MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Issue 1829, 9 December 1873, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of the 29th ult. reports :— In the import markets, business has boen exceedingly quiet, and complaints ofthe prevailing dulneßß very numerous. In breadstuff's, we report a decidedly better feeling in regard to flour. Inquiries for export have been experienced, and £12 ISs has been offering freelj j holdeiß, bowever, ask up to £13, and business is pending at the price. Good to fine samples of wheat are saleable at 5s 6d to 5s 8d ; no transactions have, however, reached us to-day. Inquiries for oats are getting brisker, but holders of the small stock on hand are very firm, and quite careless of quoting. Common qualities are saleable at 4s 5d to 4s 6d. Maize is very firm indeed ; there are no sellers under 3s lOd, and not many even at that, little or no stock being left in the hands of importers. The day's trade in tea and sugar is represented by the auction sales of damaged. 994 packages congous, ex Georgina, were cleared off, all faults, at 9id to Is Bd. 1,297 bags damaged Mauritius sugar were disposed of at 23s to 36s 3d ; 650 bugs Bound Mauritius at same time realised 36b to . 36s Gi for medium whites, and 31b 6d to 32s 6J for low counters. Kerosene oil is Btill very slow, and we have little of an encouraging nature to report of the market. A trade parcel of 150 cases Devoe's was placed at Ib Bid. Baisins are improving ; re-sales of Elemes and Valencias are making at B±d to B£d. In liquids we hear of Bales of dagger stout at 13s for plain, and 13s 3 J for champagne bottles. Sales are also reported of Burke's stout at 13s 3d. Messrs Hastings, Cuningham and Co. hell a sale of wool at their stores this afternoon, at which there was a large attendance of buyers. The catalogue contained 4,100 bales, of which 1,900 bales were sold by auction. There was a good domand for all descriptions of medium to good qualities, and competition was well maintained, tbe prices realised being full market values. Greasy sold at from 8d to 13}d per lb ; fleece from 17d to 26d, the latter prico being j obtained fot u clip from the Benalla district.