MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Issue 1693, 24 January 1873, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of the 18tb inst. report! : — A moderate amount of business has been transacted in the import market. Breadstuff's are not actire, and sales of flour are of a limited character. Quotations for trade parcels range from £13 10s to £14. Wheat is steady at 5s 3d to 5s 4d for new Victorian ; we have not, however, any business to report, as supplies are not yet coming forward with much freedom. Oats are quoted at 9s Id to 3s 4d for common to good feeding qualities. Maize is worth 2s 9d ; little, however, has been allowed to come under our notice of late in the way of sales. There is a very . good inquiry for sugar. Privately we hear of about 700 baes yellow counters having been sold at £34. The entire cargo of Java, ex Herzog Ernst, amounting to 14,378 mats, all more or less damaged, was cleared off this forenoon at prices ranging from £32 to £37 per ton. Teas meet with a good inquiry, and some considerable lines are said to be under treaty. Blasting powder, which has been neglected for some time, is attracting more attention. We hear of a parcel of 35 tons of Kames's having changed hands on private terms. Oilmen's stores still meet with favor ; a good inquiry is reported for pints and half-pints salad oils, and sales of second braiids have been made at 9i 6d and 5s 6d respectively, prices, however, whioh do not now bring importers out. For lib salmon, which has advanced in California, improved rates are likely to be obtained. Considerable sales of plaid vestas have been made at 5s lOfd, and several hundred cases Tandsticker's have changed hands at up to 2s 9.*. Kerosene oil is beginning to move off again ; we hear of 1,000 cases having been placed at Is 11 £3. In liquids we note sales of bottled ales at 13s. Duff Gordon's sherries have found buyers at prices raising, according to qualities, from £38 to £60. Kopkie's port wines have bean disposed of at £45 to £60. There was a good attendance of buyers and others interested in the .wool trade at the sale held to-day at Messrs Hastings, Cunningham and Co.'s. A catalogue of 2,500 bales was submitted to public competition, from which, owing to the length of the sale, 450 bales of fleece wool were withdrawn, and of the remainder 1,370 bales were disposed of. The biddings for greasy were keen, and the prices realised were slightly in favor of the sellers. Scoured was in demand, and brought late rates. The lots of fleece sold commanded fair competition, at somewhat reduced prices, but small lots seem almost unsaleable, except at a very gieat concession to the buyers. Greasy brought trout 8i to 15a per lb»; seoured, 18d to 26d do ; fl ece, 17d to 22J do.