MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Southland Times, Issue 1259, 31 May 1870, Page 2

MELBOURNE MARKETS.

The Argus of the 23rd" reports : — In the import markets to-day, business has cot ; been characterised by; any degree of animation. Doubtless the departure of the mail steamer, and the necessary attention to home correspondence • requisite _in consequence, have interfered with even the moderate amount of business transactions with which the week usually closes. There ' is no appearance of a movement in breadstuff's beyond the trifling demand for 'trade purposes recorded of late. Elo'iir in trade parcels is quitted at £11 to £11 10s. Wheat is saleable at 4s lOd to '4s lid. The market continues to be as barely '"supplied as" ever. The policy"" of "the farmers hitherto has apparently been to keep back their -produce-in -the- hope that by so- doing- prices might advance, but the publication of the agri- ' cultural 'statistics discloses the fact that in wheat alone there has been an increase last year of 1,467,828 bushels over the previous. The imprudence of holding back, nnder such circumstances, then, must be manifest. In oats, barley, and maize, there is likewise a large increase, but the increase' in "potatoes is more remarkable still, being fully 6p percent., the .-yield for this year amounting to no less a quantity than 47,701 tons, all of which, figures unmistakeably point to a ; lower Bcale of priceß during the remainder of the season. Oate are offering freely at 3s 4d for prime samples. Maize maintains a quotation of . ; 4a_ 10d, but there has been little, offering. Woolpacks are steady at 3s 7d ; holders are careless of Billing at our quotation, and invariably quote a higher price, but we have not heard of any sales over. Hops meet with a good enquiry, and sales _ of considerable parcels., are reported as pending. In liquids, sales of HennessyV .case brandy, have been -made at' 27s 3d. >--■ ; -