MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1386, 21 May 1881, Page 2

MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Messrs Goldsbtough .md Co report under date M iv oth, .is follow 1 ! • — Wool.— l lie auction sales arc now held -very ii regularly, owing to the limited quantity coming forward. Since our l.nt summary only about 1350 bales have been offered, consisting (hiefly of town and country scoured, and oddments of dips, the bull; of which have been sold at about late quotations, there being no material alteration in \.iluc. The competition for all descriptions is very acti\ c, more especially on the P-irt of the local industries, and any parcels offering', meet with ready sale. Our mail advices fully confirm the various cablegrams received during the first series of wool sales held in London, and we find_ the most noticeable feature in the fact that owing 1 to the small demand for high-class poods onr best Australian Merino flocks throughout the sale lemained at a < ompaiativcly low level, whilst Crossbreds, notably the finer sorts, sold well. Although the price 1 atalogues show a low range of value, we still have the encouraging fact that, at the decline established, buyers operated freely, and the Fn nch section, who gave so little support at the outset, took .1 considerable quantity towards the ( lose, Contenental purchases being estimated at 155,000 bales during the series Although the quantity to be placed on the maiket at the sei ond series to commence on the 10th inst., is unprecedented— comprising nearly 300,000 bales, including held-over parcels — and trade >.eports from the manufacturing (entres are not encouraging, it may be hoped that the extrcmil) moderate rang;: of prices which pi cv ailed at the last sales may have the effect of stimulating a demmd at the ne\t series, even if there dues not at present appear .viy sign to warrant the expet ration of higher values. We have to congratulate our pastoral friends on the (ontinucd excellent prospects of the coming season, as fine rains have fallen throughout most of the districts in the different colonies, and there is every probability of the ensuing clip being sound and well grown. Exchange on London continues .it J per cent, discount for drafts at si\ty days' sight, and J per cent, extra for every additional month. Freights to London per sailing vessels are ruling at \d per lb. tor Greasy, and |d per lb. for Washed ;~ and per steamers, \ia. Sue/ Canal, VI per lb. for Gre tsy, and 4 'd per lb. lor AVashcd. . Prices Current.— Greasy. Inferior, 6d to 8d ; Ordinary to average, 8d to iod ; Good to superior iidtois2d. — Fleece, washed. Interior, ml to is id; Ordinary to average, is 2d to ts 51! ; Average to good, is ,s;d to rs 8d : Superior, is od to is -Scoured. Inferior, is to is 2d; Ordinary, is 4d to is 6d ; Middling to good, is 6d to is 9 ; Superior, is gd to as. Sheepskins.— Wo have disposed of a very heavy suppl), comprising chiclly Green Skins, and both Merinos and Ctossbreds have found equal favour. A brisk demand prevailed until quite recently, when t i marked decline o< cured, and the market has not recovered since. Current quotations are : — Butchers' Green Skins, superior, to is iod each ; do., average 2s to }s each ; do. Dry do., average to superior, is 6d to is each; Dr> Skins, in bales and bundles, from 3d to 6^(l per lb. Hides.— A steady demand has existed throughout the month, and prime lots ot both Green and Salted have been readily quitted at quotations. New Zealand Heavies, from 4|d. to s^d. per lb. Wheat. — Since our last monthly report of the 9th ult. we note a decided improvement in prices, ■in advance of fully 5d per bushel^ on rates then quoted being now established, 'flic attendance at our sales during the pust month has been large and competition very brisk. We quote : — Prime Milling Wheat, js iod.; Medium to good, 4s 5d to 4s 9d; inferior to medium, 3s nd to 4s 4d per bushel. Flour.— The advance noted above for wheat, has caused higher lates to rule, and wo give the following quotations with an_ upward tendency, m/:— Good country Flour, £10 to £10 55., and town-milled, £10 10s. per ton. Bran is now selling at i2jd., and Pollard, I3jd per bushel. Oats.— 'l his market at about the same as last reported, with a steady demand for all sorts, vu,, Prime Seed, 3s 6d to 45.; piime Milling, 3s 4<i ; prime Feed, 2s nd; medium to good, is. jd. to as. iod.; and inferior to medium, 23. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per bushel. Barley. — Towards the end of the month a much stronger demand set in, and prices improved fully threepence per bushel. We now quote:— Prime Seed, from 4s. to ss, 6d.; prime Malting. 3s. yd.; medium to good, 3s. 3d. to 3b. 6d.; inferior to medium, 2s. iod. to 3s 2d ; Cape and Oregon, from 2s. 76. to 3s. per bushel.