MELBOURNE.

Southland Times, Issue 3363, 1 April 1879, Page 2

MELBOURNE.

The Argus of Wednesday last reports for the previous day : — In the import" markets, business to-day, -stimulated by the public sales, has had more appearance of activity, though the bulk of the trade done has gone through the auction mart. Breadstuffs have had a moderate amount of attention. Flour, however, presents an easier tone, though we make no alteration as yet on late quotations, £10 to £10 5s being still asked for good to fine brands, while second brands are to be had at a concession on thesei rates. -At auction £10 has been obtained. Wheat is still saleable at 4s 8d to 4s 9d for prime, though the highest realised publicly to-day did not go beyond 4s Sd. £AboutTsoo bags were di|posed/Cpf, and the-- "prices Z obtained ranged,^ according, to quality, from 3s 8d to 4s and 4s 2|d to 4s Bd. In oats, Victorian have found buyers at auction at 3s 4d to 4s j New Zealand being quoted at 4s 2^d. Privately, however, it has been found impossible to make such en extreme figure, and in consequence we hear of some 500 bags of New Zealand milling having changed hands at 4s| and there are still sellers at the price. Maize is firm; privately, sales : in parcels have been made at 3s B£d to 3s lOd, according to sample, while at auction 3s 8d to 3s 9d has been accepted. About 1000 bags have thus been quitted in parcels. A large business has been done in sugars, and satisfactory prices were, realised in the face of the arrival, of three cargoes announced from Mauritius, viz., the May Flower, with a shipment ;of refining ; the Johannes, via Adelaide, and the Louis the Ninth, direct, both with grocery sugars. The ■cargo of the Braginton, comprising 4374 bags .and 4830 pockets, was all cleared out. Brewing crystals ruled a shade easier, say 5s to 10s, but whiles maintained values. Fine whites brought £34 6s to • £34 10s ; white 'counters, £33 15s to £34; greys, £33 10s ; 'nondescripts, £31 10s to £32 ; brewing crystals, £30 10s to £31 10s ; ancl medium to good yellows £28 to £29 ss.' Teas were not largely sold this forenoon, notwithstanding the quantity offered. At .-auction, 264 packages were sold at 13|d ; 220 half -chests realised Is 7d to Is Bd, and 114 half -chests Is 6d. Sales privately are mentioned at Is 7d. On Thursday some 3170 packages will be offei ed publicly. 450 cases kerosene oil, low test, were quitted at lid per gallon in bond. The timber sales comprise cedar, gum, &c. The value of the imports at the port of Mcli, bourne during the week ending the 22nd inst. amounted to £279,311. Of apparel and slops the amount was £10.234: ; coals, £6109 ; cot- ! ton piece g00d5,' £10,229 ; gold, £49,587; sugar, £43,006 ; and rice, £9191. The exI ports from the port during the" same period amounted to £226,093. They included — Apparel and slops, £9750; gold, £65,527; wheat, '£8980 ; horned cattle, £8200 ; and ' specie, £73,G00. Messrs Goldsbrough & Co. reporting for the week ending the 19th, and without - date, say :— Wool. — We have no transactions to report, and as the season is virtually over the auctions will now be held at irregular periods. Sheepskins. — The tone of the market is unchanged. Butchers' green pelts realised from 2s 3d ,each ; do dry do, Is ,8d ; dry skins; inferior to' medium, from 3d to od per lb ; do, medium to superior, from 5d to 6£d do. Hides'. — This.Tnarket has been well supplied during the week; and we report satisfactory, sales. Calfskins, however, are quite a drug in the market, and light hides meet with little inquiiy. . Ox-hides" (average sizes) realised from 15s to 24s each ; cow-hides, do, 10s to 14s do ; Victorian, salted, 2£d to 3^d per Ib : New Zealand do, 3d to 4d do. Kangaroo Skins. — Large, well-conditioned fresh -skins are saleable at from 7d to lOd per pound ; but inferior and medium lots are almost unsaleable at from 3d to .6d per lb. Tallow. — The tone of this market is very weak. We quote :— Mt.tton, from £27 10s to £30 per lh; beef, £25 to £27 10s per ton; mixed, £21 to £26 per ton,