MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1338, 3 January 1879, Page 2

MELBOURNE MARKETS.

Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile) Agency Company (Limited) report under date Melbourne, 18th December, 1878, as follows : — An improved tone pervades the market for breadstuifs owing to the unfavorable accounts received fromthe principal grain-growing districts of the injury the crops have sustained from red rust, and our yield m consequence is likely to be considerably less than was anticipated a month ago. WHEAT. Several of our town mills are stopped for annual overhaul, and competition is not so keen as it otherwise would be ; those that are working are only buying from hand to mouth at from 5s Id to 5s 2d for good to prime old Northern ; and for new prime Northern, at 4s lid to ss, and at these rates there is a fair demand, but the quantity offering is light. FIOUB. For prime old flour a good trade demand has been experienced since the date of our last report, sales having been made at £11 10s to £11 15s, and holders are to-day asking £12, and the market closes firm. OATS. The principal sale since tho date of our last report has been the shipment of Californian oats ex mail steamer, which we sold by auction at 4s 9idto 4s 10£ d. Several parcels of New Zealand have been sold at 4s 2d to 4s 7d for inferior to fair feed, and 5s to 5s 3d for milling. Victorian feed oats have been sold at 3s to 4s according to quality, and bright plump at 4s 6d to 4s 7d. BARLEY. Received 1000 tons per Kepler, from San Francisco, to the order of the Omnibus Company, consisting of feeding bailey. Victorian new Chevalier of bright plump quality sold to-day at 7s, and New Zealand old at 7s sd. Feeding qualities are not m much request ; sales have been made at 4s 3d to 4s 6d. MAIZE. A good trade demand has been expel ienced during the week at 4s 7d to 4s Bd, and to-day 4s 9d has been obtained for a trade parcel. BRAN AND POLXAHD. An active business has been doing m bran at Is 2d to Is 2£d, and holders are now asking Is 3d. Pollard had sales at Is 5d to Is s*d. GRASS SEEDS. New Zealand advices report a short crop of rye grass, and as stocks here are light, holders look forward to high prices when the demand fairly sets m. We have no business to report during the week.