MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Issue 1629, 6 September 1872, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of the 28th ult. reports : — In the import market to-day, trade has been very slow. At the auction sales a fair business ■was done, but inquiries outside of these have been trifling. Breadstuff's are very dull and heavy. Parcels of flour are not inquired for. tmO-WlicT. a*- Jv. t,o o.ic cvjLia.ll.y aintCUlt, to cp s ;i-. Wr Btill retain our quotation of £16 10s to £16 15e, but there is so little doing that the price is almost a nominal one. The bidding at auction this forenoon was more especially unsatisfactory, and over £16 could not be got for one small parcel of fine flour, and no offer at all could be got for other brands attempted to be sold at same time. Wheat is coming forward more freely ; we are, however, without any special transactions to report. Quotations range from 7s to 7s 6d, according to quality. A sample of medium Adelaide wheat, 150 bags, was sold publicly at 7s 4<"l, while 7s 6.1, J bid lor a superior quality, was refused. Oats are very firm, and being in short supply, extreme rates are obtained for any parcels placed on the ! market. Good feed-'ng are saleable at 3s 4d. and ordinary milling qualities command 3s 6d. Maize is moving off in considerable parcels. Sales aggregating 2,000 bags have been made at 3s 3d to 3s 3£il in lines rising to 800 bags. Tlie offer of the new season's fancy teas received by the mail i Steamer, brought together a large attendance of , the trade. 1.987 boxes scented orange pekoee, scented caper?, and gunpowders, were submitted to comperitionin the forenoon, but the auctioneers succeeded in placing only 1,280 boxes in all, at : prices rising from Is S£d to 2s Id. There wa3 ] also a public sale in the afternoon, at which the bidding was equally cautious ; 1.361 boxes fancy teas were offered, when the P.O. pekoes brought Is 8f d to Is lOd, and the scented capers realised 2s. A ' chop of Tekli congous, sold at same time, brought Is 2d to Is 4£d. Ten numbers of the fine congous ex Rose of Australia were likewise disposed of privately at better rates than could be got a short while ago. Sugars are very steady. The parcel, ex Mary, from Mauritius, wae rapidly cleared off this forenoon, and a decided improvement in price was perceptible. Fine white crystals brought £42 10a ; good white, £42 ; and middling white, £41 ; fine grainy counters commanded £38 15s to £39 ss; brewing crystals, £39 ; and fine yellow counters, £37 10s. Some 2,582 mats and bags were quitted. 500 mats Java white crystals, sold as faulty, were placed at £40 to £40 ss. The arrival of the St. Kilda from Port Louis, was telegraphed this morning. She was expected to reach the wharf by the evening. This vessel brings the first cargo of new season's sugar, and from a telegram sent by the captain i'rom the Heads, we learn that theie was no vessel loading for the colonies when she left, but the Farningham, for Adelaide, supposed to have reached there today. The sales of timber comprise 190,000 ft. super, hewn Kauri logs, being the cargo of the W. C. Went worth, from Hokianga, N. Z. ; the whole was disposed of at prices ranging from 13e 9d to 17s 6d. Sales of candles are mentioned at llsdfor Brandon's, and l)^d forDe Roubaiz.