MELBOURNE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3972, 16 May 1870, Page 4

MELBOURNE.

We have Melbourne papers to the 4th instant. The Argus reports:— "A quiet feeling continues to pervade the import market. Nevertheless, more animation was evinced, and more spirited bidding was maintained at the auction sale of oilmen's stores and groceries this forenoon than has been experienced for a long time past. Breadstuff's do not as yet show the slightest sign of vitality. Only the most trifling lots were got rid of for trade purposes privately, at from £11 to £11 10s. At. auction an attempt was made to dispose of stock, but without success, for owing to the supineness of buyers only one small line could be disposed of at £10 15s. All the remainder was withdrawn. In wheat, there is little or nothing doing ; supplies do not come forward more freely, notwithstanding which the difficulty of selling flour at anything like a paying price acts discouragingly on the millers, and keeps them from buying at the prices generally demanded, 4s lOd to ss, the result being a very dull market. "Maize is nominal; we quote front 4s lOd to ss. ' We note a considerable inquiry for oats, and prices are evidently tending' upwards. About 7,000 bushels ai<e toharid by the ' Claud Hamilton, ' but some of these are being stored, as a higher price is required to cover cost and charges than can at present, be obtained. Nbtwithstandiugthis, however; and although sales have also been made privately at 3s4£d, we understand that no offer over 3a 3d. could be got at auction this morning. For candles, the demand for trade purposes is of a limited character, but under the hammer an exten-siv-e parcel was cleared off. As much as 4,000 boxes were taken up ab prices ranging from 9|d for saloon to lOfd for D.R.O.'a. We report arf improving demand t for fine medium to fine-it congou teas. Sales are reported of the 'Japan's' and 'Louisa's' shipments of the former description to Is 9d. Offers have been made for all the 'Dioscuren's''at long prices, but without leading to .business. At auction we are informed that alarge number of packages was also quitted, at prices ranging, according to quality, at from lOd to Isr7d. The advance in salt has met with a somewhat free response from the trade, who are readily purcha&jng at ixomAh 153 to 01. Holders of kerosine'-'oil- report* a>tirring inquiry, and offers quite up to late sales have been made,' but for smaller quantities than it has beena^reed to sell at the price, and therefore rejected. Close on Go< ton 3 of [currants have found buyers at 4*d'tp'4Jd. ' In liquids we hear of sales of Tennent's ale at 9s 104 d. About 180, quarters Martell's, Otard's, ancl Central Vineyard's brandy Were disposed of by 'auction at 6s 3d, 5s 9d,'anfTss 3d respectively." A telegram of date' May 6 reports thajb feeding grains] are advancing in price./ ,'Ma«e is scarce and in demand, ,-,, - t - .