COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 9, 10 June 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Mr W. H. Hargreaves held a sale of town and rural lauds at his sale rooms yesterday. 15 eighth-acre sections on the South Town Belt were disposed of at an average of £3l each. A large quantity of agricultural, mineral, and pastoral land on the Kowai Biver in the Malvern district, a portion of it being contiguous to the proposed Malvern Kailway Station, was submitted, but as the reserve prices were not leached the various lots were passed in. ENGLISH COMMERCIAL. WOOL. Messrs Miles Bros, and Co. report on April 17th There have been several enquiries privately since last sales from consumers who had run short of stocks, through not having purchased sufficiently freely in February. Several parcels have been disposed of at late rates, but had holders been inclined to make a slight reduction larger sales would have been effected. In face of the large quantity (probably 250,000 bales) for offer at the next sales, to open on the 28th instant, it is difficult to foretell how prices will rule. Although business in the North is being done at a small profit yet wool is fast changing hands, and should there be good foreign support prices may not be materially affected. The quantities arrived to date are as follows : Bales. New South Wales and Queensland ... 32,038 Victoria 93,7'.)!) South Australia 26,841 Western Australia ’ 42 Tasmania ... ... ... ... 4504 New Zealand ... ... ... ... 18,163 Cape of Good Hope 28,872 Total 204,262 WHEAT AND FLOUR. Messrs Burrows and Perks say : - We have again to report a further slight

decline in our wheat market since the last mail left, but there has been a much firmer feeling during the past ten days, and an advance of Is to 2s per 4'.)(> lbs from Iho. lowest sales of a fortnight since. The French and Antwerp markets being dearer, and the quantity of wheat on passage from the North American ports being now much reduced, lead the trade generally to expect present prices to be maintained, and, perhaps, slightly exceeded up to the end of May, but after that time, should the growing crops in France and here promise as well as they now do, a decline in value would bo most probable. The present value of Adelaide wheat is 05s to 66s per -lOillKs ex granary and up to (17s for very line qualities, but the demand is not at present a large one, Californian being more plentiful and selling at from (12s to'(Ms per 4961b5. Superfine Adelaide flour is scarce on the spot, and worth 48s per 2801bs ; but Melbourne, which is in largo supply, and not such strong flour as that from Adelaide, only realises from 45s to 4Cs per 2801bs. The grain arrivals from the colonics during the month have not been numerous : the Loch Tay, Highflyer, Collingwood, and City of Perth from Melbourne; the Border Chief from Sydney; the Adamant from NewZealand.and the Bureau from Launceston. The supply of flour from Melbourne has been good, and more is now nearly due from thence, but the above ships have brought very little wheat. The first small parcel (100 bags) of the new crop of Adelaide wheat arrived some weeks back in the South Australian, and was sold at; 07s per, IS)(libs ; the quality very good indeed, but with a good deal of weevil. The stocks of wheat in our five principal ports on March hist were 839,000qrs against 924,000qrs at the same time last year. Those of Hour, however, show a decided increase, being 27(5,000 sacks and 848,000 barrels against 2(51,000 sacks and 151.000 barrels in 1873. There are now 225) wheat cargoes on passage to the United Kingdom, against 277 in the corresponding week of 1873, and 108 in 1872. San Francisco telegrams of April 14th quote Californian wheat at 58s (5d per 5001bs cost freight and insurance to Liverpool, and freights at 70s per ton to Liverpool, stating also that copious rains had fallen, and that the crop prospects were excellent. Maize and oats are in good request, the former being now worth from 41s to 42s per 4801 bs for good mixed American, and the latter 21)s to 30s per 3041bs for best Swedish and Russian qualities.

Messrs Miles and Co report : —Since our last report there has been a considerable business doing in wheat for general consumption, but there is an absence of speculation, probably owing to the favorable weather for the coming crops. American and Hussiau wheatsarc about 2s to 15s dearer,and an advance of about ! s has taken place in Californian. Australian is in better demand, and is worth G7s to GBs, 49Glbs. Australian Hour may be quoted at 4Gs to 47s per 28l)lbs. New Zealand wheat has lately been selling from Gls to G4s, but some fine Tasmanian just arrived is expected to realise 70s. PRESERVED MEATS. The Australian Meat Agency (Tallcrman’s) Company, Limited, report as follows : —The importations of preserved meats during the month of March reached 8G.845 cases, the colonies contributing being Victoria 12,011 cases, New South Wales 10,401 cases, South Australia 850 G cases, New Zealand 7G7'.) cases—Bß,s97 cases ; and from South America, 8248 cases; total, 36,845 cases. This quantity, added to the 80,889 received during February, has made stocks heavy, and a disposition to sell at lower rates is manifested by holders. Buyers are not numerous, ami it is* impossible to force sales at any price, there being no speculative dealers in this article. Trie few sales that have been made were at lower rates, and prices may be taken at ]d per lb. lower for all goods excepting boiled beef. Messrs Miles and Co report The stocks are heavy, the importations during the last month having been 3G.843 and business is at a standstill, buyers are not willing to operate, although holders would accept lower rates, prices arc about s,'pl for 4 and Gibs mutton, and Gd per 2lbs ; and for beef, 4 and Gibs G : ' f d, and 21bs GJd less 2.1 per cent. TALLOW AND HIDES. Messrs Miles and Co report -.—The tallow market is still very flat with a limited business, and prices have again declined, the value to day of good to line New Zealand mutton being 85s Gd to 87s; and beef tallow, 84s to 85s, being Is to Is Gd lower than on the 7th inst. Hides are dull of sale and we cannot now quote New Zealand above 5Jd per lb. NEW ZEALAND HEMP. Messrs Miles and Co report .—The market remains about the same, but prices realised for parcels sold at auction have been a trifle easier ; fine, may be quoted at £2B to £29 ; good, £2B to £25 ; fair, £2O to £22 ; common to good common, £l7 10s to £l9.