MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2417, 7 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

MELBOURNE MARKETS.

We quote the following from Messrs Goldsbroughs Monthly Circular for December. Wool : Large sales have been wade in this market during tho past month, 85,898 bales having been catalogued, and 72,573 bales sold, thus making a total of 173,285 bales otfered and 110,091 bales sold since the commencement of the season on the sth October. Theso figures, showing as they do a large increase on previous years, apeak well for the future of Melbourne as a wool depot. Each succeeding season frosh clips are attracted here, and judging from the annually increasing number of growers who prefer to sell locally rather than incur tho uncertainty of shipment, the time cannot be far distant when the major part of the Australian clip will be marketed in the colonies. Tho opening of the final series of London Colonial wool sales on the 22nd ultimo at prices from par to a halfpenny lower than the closing rates of tho previous series, had but trifling effect on this market, as tho majority of the clips coming forward at tho time wore in excellent order, and of a most attractive character, thus commanding a healthy competition and good prices. In fact, so steady has been the demand throughout the month that the improvement in the tone of the home market cabled ten days ago was only reflected here by a more genoral demand and increased activity on the port of the continental section of the trado, no actual advance in values, on the whole, taking place. News of the close of tlio London sales, without further change, reached us on Monday last, prices, as compared with tho closing rates of last series, boing id higher for the better classes of greasy and scoured, and unchanged for crossbred and the lower sorts of groasies. Out of 109,000 bales catalogued 62,500 bales were taken for the home trade, 91,000 bales for the continent, 1500 bales for America, and 11,000 bales were passed in and held over for next series.

Shkkpskin'S : Large catalogues have passed though our hands, and satisfactory pricee have ruled throughout. Pelts have gradually improved in price, early-shorn in particular having met with keen competition. Full-woollod green skins aro now very scarce. Current quotations aro :— Butchers' green pelts, Is to 2s each ; do. green skins, up to 4s 9d each ; lambskins, la 3d to Is 8d each ; butchers' dry pelts, 8d to Is Jd each ; dry skins, 2s to 4s yd each. Dry skins, in bales, &c-: Superior Merinos, 3d to 5 per lb, ; superior crossbreds, 4id to 5.U1 per lb. ; ordinary, 3.} d to per lb. Hides: Largo thick Hides, in good saleable ordor, have been sought after at full prices, but supplios are limited. Cow Hides, Kips, and Calfskins have boon in fair request. There is a steady demand at quotations, viz.:—Green Ox, extra heavy, 25a. to 403. each ; do. do,, average weights, 2.(, d. to 3d. per lb.; Victorian salted, primo heavies, up to 4}d. por lb. ; superior, 31d. to •Id. per lb.; average, 3d. to SM. per lb. ; inferior, 2d. to 3d. per lb. ; Kips, green and salted, 3.id. to 3:j'd. per lb.; Calfskins, free from cuts, &c., . r »d. to (id. per lb. ; primo, up to (>M. per lb. ; New Zealand heavy weights,"in good saleable condition, 4;jd. to 4§d. per lb. ; average, 3;jd. to 4.J:d por lb. Tafxqw.— Our sales during the pas;t month have comprised 10Q casks. Mutton, middling, £15 to £1U per ton ; beef, do., £14 to £115 per ton ; mixed, do., i>l3 10s to £17 per ton; inferior, £0 to £13 per ton. Export brands, nominally: mutton, about £21 per ton, f.0.b.; beef, about £19 per ton. f.o.b. MONTHLY GRAIN REPORT. During the past month there hae been only a limited business transacted in the grain market, owing to the short supplies coming to hand, which we attribute to the ypry bad state q£ the roads in the country districts, caused by the late rains ; and, in consequence, v.'hcat advanced to 4s per bushel. However, as tho weather is now more seasonable, and grain is coining forward more freely, prices aro again easier, and we quote up to 3s 'Jd for good milling descriptions, and 3s (id to 3s Sd for inferior to podium. Oats are in geod demand, and all coming forward are readily purchased by tho trade at the following rates:—New Calcuttas, from Is 10d to 2s, according to quality ; good stout, up to 2s lid ; and medium, up to 2s 8d per bushel. Baulky : Very little of the new crop is yet to hand, and as the market has been clqarad of all tfnod parcels of \\k old, priges; aye likely'tf) remain firm ; we quote for best samples of new', 4s 0d per bushel. Mα m<: rules from 3s Sd to 3s !)d, peas to 3s Id, and bran to Sd por bushel.