COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. MELBOURNE MARKETS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2687, 27 January 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. MELBOURNE MARKETS.

From Goldsbrough's monthly circular for January 18, 1881, we nuke the following extracts : °

WOOL. m The auction sales were resumed on the sth xtist., after the usual interval for the Christmas holiday*, and from that date to the p-esont 15,858 bales have been catalogued f'-ILI-,'? 58 bales aoM ' making a total of 107.652 bales offered and 116,421 bales sold during the season. Prices continue to be fairly maintained for the better descriptions but all inferior sorts and strong crossbreds have been decidedly easier, to the extent of •bout Id per Ib, the less encouraging advices t om England having had a depressing effect on the market. f s ., The g ieat bulk °f the clip has now gone nu ' and the c ? hjllo g«e3 from this date will show a large diminution. The lots now in the market are chiefly in inferior to ordinary condition and hence the low^r rings of pricei Ou- quo atmna for grea«y h ive ranged from 6d to 12|i ; an>l for mfc ior t> good average washed fleece, 12d to 19d pc / Jb ; , Ver y few superior lots have been ottered, but np to 25d has been obtained for choice parcels of s oured. Freights to London per sailing vessels have been reluced to per pound for greaay and grl for washed ; and per -teamers via Suez Canal, Id for greasy and lid for W»med. Kxchanpe on London continues ?t 1 per cent discount for •'rafts at sixty dayV sight. *nd ft per cent, extra for each thirty days additional. J J Prices current

SHBEPSKINS. The market has b^en lightly supplied, and buuness has been chiefly confined to green pelts. The large quantity of wool offering has absorbed th» attention of the local fellmongers, and dry skina »nd pelts have consequently suffered a decline in value, which has tended to shorten supplies. Green pelts early shorn are now showing good lejgth of staple but even prime lota of these hive met with little enquiry, and the bulk have been placed at from Is to Is 9d each, thus show ing a decline on last month's quotations. At our later sales, however, a better feeling ■was apparent, and a slight advance has been ' established. We quote : Butchers' green pelts, Is to 2a 3d each ; dry do. from 9d to 2a do ; dry skins, 3d to 6f d per lb (a few choice lota of early-shorn m<rinos, from Kivenna flocks, have been placed at from 6}d to 7d per lb).

HIDES. The tone of the market haB remained steady, and a moderate supply has been passed through at quotationa. Shipments from other colonio3 have been scarce, but a few parcels of prime heavies have been forward, and were readily disposed of. New Zealand are in request at from 4d to 4§d rer lb, but it is im< erative that hides should be in good saleable condition, being clean, well salted, and free from offal, in order to ensure satisfactory results. Local produce has met with a steady demand, and all oferingare readily placed. Current quotitions are : CJreen ox from '7s to 2fo 6d ; do cow, from 12a to 16s 6d each : Victonanealted, superior, from 3|d to 4^d per lb ; average, from 3d 111 1 3f d per lb ; inferior, 2£d to 3d per lb ; kips, from 2Jd to 3±d per lb ; calfskins, from 3£d to 5d per lb.

MONTHLY GRAIN REPORT. Wheat— Since our last report on 23rd ult, we have only held two public sales, ai which we disposed of s large quantity at prices ranging from 4t Id to 4s l£d ; but towards the close an easier feeling prevailed, and prime m Hing can now only be quoted at 4s The new wheit is coming freely into our Warehouses, but the samples as yet are not ot the average equal to last season's. We quote : Prime, for large shipping parcels, 4<» Id ; medium to good, 3s 8d to 3s' lOd ; and inferior to medium, 33 Id to 3s 6d per bushel. Flour— This market hai been much less buoyant during the past month. We quote eood country brands at from L8 17s 6d to L 9 and town-milled L 9 5s sterling per ton, Oats have been in good demand with a limited quantity offering and former quota tions have been fully maintained. The en 'ire stoppage of intercolonial supplies since the increased duty came into force has made prices firmer, and we look forward to hgher rites for this cereal. We quote : Prime milling, 2s lid to 3s; prime seed, 2s 8d ; medium to good, 2s 4d to 2a 7d ; inferior to medium, 2s to 2s 3d per bushel. Barley has been in full supply, and we have disposed of large quantities at prices ranging from 2s 5d to 4s for prime sample of malting. Ths season's crops being considerably in excess of last, we fear that present p-icei will scarcely be maintained. We quote : Prtne malting, 3s lid to 4s ; medium t ) gooi, 3s 5d to 3s lOd ; inferior to medium, 2' 3d to 3s 4d ; Cape and Oregon, 2s Id to S 6d per buthel. Maize has improved in price since our last report, and we now quote 4s 2d to 4s 3d per b -"hel. P.'u continue to rule at 2s 6d to 2s 7d per bushel. Brau '<j -a'e-ibk at 9?, and pollard at 8d pei ouabel.

Greasy— Inferior Ordinary to average Go id to superior .. Fleece, washed— lnferior Ordinary to average Average to good ... Snper'or ... Scoured— Inferior Ordinary [ Middling to g00d.., Superior ... 0 6 0 8 0 11 0 11 1 2 1 5 1 9 1 0 1 4 1 6 1 9 to 0 8 >, 0 10 „ I 2 „ 1 1 » 1 5 „ 1 8 „2 0 „ 1 2 „16 „19 „2 0

BOWLING ANALYSIS.