with attention ; transactions to-day, however, have not been marked with any new feature.