COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. MELBOURNE, May 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 25

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. MELBOURNE, May 18.

• ■" " LONDON, May 16. ■Copper: Spot and thro© months, £64 15s to Wheat: An Australian cargo sold at 31s, three others at 31s 4Jd, and 11,000 quarters of South. Australian March shipment at 31s 9d. The tdtal,_quantity ' of wheat and 'flour' afloat for -HieMJrutid Kingdom- i5, 3,250,0d0 quarters, and for~tEe..Goutinent ) ;2;o6o,ooo quarters. The AtJantiofshipments axW'l6,ooo quarters. Stocks and shares are unchanged. • - - May 17. At the tallow sales 1950 casks were offered, •nd 850 sold. Prices axe unchanged. Copper: Spot and three months, £64 10s to £6i 15s. Lead, £12 17s 9d. "Wheat: An Australian cargo sold at 31s 9d. The American visible supply is estimated at 84,582,000 bushels. May 19. THe Bank of England returns show the stock of gold, coin and bullion, to be £34,574,000; reserve, £26,234,000; percentage of reserve to liabilities, 49.79. The notes in circulation total £28,796,000; public deposits, £10,946,000; other deposits, £41^622,000 ; Government securities, £15,750,000 ; other securities, £28,440,000. Three months' bills are discounted at 2 3-16 per cent. Consols are quoted at £90 3s 9d. The following are" the quotations for colonial Government stocks compared with those ruling a, .week previous : — May 12. May 19. 2*ew South. "Wales 4's .. .. 108 108 New SoutJi ."Wales 3i's .... 99 . 99£ New' South. "Wales 3's *.! .. 87 J 87£ Victoria 4V 106£ 106£ * Victoria 3|'s *. 100 100 Victoria 3's- .. .. „ .. 88J 88£ South Australia 3£'s „ .. IW| 100J South Australia 3's ». .. 89 89 Queensland 4's 107£ 107£ <sueenßiand'3i'3 100 100 Queensland^ 89 89 2IW Zealand i's ...... 105 106 New Zealand 3J's 995 99| New Zealand 3's .. .* .. 87£ 87| Tasmanian 3|'s 100£ 100| Tasmanian 3's „ 89 90 West Australian B*'s .*. .. 98 98 JWest Australian 3'b .-. .. 89 89 Two Australian cargoes of wheat sold at 21s 9d. The English wheat market is inactive, but firmer. Owing to advances in America and Argentina the Continental market is more active. France is buying. An Australian, cargo was sold for 31s 9d, and Eellers are asking from 31s 9d to 32s for May and June'shipments. Australian spot is scarce at from 33s od to 345. Flour: There is an improved demand from Glasgow, and quotations range from 23s 9d io'24s. The London market is dull, owing to forced sales. The butter market is unchanged, but there is a slightly better tone. The cheese market is weaker. New Zealand, 52s to 535. Copper: Spot and three months, £64 35s to £65. Tin: Spot, £136 12s 6d to £137 2s 6d ; ihree months, £135 10s to £136. Pig iron, 555. Lead, £12 17s 63. to £13. Spelter, £23 12s 6d. Silver, 2s 2Jd per oe. Sugar* FirsV marks, 13s 6a ; German, lls Bd. The Bradford wool market is restricted, ©wing to the advance in price. Forties, 15d ; forty-sixes, 17£ d; common sixties, 24£ d ; super, 25d. At the sheepskin sales 3300 bales were

catalogued, and sold under good competition. Merino combing and clothing are £d dearer, short and shorn id dearer. Crossbreds: Fine medium has advanced, and coarse Wheat: Parcels of New Zealand by May steamers sold at 80s. May 21. Copper: Spot, £64 ss; three months, £64 Tin: Spot, £137 12s 6d; three months, £138 12s 6d. I/cad, £13. Silver, 2s 3jd per ounce. "Wheat: Four car<ros of Australian were sold respectively at 31s ljd 31s €Jd, 31s lOJd, and 325. Linseed oil, £22. Rabbits (little inquiry), 12s. 6d. Frozen meat: Sheep —North Island, 3 11-16 d and 33d; River Plate, heavy, 3|d; light, 3|ch Other sorts and lamb and beaf are unchanged.

Hides.—The market for stouts keeps firm. Heavy medium weights are irregular, while sloppy and scored are § per cent, lower. Tallow. The markets are dull, and there is a fall of 5s on last week's rates.-