VICTORIA.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1378, 8 April 1867, Page 2

VICTORIA.

The " Australasian," of March 30, reports as follows : —

In the import market, on March 26, we note a very much improved tone, a more elastic and altogether a healthier feeling having taken the place of the_ rather gloomy aspect which pervaded the market for some ten days past. Breadstuffs are dealt in to a moderate extent for trade purposes. There is little doing in flour, but tha millers purchase Victorian wheat more freely at 4s 6d to 4s 9d for superior samples. A: auction, some 1027 sacks of faulty Californian were disposed of at 4s 3d to 4s 4id ; pnd 270 bags of Port MacDonnoll wheat, also sold as per bulk, realised 4s 9d. There is a decided improvement in barley ; numerous inquiries are reported, but as sound parcels are now in few hands, and aro held for much higher rates than prices hitherto ruling, no new tran«aetions have come under our notice. A few small parcels have been disposed of for seed at 3s There ia nothing doing in oats. Farmers' parcels of Victorian bring 3s; prime lots, however, are scarce and wanted, and such would" realise 3s 3d to 3s 4J-d. Sydney maize has been quitted, all faults, at 3s 4£J to 3s 6d Sugar, in trade parcels up to 1000 bags, has met with purchasers at £40 10s for bright yellow crystals. A bin of malt has been placed at lis, and the market shows signs of rallying. Wo hear of a shipment of over twenty tons of sheet lead having realised £27. Currants meet with a ready sale at sd. In tobacco, we note the sale of a small parcel of medium tens at Is per lb. New Patna rice is very buoyant, and considerable transactions are being carried through ; we hear of two lines, of thirty-five tons each, having been quitted at £28, the price fixed for such quantities. We also learn of a large parcel of 200 tons having changed hands at the rates established. These sales almost absorb the entire cargo of the Arica, lately arrived. Oilmen's stores are inquired for. An assorted invoice of cocoa, chocolate, capers, Ac, has been disposed of at very <ull figures. In candles we note a decline ; several trade parcels were closed for to-day at Is 3d. Teas are moved off quietly ; a line of a hundred chests of fine medium congous found a purcl.aser at 2s in bond. In spirits, sales are mentioned of Ilennessy's pale brandy, in quarters, at 6s 6d ; while at auction, about a hundred cases of Champagne Vineyard Company's brandy were quitted at 18s; a parcel of Kirklis on case whiskey was placed at 9s. A considerable demand exists for new bulk ale, and shipments to arrive are changing hands to some extent at prices to be named on arrival ; we hear of 50 hhds of Joule's ale having been so disposed of. Campbell's hams and bacon are asked for; tlie last lot of these hams, ex Underly, sold at Is 2d, in bond.

The 27th being mail day, there was less activity perceptible in the import markets, and, with some exceptional transactions operations have not been of much account. In breadstuff's wo note eales of Victorian flour at £11 10s. Feeding grains attract considerable notice, higher rates being paid for oats. A parcel of 4000 bushels of Tasmanian changed hands in a line at 3s 3d. Inquiries for barley still continue ; a line of about 10 000 bushels lias been pliced at a price sustaining the highest rates now required. Maize is rather firmer, and as tho market is again bare of stock, holders of sound parcels ask 3s 9d. There is only one cargo of Clarence River maize known to be on the way for this port at present, and it is expected the current price will be maintained. Sales of rice, in trade parcels, are mentioned at £28 10s. In sugars we hear of sales at £38 to £39 for brewers' brown crystals. A fair inquiry for teas for trade purposes is reported ; low medium congous have been placed at Is 5d to Is 6d ; 200 halfchests of good mediums were quitted at Is 9d, and wo hear of Borne 200 chests of the Albert Victor's teas having been disposed of at Is 7£d, all in bond. Provisions are dealt in to a moderate extent ; a shipment of Varey's hams, the last of the season, has been placed to arrive at 14£ d, all faults. A shipment of 100 cases ling has been quitted at 4£d, a decline on late rates. Candles are somewhat steadier ; since the publication of the stocks in bond attention has been directed to the extent of deliveries for the month, and more confidence has, in consequence, been imparted to holders. A demand for dark brandies ha* led to the sale of equal to forty hhds. of Hennessy's on private terms.