MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Issue 1672, 6 December 1872, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Telegraph of the 28th ult. reports : — The business transacted to-day in the import markets has been of a limited character. There is an entire absence of speculatire feeling, and purchases are made only with the -view of meeting the immediate requi-ements of the trade. Breadstuffs continue to rule very dull, and the demand both for flour and wheat is greatly restricted. Millers appear careless of purchasing at present rates in face of the coming harvest;, whilst bakers are permitting their stocks to run as low as practicable in the anticipation of a further reduction in the price of flour. At M'Caw's auction the attendance of the trade was small, owing mainly to the fact that a majority of both millers and bakers were in attendance at the County Court. All the wheat catalogued was withdrawn, and only a small parcel of inferior flour disposed of at a price in no way indicative of actual values. We quote flour from £17 to £17 10s for trade parcels. The wheat landing is principally going into store. An Adelaide firm was offering some lots this morning to arrive, but we hear of no business being concluded A telegram received this afternoon from Adelaide *ays: — "Omeo clears Port Adelaide of wheat. Last three days' rain will delay the harvest fully a fortnight." To-day prices are nomimaL We quote, for Tasmanian, 6s 9d, and prime samples of Victorian up to 7s 6d. Oats still continue to attract attention. At auction a fair lot of s moderate feed cample was cleared off at 3s 2£d ; privately 4000 bushels of prime were placed from 3s 3£d to 3s 4d ; milling sorts command Ss 6d. The country demand still continues. Maize rules very dull ; sales are being made at 3s Id. In Dundee goods, inquiries for cornsacks for shipments are reported. A snail line has been taken up at a fall figure. Kerosene is firm at Is lid ; hoi Jers decline business as a rule. American goods are generally dull, from the fact that the stocks on hand are not suitable for the season, but a good trade is anticipated when the now overdue ships arrive. ' In addition to the vessel mentioned yesterday, both the George Street and the Sarah are looked for daily. In sugars there has been some little business doing. Five hundred bags of brewing crystals were placed from £36 to £37 per ton ; & small parcel of white crystals has been taken up at £39. In teas we hear of some large transactions pending ; for low and ordinary congous a good demand exists, and sales are recorded to some extent at Is lid. A parcel of currants was purchased at s£d. Publicly a line of white lead, in kegs, realised £25 per ton, and an assortment of I.R. hose from 8d to 2s 2d. There is a fair trade demand for ironmongery goods. In liquids tbe market remains about the lame as far as regards prices. A slight disposition, however, ; ia shown on the part ot holders of brandies, more particularly those of older vintages, to ask an advance. Bottled ale and stout command full rates, and a line of O'Brien's stout was Bold at an extreme rat*.

The following is Messrs J. H. Clough & Co.'s station produce report for the week ending NoTember 22 : — ■ Wool. — This week two public sales have been held, at which about A,(X>O balea were offered, and by auction and privately about 3,900 bales hare been disposed of at the following quotations .Viz., for greaiv, lOd to 15|d per lb ; •coured, Is 4d to 2s lfd do ;. fleece, Is 4£d to 2s 4id do- The sales have passed off with more ■pint than last week, and prices are firmer. Sheepskins. — Oar sales hare been well attended throughput the week, and have passed off with more spirit than was the case the previous week. "We hate disposed of a fair supply at the following prices, to, for butchers' green skins, 4s to 7s each ; dry ■kins, 2s 5d to 6s 3d do ; pelts, 6d to 2s 6d do; station skins, 6&d to 9sd per lb. |

Hides. — We have sold a considerable quantity at, for ox hides, green, 23s 6il to 35s each ; wet salted hides, 4^d to 5f i per lb ; cow hides, 173 6d to 26s each ; calf skina, 6id to Tfi per Ib. Tallow. — At our usual weekly sale we offered an average supply, and disposed of the whole at the following prices, viz., for inferior, £25 to £29 per ton ; mixed, £32 to '£35 per do ; beef, £33 to £34 10s per do ; mutton, £36 per do. Leather. — We have sold by auction and privately during the week several consignments of various descriptions at the following prices, ti«.. for crop, lOJd to Hid par lb • kip, 21d to 23£ d per do; calf, 2s 6d to 3s 7d p*r do ; runners, 2a to 2s 6d per do ; harness, 13d to 14£1 per do.