MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1448, 13 October 1881, Page 2

MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Messrs Goldsbrouch & Co. report under date Melbourne, September 27, as follows:— Wool.—The business transacted in this market since our last summary has been unimportant. About 770 bales have been disposed of, consisting principally of fellmongers' parcels of slcin wool, for which good prices were obtained. According to the latest telegrams, the London wool sales continue to progress steadily. A good demand is reported, and laijje catalogues are brought forward da-ly. The market shows no m itcnal change for good wools, which comirund prices on a par with the closing rates of last series; but defective and low quality scoured and the inferior grades of crossbred, which sell very irregularly, have declined fully £d to id per pound on the opening rates. In all, 266,900 b lies have passed the hammer, and the withdrawals to date amount, to about Bj> per cent, of tlu* total offered. It is to be hoped, however, that as the sales piocced a better feeling will prevail ; but we tear that until there is a decided change in the present fashions, all lustre wools will rule comparatively low. The proposed changes in the French tariff have also had a depressing effect on the home trade. Pastoral and agricultural prospects are now assuming a more cheerful aspect, some fine warm rains having fallen during the month over a large area of this colony and New South Wales. Some districts, however, require a fuither downfall, especially the south-western portion of Rivenna and the north-western district of Victoria, which still continue dry. The export of wool from this colony up to date is 326,435 baleb, being an increase of 25,034 bales over the total yield of the previous.year ending 30th September, 1880. Exchange on London continues at ■) per cent, discount for drafts at sixty days' sight, andi P er cent, extra for each month additional. Prices Curreni (nominal until sales commence).—Greasy—inferior, 6d to 8d; ordinary to average,■Sd to iod; good to supeiior, nd to is id. Fleece, washed—inferior, nd to is id; ordinary to average, is 2dtois sd; average to good, is 5d to is 8d ; superior, is gd to 2s. Scoured —inferior, is to is 2d; oidinary, is 4d to is 6d; middling to good, is 6dto is o.d; superior, is gd tO 2S. biii'HPSiiiNS.—During the early part of the month the market was somewhat depressed, tesulting from the rather unfavourable news from the London wool market, and prices receded slightly, but afterwards recoveicd, and a gradual improvement has been noticeable of late, fullwoolled skins of supenoi quality being readily saleable up to 6s iod each. Hides. —A good inquiry has existed throughout the month, and present prices show an ad/ance of abont a farthing per lb on those noted in our last circular. Superior lots, in good saleable condition— vi^., free from off.ll and ears, and clean —have attracted most attention, and the lovil tanners have recently been operating with ( onsiderablc vigour. Shipments ofheavy weights from New Zealand have met with good demand, and superior lots aie now ruling at from 4%d to 5(1 per lb. Current quotations aie' —New Zea-land-salted, saperioi, 4^d to 3d per lb ; do. do., average, 4Jd to per lb. lailow—l he gradual} improvement in the London market has had a corresponding effort here, and present prices show a cens dciable advan( c on those last quoted. We quote: — Ordinary mutton, from L3O to L 32 per ton , beef, L2B to L3O ios do.; mixed, L 24 10s to L3O do.; inferior, Ll7 to L 24 ios, do. shipping parcels, of good brands—Mutton up to L 33 per ton (f.0.b.); beef to L3l do (( o b.) Wm'Ar.—During the past month some heSvy transactions have taken place in wheat, in consequence of the large estimated deficiency in the American and English yields, and prices have advanced fully 2d per bushel since our last report. The arrivals from the inland districts have been on a moderate scale. We quote: —Prime milling, 5s 7d: medium to good, 5s 4^d to 5s 6d ; and inferior to medium, 5s to 5s 4d per bushel. Flour. —Good country brands aie worth from Lv 2s 6d to Li 1 7s 6d, and town-milled Lv ios sterling per ton. Oats. —Duung the month the demand has improved, and a large supply has been disposed of at satisfactory prices, viz.: —Prime milling, 3s 6d to 3s 7<l; prime feed, 3s pd; medium to good, 3s to 3s 43d ; and inferior to medium, 3s ljd to 3s 3d per bushel. Barley.—This market remains quiet, but all coming forward can be placed at quotations, pume malting parcels finding most attention. We quote .—Prime malting, 3s 7d ; medium to good, 3s jd to 3s 6jd ; inferior to medium, 3s 3d to -js 4^d; and foed soits, 3s id to 3s 2^d per bushel.