FLAX REPORT.

Southland Times, Issue 1207, 8 February 1870, Page 2

FLAX REPORT.

Messrs MTJandress, Hepburn & Co. report having held, on the 31st ult., their periodical sale by auction of flax and tow, at the stores of Mr J. W. Jago, Stuart-street. These Bales continue to -excite general interest, and, in consequence, the attendance was very large. The prices obtained, particularly for scutched samples, were not quite up to those got at the last sale on 17 th ult., which may be accounted for by the recent wet weather having imparted a dull colour to most samples. The unscutched lots realised fully previous rates. Every lot catalogued was sold, and the number of buyers was greater than at any previous sale, thus giving evidence of the fact that -oar merchants and shippers are waking to the value of the fibre as a remittance to England. Of tow not a line was sold. This article has become almost unsaleable, owing, we presume, to ignorance on the part of buyers as to its value, and the uses it may be put to. On and after this date M'Landress, Hepburn, & Co. ha?e arranged with Mr Jago, to classify, bale by hydraulic presses, receive, deliver, and store at rate* considerably lower than those

MELBOURNE. The Argus of the 31st ult. reports : — In the import markets business continues to maintain a quiet aspect. In breadstuff*, flour is moved off for trade purposes at £13 to £12 10s. We have do sales of wheat to record. There is a better inquiry for feeding grains, and at a slight concession on ruling rates a large business would be done in maize, but most holders are now careless of going beyond actual requirements in their sales, and do not consequently show much eagerness to mpet buyers. Our quotations rule at 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; at the former figure offers have been made for large parcels without being responded to, but at the latter price we note a fair inqui'T for trade purposes. Oats are wanted, and new Victorian are saleable at 3s 6d to 33 9d, according to quality. Cornsacks are in good request at 11s 9d, at which price trade parcels have been disposed of. Sugars maintain an upward tendency, as supplies do not come forward on a scale to meet the heavy demand for con-, sumption which at presont exists. We understand that the cargo of the G. T. Wray, just arrived from Mauritius, was sold to arrive on private terms. For refinad sugar also, a large demand has existed, the trade having purchased very freely during the last day or two. We learn that of this description alone, the sales of the Sugar Company, in the aggregate, amount to at least 250 tons within a period of two r>ays, and all prices, ranging from £35 to £44, according to quality, have been obtained. A further advance of 20s per ton is now required. In liquids, we are informed of sales of Martell's case brandy at 245. Hennessy'B case is also quitted, at 26s 3d. Sales of Martell'a bulk brandy are reported at up to 7s 3d.

charged. The following are the details of thsels : — D& L 7 hales flax, scutched £25 0 0 <$■ ton MF 0 3 do do do 22 17 6 Bo 6 do do do 24 2 6 K H 7 do do do 23~ 2 6 S H .10 do do dp 28 2 6 ASH B "<T do do do 26 12 6 D&L 12 do do unscutched 22 0 0 C&T B 9 do do do 20 2 6 S 29 do do do 18 12 6 BK W 6 do do do 20 10 0 X 6 do do do 21 10 0 F 22 do do do 21 15 0 M 2 do do doinfr. 16 2 6 Tow passed.