MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Issue 1243, 26 April 1870, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of the 16th inst. reports : — In the import markets business throughout the -day has been very slow, the advices to hand not being by any means of a character likely to give an impetus to the market generally, however favorably one or two specialties may be affected. Breadstuff's are exceedingly quiet. Nothing beyond a moderate trade inquiry is experienced for flour, at £11 10s. to £11 15s. Wheat still' continues to come in slowly in small parcels, and: Dot up to requirements ; quotations show no alteration ; 4s lOd. to 5s Id., according to sample, is 1 "realised. Of maize the market is entirely cleared ; -there are no parcels offering, nor will there be any until further supplies come to hand; we now quote up to 4s 3d. Oats show more animation ; some 2,300 bags have just arrived by the Go then- . burg, over the half of which have found their way into the hands of the trade at prices ranging from 3s 3d. to 3s sd. A good inquiry for cornsacks has sprung up for New Zealand, and several 20 to 30 bale lines have been taken up at . 10s 6d., in bond. We observe that the quantity stated in our telegraphic news as coming forward from England was misrepresented by a mistake \. instead of £6,116, it should have been £1,166 only. Gunnies have likewise met with some demand ; we hear of a line of 50 bales having l>een placed at 8s 3d. Since the sale of yesterday no further transactions vx teas have been made public. Our advices from Foo-chow, which reach to 28th February, report the departure of the Marie and Elizabeth, and the Corypheus, on the 16th and 17th February, for Melbourne, and the Queensland on the 28th, for Melbourne and Sydney. The season was completely over, and

the decrease on the shipments of the year to the colonies, as com-iired with 1868-9 season, amounted to 3,517,9981 b. From Son* Km* w<» learn that the deficiency in ,the production of Chinese oil had sent the price up. No shipments to Australia had been made for five months previous. We understand that, in consequence of such advices, holders here contemplate advancing the price. The rice news is also favorable. From Hong Kong we learn that prices had advanced very materially ; there were no shipments advised, bat the Chelsea was loading, though very slowly. From Calcutta we have advices to the 14th March. Our correspondents state that 400 tons of rice had been purchased to meet the requirements of the Rose M.., then on the berth for Melbourne, and about 300 tons were placed in anticipation of the wants of a ship expected to arrive to load for the colonies at the price of £11 11s Bd. per ton, f.o.b. Besides the Rose M-, the Hildegard and -Stockbridge had reached Calcutta from Melbourne, and the Sea G-ull from Adelaide. As slated on a former occasion, the Jane Bell cleared out for Adelaide with 100 tons rice, besides a general cargo. From Batavia to Bfch March we are informed that the only departure for the month was the Samhiri, for Sydney, while the Passaroeang, for Melbourne, and the Australian Packet, for Melbourne and Sydney, were the only vessels loading — all with sugar, but no rice. The celebrated Boedhi Ra Ija rice dressing-mills were to be offered for sale, owing to a dissolution of partnership. At Saigon and Bangkok, no rice was loading for the colonies. From America to 12th February we learn by a private communication, regarding kerosene oil shipments, that " the present month will show larger shipments of oil than for some time past, but the coming ones will probably show a falling-off again." The shipments advised this mail are 12,500 cases per Corsica, to sail 23rd February, of which 2.C00 are for Adelaide ; 5,000 cases per Victor, to sail 3rd March ,- and 2,500 cases per Appiniade, for Sydney, to sail 25th February — all from New York. The Marianno was loading at Boston. Photolite was quoted at 3S£c., Radiant at 38c, and Downer's at 43c. The tobacco shipments amounted to 45 half and 25 quarter tierces, 40 cases and 30 three-quarter boxes ; and, under date Petersburgh, Va., 10th February, Messrs. Cameron and Co. write regarding their own shipments as follows : — " During the past month we have only shipped 30 half and 28 quarter- tierces Raven twist. We shall have no shipment of any kind to advise next month, but by April we hope to announce the first of the new season's Two Seas fives and tens." ■ ■ ■ - ♦