COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2489, 22 April 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

" Press " Office, April 22. The effect of the English news has barely been felt as yet; but a strong inclination is already manifested to depress prices of breadstuffs. In Adelaide heavy speculations have been made in anticipation of a material advance in wheat immediately peace was declared in Europe. These anticipations have not been fulfilled, and it is very probable that prices will suffer considerably. Private advices from Melbourne note a decline in Victoria of 4d ap* "bushel for wheat ; and 10s sp- ton for flour. Several large orders are in the local market unexecuted, but the aspect of the various markets will in iome instances prevent their being fulfilled. Wheat to-day is certainly 0 3 weaker than on Saturday last, although the farmers have not yet submitted to the decline, As a rule the highest offers for picked samples for forward delivery are 4/2 and 4/4 in store. In some cases we believe the millers are giving higher figures for pressing requirements. Oats also are steadily falling in Australia, and we are bound to look for a corresponding decline here. Canadian and potato oats, of good color, for future delivery, are worth 2/2, while stored lines are being freely pi iced at 2/3. Long Tartars are dull of sale @ 1/10 to 2/0. Barley is scarcely in such good request, and the best parcels are difficult to place at 3/ to 3/3; while inferior lines work off slowly at 2/ to 2/6. Flour remains very firm at £13, as the millers have orders on hand which will take them some time to execute. There has been a good trade demand for sugars, which, however, has only being partially met owing to the lightness of stocks. Melbourne quotations have receded fully 20/ $>■ ton, and as Jamaica has a very heavy crop this year, prices will rule lower in England, so that a furtherdeclineis probable. Crushed loaf freely meets with purchasers at £58 to £59. Fine salt is going into the hands of thetradeat£4 15s. coarse also commands more attention @ £4 os. A steady business is doing in twist tobacco, but the consumption is mostly confined to duty paid lines. Tens range from; 1/ to 1/5, while favorite brands of twist find favor @ 1/6 to 1/7s. Cornsacks remain @ 14/6, with a decreasing demand. Kerosene is offering freely, and several lines have been moved @ 3/6 to 3/7. Latest Melbourne advices note a firmer market. Candles sell freely @ 0/ll£ to 0/111- Currants are offering in large parcels @ 0/s£, without meeting with much response. Cape and Eleme raisins work off freely @ 0/s£. Figs are rather scarce @ 0/8";. No change can be noticed in spirits, as the trade, for the moment, appear fully stocked. Quotations generally show no alteration. Mr H. E. Alport reports a scanty supply of cattle and full yards of sheep at Carlton yards on Wednesday. Nearly everything in the yards were disposed of at fair market rates for stores. Fat beef may still be quoted at fully 20/ lOOlfcs, and fat sheep, Merinos, 0/2 lb, and half-breds, He held a very important sale of timber at Hart's Creek timber yards, Lake Ellesmere, on account of Messrs William White and Co.. consisting of about 400,000 feet of sawn and other timber, comprising boards, scantling, battens, laths, shingles, posts and rails, piles, and heavy sawn timber, suitable for culverts and bridge work. The sale commenced on Thursday, the 13th instant, and was continued during the following Friday and Saturday. Throughout the whole of the sale there was a large attendance of the farmers and tradesmen from Southbridge, Leeston, Doyleston, and the surrounding country; the biddings were animated, and fair market rates were obtained. The timber was undoubtedly of a superior class, being well and evenly cut, and of a sound and durable character, chiefly black pine, totara, and white pine; the assortment of building timber especially being varied and complete. Bird and Bennett report on the live stock market for the week ending the 21st instant. Cattle—ln consequence of a large sale having been held on the previous day, very few cattle were yarded at the Carlton on Wednesday, the number to hand not exceeding 20 head, 15 of which were second quality beef, and realised fully 18/6 1001b. There are several enquiries for young steers and fat stock. Sheep—A large number of store ewes aud wethers have been on sale this week. "We sold at the Wheat Sheaf 1400 old ewes, @ from 1/10 to 3/ ; and at the Carlton, several lots from 2/6 to 4/ ; most of these were ewe 3 for crossing with long-woolled rams. The demand for this class of sheep is not quiet, owing to the season advancing. The supply of« fat sheep was limited, prime lots bringing fully 2d lb. Horses—There was a steady business done at Tattersall's, on Saturday, and on the whole fair prices were realised; a large number of those offered being of an ordiuary and inferior description. Horses of good quality, both draught and light harness, are in demand, and easily disposed of. Quotations: First-class draught. £30 to £42 : medium do, £20 to £28 ; good light harness horses and hacks, £16 to £25 ; useful do, £10 to £15 ; inferior, nominal. Messrs H. Matson and Co., report on the live stock market as follows :—All classes of cattle continue to sell freely, and well-bred young stock and heifers, near calving, command considerable attention. In consequence of the inclemency of the weather on Wednesday last the yards were almost bare, only 30 head weTe penned off for sale, which sold at late quotations. On Tuesday! at Carlton, W9 yarded, on account oiMr W. R. Madd;.

son, 117 head good conditioned two and three-year-old cattle. The attendance, though small, comprised the principle cattle buyers : biddings were orisk and the whole were cleared at the satisfactory average of £5 3s 9d $► head. There ■i* no"alteration in the value of fat cattle ; quotations, best quality. 20/ to 21/*p 100». ; medium to good, 17/ to 18/> 100 ft. Fat 'sheep Only 400 were entered, wliich sold fairly. We sold 200 merino wethers, fair i mutton, at 7/ to 7/9 ? head. Quotations— ' Cross breeds, prime. 0/2 ft: merino do, 0/1 hto O/'f V ft - Store sheep—2ooo were i yarded, the majority of which sold. We I have sold 1200 old merino ewes at 2/ <p head, and 20 Leicester rams at £3 $► head. Quotations—Wethers, 4/ to 4/6; good, 4/9 to 5/3; two, four, and six-tooth ewes, 3/6 to 4/ -p head; old ewes, 1/6 to 2/; good, up to 3/ ■p head. Messrs E. Mitchell and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending April 20. as follows :—The unfavorable state of the weather on Wednesday had the effect of causing a thin attendance at the yards, consequently a good number of the sheep yarded were turned out unsold. We countermanded the bulk of our stock from coming to the yards, and only penned 200 butchers' sheep: these were prime half-breds. and realised from 10/9 to 12/ each, equal to 0/2* » lb, being the top price reached this season. The number of cattle yarded was small, but they brought full prices. We note no alteration from last week's quotations, either in stores or fat stock. At Mr Sandford's farm, Ferrymead, we sold on Friday 76 head mixed cattle at for calves. 28/6 to 34/ ; yearlings, £3 to £3 10s ; two-year-old, £4 to £5 : heifers and cows from £5 to £6 17s 6d; draught mares from £25 to £33; light horses, £8 to £16. Agricultural implements sold at rather low rates.