MELBOURNE.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 684, 7 January 1865, Page 3

MELBOURNE.

„ W> triw Ifce fclhmiug from the Age of the 24th ultimo: — -wfaaost quietuda-has pervaded the import market daring tbe day, for in most instances merchants have been engaged with their home correspondence. A great scarcity of Adelaide floor is experienced in the market, and we hear that as high as £22 10s has been paid for town brands. Chilian is in consequence in increased request, sales being readily effected at £16 10s to £17 ; one parcel of 100 tons having changed hands at about £15: Byass's stout meets with purchasers at 9s, at which sales have been made. Bulk beer ia very inactive. Sales, however, are reported, to-day, of the Carlisle Company's at £7 10s. A small parcel of Hennessy's case brandy has been disposed of at 2-te 6d. Trade sales of plantation coffee have been effected at ll£d. The Argus of the 24th ultimo, in its monthly summary, gives the following account of the condition and prospects of the flour and grain market :— The markets of this and the neighboring colonies continue to command very marked attention in this department of trade. Viewing that of breadstuffs six or seren months back, no small anxiety was invested in the future as to our means of supply to meet our increasing consumption; however, ail our worst feus have been dispelled. Supplies have from time to time come forward, so as to meet our requirements ; high prices have been paid for breadstuffs on some occasions, where supplies by any mischance have been narrowed, or speculators may have had it all their own way for a brief period ; yet no actual pinching has long existed, and we drift into a new crop and a new year with sufficient supplies and to spare—a matter of thankfulness after the exigencies of the past unfavorable harvest, and its consequences. The prospects of the future were somewhat clouded at an earlier period of the season by unfavorable reports regarding the growing crops being, in certain localities, attacked with some sort of blight, vermin, &c., which proved* so disastrous the previous year; however, a more favorable turn in the weather has brought better hopes and dispelled the worst fears, and many whose morbid ideas cannot surmount, but dwell on the certainty that another year of short supplies, and consequent speculation, is before tliem, will be disappointed so far. In New South Wales cereals are aow being harvested ; and although the returns are not in any case favorable, a considerable portion of the crops are good, and of excellent quality. In South Australia the wheat crop, now being, cut down, is such as leads to the expectation that the quantity available for exportation will be equal to from 60,000 to 70,000 tons breadstuffs. In this colony accounts vary much; but upon the whole a fair, but possibly not an average, crop of wheat will be reaped; while that of oats will be the ea*ie—if not an average, the breadth of land sown will probably make up the quantity. As to Tasmania and New Zealand, it would be premature j to offer ai opinion. The imports of breadstuie within the month consist of —one cargo at Brisbane, from Chili; af Sydney, the Mary Edith brought a cargo of flour and wheat from San Francisco, and there were also parcels of flour, in bag and barrel, from Great Britain jf while some arrivals are looked for from California Here the Malta and Maria de Puchoco nave brought 800 tons wheat and flour from Chili; the Grrett Victoria 220 tons Chilian; and Bavensbourne «nd Benares 100 tons American barrel, via the United Kingdom. Shipments of flour reach this colony Ind New South Wales from New Zealand and Tasjnania; and parcels of Californian, sent from Sydney to find a market here, have gone back; while m Tasmania consumers do not seen to relish Chilian, some parcels* being returned within the week. The Bill of Enfay for the port of Melbourne for four weeks ending the 17th instant shows our imports of breadstaffe as being about 6000 tons, and our exports 500 tons, thus leaving about a month's consumption available. Since this some parcels of wheat and flour have arrived from South Australia, of which den is some new wheat. At auction sales of foreign produce have been extenoT*; not less than

1000 tons of flour alone, besides large parcels of wheat, have passed under the hammer —damaged Chilian flour, at £6 12* 6d to £10 12s 6d ; sound at £14 2a 6d to £16 ; wheat, 4s to 6s 3d ; Adehude fiour, £19256 dto £20. Owing to the bad quality of some of the first cargoes of Chilian flour, and so much damaged passing into the hands of consumers, a very bad impression was made regarding this description of flour ; as a whole, however, importers having bestirred themselves in classifying and assorting, selling by samples, guaranteed—as previously hinted at in these columns—the result is that buyers now operate with confidence and freedom. Good Chilian flour sold last week at auction only fetched £14 2s 6d to £14 10s, while privately this week £16 10s to £17 is obtainable: Supplies oC Adelaide flour have been light, and the market now about cleared: during the month it has been sold at auction at £19 2s 6d to £20. Any parcels now in hand would readily fetch £21 to £22. 1000 barrels American flour, via England, offered at auction, -was drawn, only 100 having found a buyer at 18s ; but since this lot has been quitted on private terms, the quality being inferior. Town millers sell at £20 to j £21. Wheat.—Chilian finds a ready sale at 7e 6d ; South Australian, 7s 6d to 8s 6d. Stocks are lisht, but supplies of new are close at hand. A small parcel of new Adelaide, arrived here on the 18th instant, sold at 8s 6d, the quality being rather poor; really fine wheat will bring a high price for some time to come. Oats of colonial growth continue to command good prices; foreign grown, although somewhat active a ehort time ago, are again inactive New oats will soon make their appearance. Closing prices— Colonial, 3s 4d to 3s 9d; Irish and Danish, 2s 9d to 3s 3d ; Californian, 3s. Barley.—New Cape barley is now on the market, but prices are nominal, there being no demand for this sort of malting descriptions. Cape, 3s 3d ; malting, 4s 6d. Maize has fluctuated during tho month from 4s 9d to 5s 3d; supplies being now greater, the closing quotation is 4s 9d. Bran.—Adelaide ha 3 been sold at auction at Is 4d; privately, Is 6d is the price for good sweet Adelaide br;m per bushel. Oatmeal. —Imported, £15 to £17 ; colonial, £22 per ton. ]