MELBOURNE.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1579, 28 November 1867, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The " Australasian," of the 16th instant, reports as follows : —

Rather a quiet day has been passed in the import markets, the arrival of the mail, but more eopecially the uncertainty regarding shipments, having caused speculators and dealers to operate with extreme caution. A private telegram received in town states — " Cotton is much lower, malt has advanced 2s, barley is dearer, copper is £1 per ton lower, sugar 15s to 20s per ton higher, and stocks rapidly decreasing;" and another telegram states that it is now ascertained beyond doubt that the harvest all over England will be one-fourth below an average, and gives the price of new wheat at 7s 6d to 8s 4d, and of old wheat at B=> to 9s, according to quality. There are no sales to report in flour, but wheat hasbeen...offering more freely, without finding buyers. A small lot of 600 bushels was taken up for shipment at late quotations. Oats and barley do not attract notice. Maize is firm at 3s Id to 3* 2d. The Swordfish, just arrived, brings a cargo from Clarence river. Sugars have met with a very free sale Under tho hammer 4644 bags Mauritius realized prices fully equ>tl to late sales, while an advance was estab-

lished on white crystals. Of the Helene's cargo of Bourbon sugars, comprising 7000 bags, some 5000 bags were quitted at an improvement. Rations brought £23 5s to £23 10s; browns, £26 10s ; and fine yellow counters, £31 10s to £32 ss. A line of Cossipore sugar was placed at £45. In teas little has been done privately. By auction, however, the balance of the Hans' cargo of this season's met with a favourable reception, the whole amounting to 364 chests, 664 half<mests and 145 boxes having been disposed of ai ).n." s "inging from Is 3sd to 2s lid, in bona, in provisions we note sales of Varey'B hams at 13fcd. Some fifty bales of cornsacks were disposed of, in parcels, at prices rising to 13s In oils we observe more enquiries for kerosene, and business is meant too. An offer of Is 9£d for 1500 cases Devoe'B oil was refused, the difference being a mere trifle Sales of currants are mentioned at 4£d to 4£d. Rock salt has been placed at

equal to £6, duty paid. Trade sales of Patna rice are effected at £30. Fine tobaccoes are still wanted. A shipment of Peach and Honey half pounds, and a line of fifty cases aromatic pounds at fair rates, are amongst the pales referred to in the market. In liquids we hear of a considerable parcel of red. wines having been placed at £19. Sales of Burnett's old torn have been made at 14s. Eight hundred cases Byass's stout have changed hands on private terms. Eight hundred and fifty cases Barclay's porter were sold pnblicly at 6s 6d to 7s l£d. Sales of Machen's are reported at equal to 9s 3d, and pig stout have been quitted at 10s.