Commercial.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2159, 19 March 1870, Page 2

Commercial.

Pbess Ojetice, March 19, 1870. No improvement has taken place in the grain trade, in fact it is if anything duller than laat week. Wheat is offering freely, but j purchasers are operating with extreme caution, end only very superior parcels are quitted without difficulty. The commercial difficulties of several houses in Melbourne will no doubt have the effect of disturbing confidence, and a decline in value will result, so that it is not unreasonable to anticipate a fall in our own market. At present, first-class samples may be quitted at Sβ, but buyers are not over anxious to do business. In considering the prospeote of our various markets, there appears to be no outlet but England, and unless quotations spring up at home, there are grave reasons to expect a further prostration in values. The millers are doing a good town trade in flour at £9, but very little is going forward for export. Prime parcels of barley are wanted for malting, and the brewers are paying 3s 9d to 4s fer really good samples. Malting is now being carried forward extensively, and if a market offers there will no doubt be a fair proportion at liberty for export. Oate continue inactive at Is 10d to 2s, although large shipments go forward each steamer. The low prices quoted in Melbourne and elsewhere feavee scarcely any margin to induce operators to extend transactions. The Celceao and Philip Nelson are expected to sail early in the week and will carry a moderate proportion of wheat. The demand for spirits is improving, but stocks of all descriptions are quite equal to present requirements. Brandy in bulk is enquired for in email Knee at 8s to 8e 6d. CVP realises 7s 6d to 7s 9d in retail parcels. Geneva (large contents) is scarcely so firm at 15s, and a concession would be submitted to for a quantity as holders are anxious to reduce fctocks. lunaban's case whisky moves off at 22s 6d. Sugars are quiet and will probably remain so until the arrival of the part cargo now daily expected. Candles meet with a quiet enquiry at Iβ for Price's Belmont, but the business doing at that figure is only limited. Kerosene is in fair request at 3s to 3s 3d, and a slight advance is looked for. Teas have met with a trifling better support during the week, but transactions continue very languid;

A large line of oorneacke has been sold to amye at 14b 3d, and operations in smaller parcels at Us 6d are reported daily. Dried fruits are difficult to qoit, with the exception of currants, which are low in stock and re&dily placed, 5d to ssd. Oilman's stores meet with some support at late quotations. Staple lines such as pickles, Lea and Perrin's sauces,

sardines, salmon, &c.» are quitted at fair rates. Good twist tobaccos are in come request at Is 7d to Is Bd. Mr Alport cold at auction at the Carl ton yards on Wednesday last—Six months' old calves, £2 per head ; yearling steors, £3 5s ; dairy covre. aged, £4 17s 6d ; do, fair quality, £7 ; two-year-old well-bred bull, withdrawn for £10. About 120 head in all were yarded, chiefly stores and dairy cattle, which cold at satisfactory rates. 850 sheep were offered, and nearly all cold. Half-bred ewes, 8s per head ; fat merino wethers, 7s ; store do ewes, 3s; do do wethers, 4s. The market was briak throughout. A moderate supply of fat cattle would have realised full rates, but none were to hand.