MELBOURNE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3339, 30 March 1868, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of the 18th reports :— Business in the import markets, has tjeen particularly quiet to-day. The arrival of the mail steamer in some degree may have been the causa of this, though the extreme want of animation can hardly be traceable to that source alone. In bread* stuffs, there is more doing, and prices continue to advance. Victorian flour has been disposed of in parcels at various prices rising from £19 10s to £20. A line of a hundred tons was placed at £20 net ; one parcel was also quitted at £20 terms, and £20 10s long terms was offered, but refused ; ou the other hand, we are informed that at the close of business hours £19 10s net was accepted for a line of about fifty tons. Wheat has improved in value; there has been little offering, but for the little that could be got hold of, 8s 6d would be given. Oats are not so firm ; we still quote 4s 9d to ss, though Bales have been effected at up to 4s 9J ; 4,000 bushels have been placed at this quotation. Maize is lelling very freely at 3s lid to 4s. About a thousand bags realised those rates. InqHuries for corn sacks are moderate ; sales are effected at 12s 3d ; the demand, however, is limited to the supply of mere local want*. !A> shipment of hoopiron changed hands, to land, at £13. By auction, about 600 boxes .candles found buy»rs, under the hammer, at l2|d; the quantity advised by the preaent mail is 150 torn, but of this fortyseven tons, by the 'Moravian' and Highflyer,* have arrived already. A very brisk demand for Patna rice has been experienced; numerous trade parcel*, in lines of, up to 1£ »«-■, having been quitted at £25 10«. The 'Hannah Nicholsons cargo of coffee was offered .by public sale, but the auctioneers only laoceedediacwDonn^

of 20 fern« — native at 7d per lb., and Tri»ge at 6fd. •THe plantation was all withdrawn. There is nothing 'to rejiort in teas ; we, however, learn that buyers of *fflei&ium congous have offered to within la of the rate asked for the ' Venezuela'?.' There has been more inquiry for malt, and we hear of about 3,000 bushels in the aggregate having been quitted in parcels at 9s 6d. In provisions \re note sales of oheese at-13ld. -A shipment oMobstertwaa sold at 6». Fresh arrivals of Joule's ale are reported to hand, and lales are effected at £8. 15s to (£9, ac- -■ cording to' quantity. A consignment of Tennent's bottled ale -has-been cleared -off -at-10*.- JSalesof Blood's bottled stout are made at 9s. 6d. We have beda 'favoured with the following telegram respecting the' China 'tea market by Messrs. James Carle Robertson and Co.; — "Troo-Chow, February A. — Chinese New Yea* 'holidays consider- „ ably interfered with business. Total settl«ments — congons/700 ohests for Auttraliafn market. Prices fully up to last < 'quotations. Departure, February 2—' Albert,' for Sydney. Loading — • Ernestj'c 'Juno,' •Maria.'

WINDELER & BQWESIS WOPL CIRCULAR. [For the Australian mail, January 26, 1868.] Business continues dull and contracted, bu» a slight and partial improTement is perceptible, there is a better tpne generally, and some signs of return* ing confidence. The aotualiposition of our market has not-nltered' since the close of last month; the favourable change is more noticeable in .demand .than in price*;; tbMre have been buyers at last; December sale rates, but no disposition to give any advance ; transactions have therefore been limited, ai holders prefer to await next auctions. These will probably .commence at ther usual time — the first week in March ; a question as to bringing them on sooner may be determined by the rapidity of the next arrivals, but the selection will be large, and with a prospect of increased production and abundance of competing kinds, we do not see reason to anticipate any material improvement in vilue. Continental markets are firm, stocks at the moment being light, but the reports from the combing districts of France, as 1 from the United Stwiies, still complain of the extremely depressed ttate-of trade.