MELBOURNE MARKETS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2689, 29 January 1881, Page 2

MELBOURNE MARKETS.

The Australasian of the 15th mat. reports : The London market for breadstuffs has remained, a* far a? prices are concerned, almost" without fluctuation. In the quantity of Wheat afloat there is, however, an increase of some 140.000 quarters oj the return for the previous week. Quotations on the 7th wrre 4<*s to 50s for Adelaide wheat ; 34s 6d t0'353 for flour. New Zealand wheat was quoted 46a to 48s. On the 10th, wheat was steady, but the market inactive. An English circular, dated 3rd December, gives the following interesting particulars of the wheat surplus of the world : " The increase in America on last year ia 32,000,000 bushels. Surpluses in the world, 255,000,000 bushels; deficiencies in the world, 227,500,000 bushels ; net surplus, 27,500,000 bushels. In Melbourne up to the close of Monday flour had only a trade demand at our quotatation of L 9 to L 9 2s 6d. On Tussday there ■was a good trade demand, and sales were made at the same quotations of 50 and 30 ton parcels. To-day a fair trade demand was experienced; but millers' town prices were reduced to L 9 7s 6d. Wheat continued to maintain to the close of the week • quotation of 3s lid to 4s for prime samples, inferior being sold at corresponding reduction. On Monday wheat was in fair request, and although no great activity was evinced, the quotation of 3a lid to 4s for prime was retained. In one instance a line of 500 bags changed hands at 3s lid. On Tuesday, under the hammer, about 6,000 bags of wheat found buyers at prices ranging from 3s 5d to 3s 9d, and up to 4s OJd according to sample. Privately, also, a good business is reported to have been done. A parcel of good wheat was placed at 3s lOfcd ; 400 bags of prime were quitted at 33 lid and 4s ; 1,500 bags were disposed of at a price f.o.b. fully supporting our quotation of 4s In town. To-day considerable sales have been made at auction. 5,000 bags were disposed of at 3s 6d to 3s ll£d, and 4s to 4s Id, according to sample. Privately 1,000 bags were sold at 4s. Shippers exhibit indisposition to operate at advanced rates, but there haa been export business in hand the last day or two, and it is still pending. At the close of last week the value of oats was maintained at 2s 4d to 2s 8d for ordinary to heavy feed, and 2s 9d to 2s lOd for prime milling sorts ; the same quotations being retained on Monday, but with nothing to refer to in the way of sales. On Tuesday sale 3 were made publicly at 2s 2d, 2s sd, and 23 Bd, and a line of 200 bags milling was placed at 2a 9d. To-day 800 bags were sold privately at 2s 7d to 2s 9d for good to prime feeding. At auction 600 bags were disposed of at 2s 6d to 2s B^d, and up to 2s lid, the last for a milling sample. Malting barley has had more attention. On Saturday the demand was active, and sales of fair quality, to the extent of 500 bags, were made at 3s 7d to 3s 9d. On Monday 800 bags changed h»nda at 3s 6d to 3s Bd. On Tuesday malting qualities were moving steadily at 3a 5d to 3s 6d and 3s 8d to 3s 9d for ordinary to medium. Business also has been doing to-day at 3s 3d to 3s 9d and 4s. Maize having continued to advance at Sydney, attaining a value of 3s on Monday, Melbourne holders on that day advanced the price to 3s lOd, and on Tuesday to 4s Id and 4s 2d. The suddenness of the rise bewildered buyers and stopped business. At Sydney, however, the price has advanced to-day to 3s 3d, and holders are now very firm at our quotation, 43 to 4s Id. Bran has been in demand at B|d ; 9d is now asked ; pollard also commands 9d. In oatmeal and pearl barley we have not the •M'jhtest change to note.