SYDNEY COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 311, 24 October 1855, Page 5

SYDNEY COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

(From the *' Empire, Sept. 5." By the Waratah we bave received Melbourne papers of Saturday. The Journal of Commerce thus reviews ihe flour find grain markets:— In taking a retrospective view of the flour and grain market for tbe past month,, we have to remark on the very serious depreciation which has affected all cereals, and which, as we shall presently show, has reduced the value of some kinds fully 30 per cent, since the beginning of the mouth, and 40 per cent, within the last six weeks. It is gratifying,.however,, to notice that so rapid and so serious a oliansre from an extravagant high range of high prices to one comparatively low, has been effected without .causing: embarrassment or loss to the parties engaged iv the trade here—as all along the houses in the grain trade have only bought for actual wants,, and the decline in price has found millers without a bushel of wheat, and the dealers in flour, very low iv stocks ; in fact, our chief mills are stopped for want of grain, and the importers arebearing the whole brunt of the fail in value, which they can well aff >rd lo do, us their formerprofits were enormous, and even the present range of prices is still highly remunerative. In giving a cooiprehcnsive glance at the progress of the market during the month, we fin tl that fine flour was at £47 per ton on the Ist of August; wheat at 195., having declined io this figure from £l Is. ; oats, at Bs. ;barley at 7s. 6d. To-day we quote line flour from £35 to £3(>; wheat, 13s. 6d. ; oats, at ss. 9d.; barley at ss. 6d. In ihe middle of July, flour was at

£50; wheat at £l 45.; oats at 95.: barley at Bs. f»d. h will thus be seen that nearly all grain has fallen nearly 40 per cent, in a very few weeks ; and it is a great proof of the sound and healthy slate of trade, and of the prudent and judicious manner in which it has been lately conducted, that so great a decline has been unattended by any commercial disaster. As regards the future course of our market, it is extremely hazardous to give any opinion. Every thing depends upon ihe amount of imports we may receive, and as to what they may be, we have no reliable information. From the United States we have but little, if anything, to expect, in the way of flour, at present; this market only lakes fancy brands, which at present, besides being scarce, are extremely high in the Slates, and not at all likely to be shipped at the prices which they command yonder. The Mii.iv:.—Messrs. Barker and Co. : Large demands laving been made for flour for tbe country, and no further supply having arrived, flour has advanced to £35 per ton for fine, and £33 for second quality. Sales of imported wheat have been made during the week at 13s. to 14s. 6<l. per bushel. Bran 2s. 6d. per bushel.—Mr. Breillat : The rapid manner in which tbe late importations of wheat and flour have moved offfbas induced arise in tbis market. Wheat is now selling at 14§. per bushel; fine flour, £35 per ton ; seconds. £33 ; bran, 2s. 6d. per bushel.—Messrs. Furlong and Kenned : Flour has advanced to £35 per t<m, with a brisk demand. In tbe event of no further supply from abroad, the market will continue to go up. Wheat is worth 14s. per bushel. Bran, 25.6 d. per bushel.— Potatoes are quoted at from £14 to £17 per ton. Wool Markets.—ln our wool market we have to note far more briskness than we have been enabled to report during the last fortnight. On Thursday, Messrs. Movt &• Co. offered 186 bales, and the prices obtained satisfactory. Scoured Is 6d to 2s Id, the latter high quotation being for a very fine sample of New Zea land wool, scoured by Mr. Hayes, ofthe Waterloo Mills; superior clips are quoted at from Is 4d to Is 6¥d ; fair to good, Is 2d to Is 4J£d ; low to middling, Is to Is 2d; hand washed, Hdtols4id. Melbourne, Sep. 8. Our town and country mills have been better supplied with wheat the last fortnight, owing to the late decline having forced upon the farmers the inconsistency of holding back for an excessive figure. The increased demand for flour, caused by the exhaustion of dealers' stocks, has, however, hardened the tone of the market, and we have to report several wholesale parcels changing hands al from £37 to £39, and someh-lders now ask more as the market is now barely supplied.