MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Volume VI, Issue 498, 20 June 1866, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

We are in receipt of our complete filos of the Argus to the 13th instant, from which we extract the two chief commercial articles that hare appealed since our last quotation. 13th June, 1866. The import markets have not been marked by much activity, owing to the arrival of the mail, and the very startling intelligence to hand. Considerable excitement prevailed in commercial circles for the greater part of the day, though it is not likely that the uncertainty which now exists can possibly be relieved until the succeeding mail comes forward. The information now published regarding the panic in England having been sent by telegraph, a rumor is current that a private telegram of a later date than any published in to-day's Argus has been received in town, stating that the rate of discount had receded to nine per cent. ; the decline being attributed to the relief afforded to the money market by the temporary suspension of the Bank Charter. Transactions to-day have not been of much account in general trade. The market for breadstuff's continues steady, the demand for the supply of local wants being quite sufficient to carry off all that is placed on the market, at £17 10s. for best Adelaide brands. We are informed that the cargo of Californian wheat per Kedar, which last week went forward to G-eelong, has just been sold on private terms, Borne 14,000 bushels having changed hands. Oats are firm ; there are no sellers of colonial at under ss. 6d., and not many are to be had even at that figure. A parcel of 4,000 bushels of Californian now landing ex Eeda, has been quitted at 5s 3d. Maize goes freely into the hands of the trade at 5s 3d and 5s 4d. Sales of sugars continue to be reported afc £42 10s, £44, and up to £46 for yellow to white crystals, Mauiitius. In dried fruits, sales of currants have transpired ac 6^d, and a considerable trade inquiry for muscatel raisins at 9£d has been experienced. In kerosene oil speculators have again evinced some inclination to operate, and have only been deterred by the extreme rates demanded. The actual sale of only 500 cases at 5s 3d. has come under our notice, but we understand that 5s 4£d offered fer a parcel of 600 cases was refused, and 5s 4d offered for a much larger shipment, met with a similar fate. A parcel of 100 cases of castor oil has been placed at 4s 6d. For a smaJl shipment of caustic soda to land £28 has been accepted. A small bin of malt has been quitted at 13s. Belmont candles in lib packets have been sold at Is s£d. Sales of common congou teas in half-chests are reported at Is 7d in bond. In tobaccoes we hear of sales of tens a£ 13d. Sixtynine quarter-tierces of Southern twist, and some nineteen cases of dark aromatic half-pounds, have changed hands in a line. Fifty cases of dark aromatic half-pounds have also been disposed of, but at prices which have not been allowed to become public. A small parcel of Swiss cigais has been sold at 355, thus establishing a good advance. Geneva is in fair trade inquiry at 12s to 12s 6d. Colonial-made geneTa, from the Warrenheip Distillery, which is getting to be much appreciated, is readily disposed of at 31s per caße, duty paid. At auction, upwards of 400 cases oilmen's stores found buyers at a Blight decline on last week's prices. In addition to the information regarding shipments, published this morning, private telegrams supply the following : — " In Calcutta, rice had risen 30s per ton, and there was no probability of prices being lower. Only one vessel — the St. Louis, reported last month — had sailed, with 430 tons, and two small vessels were loading." From New York we are advised of only 10,000 cases of kerosene oil having been skipped during the month. Four vessels were loading, but none had sailed. From England, we hear that the shipments of malt for six weeks amounted to 40,400 bushels. Hams and bacon reach eighty-six tons j and oilmen's stores amounted in value to £18,000. Bather a quiet day has been passed in the import markets, a number of vessels coming in, and goods having the appearance of again becoming more abundant, inducing great care on on the part ol buyers generally. On the whole, however, there is little alteration as yet to report in quotations, notwithstanding the extreme rates to which these have in many cases been forced. In the market for breadstuff's, business in flour has not been large. Sales of Adelaide brands Itave been confined to trade purchases at up to £17 10s for best brands. Transactions in Chilian are said to be pending. For wheat there is decidedly more inquiry. All the foreign coming to hand for which importers are prepared to accept market rates is eagerly purchased by the millers. The James Yinicomb, from California, via Sydney, brings 30,000 bushels of wheat, the half of which has already been disposed of at a price fully sustaining the highest rates hitherto realised, and the remainder — 15.000 bushels — if not already closed for, was at least on the point of being so. For a shipment of Tasmanian wheat, landing 7s 2d on the wharf was realised. In oat 3, little has transpired. Buyers are numerous enough, but as yet do not feel disposed to pay the prices asked. Some small parcels have been placed at 5s 3d and upwards ; and we understand that the sale of a large parcel for export is pending. Barley is quiet, and without any operations worth special notice. Maize, firmer : a few small parcels sold to-day, 5s 2d was paid. Sugars are moved off at long prices ; private sales are reported at £36 for browns, £41 for fine counters, and £43 for greyish crystals, for trade purposes. The auction sale of damaged, resulted iv the disposal of all offered, 3,687 bags, as they stood, at prices, cash, quite up to the rates realised for sound on terms. Operations in teas are at present confined to purchases for trade requirements. One or two parcels, comprising a lew hundred half-chests of rather better than common congou, have found buyers at Is 7i in bond. A parcel of 1865 hops, of rather low quality, has been sold on private terms. Stout is more difficult to sell. The shipments lately arrived of Blood's were sold to arrive, and the price since fixed we understand ia 13s. Shipments of other brands are also in a similar position. Further sales of Bass's triangle are reporter), but at 9s 6d. A sudden demand has sprung up for turps, but though numerous inquiries which may yet lead to an advance have been experienced, we have not yet heard of any actual transactions. Kerosene is quiet, but firm, and though the Herman and Pursuit have brought some 7200 cases into stock, yet as upwards of 5300 cases of these were sold to arrive, and as the position ot Btocks in the neighboring colonies ia very favorable, every confidence is entertained in the future of tlfcs market. The James Cheston, which apperrs amongst the arrivals, is from Boston, and brings an entire cargo of lumber, but the market having been run very bare of stock, this will be a welltimed addition. Late advices from San Francisco report two vessels as having sailed from Pjagtet Sound for Melbourne with tunber>~the Dublin, with 400,000 ft., principally deals, and the St, John, with. 600,Q00ft., cuipflj iqii&r? tim,b«, %tyn wi no wid? Ming,