MELBOUMIE.-The Argus of August 1 re. ports :

Tho import markets continue to wear an exceed ingly quiet aspect, nor has any improvoment been presented to-day, sales generally being difficult to effect, even of small lots. Breadstuff's com mand no attention, and Adelaide flour, of country brands, though offered below £lO, cannot bo dis posed of. Chilian flour is quoted at £l3 10s, and to quit parcels less monoy would be accepted. There are no private transactions in wheat to report, but by auction soma 10,000 bushels of Chilian found buyers at 6s for slightly faulty, and 4s 4Jd for badly damaged. Some 1200 bushels of New Zealand oats were placed at 5s Bd. Maize is again easier, and 5s 3d to 5s 4d is the utmost that could be realised. Malt meets with an improved inquiry. We hear of a bin of 15C0 bushels having been quitted at about 9s. The market for kerosine oil is nlhcr unsettled, as small sales have been effected at <te 7|d for Downer's, and the tono of the market is very much weakened in consequonce. In rice, operations are limited, hut country orders come freely to hand, sales being made at £2B 15s. handles have been sold largely at auction, over 4000 boxes having met with pur chasers at from 12|d to 13|d. Pale brandies, in bulk, are wanted, but owing to heavy arrivals of late, some difficulty is experienced in selling. Parcels to-day have been purchased at prices rising to 7s 9d for Martell's pale, according to quantity and package. Sales of Henncssy's case brandy, in moderate parcels, are effected at 28s. Bottled ale is in slow sale generally; we, however, learn of a shipment of some 600 barrels of Younger's having been placed in one line, at a figure fully supporting tho trade rate of 9s required for that brand. In Sugars there is not much to notice Sales of yellow crys tals, in lots, are effected at £4l 10s to £42. The Sirene, just arrived, brings dates from Mauritius to the 29th June; and private letters state that, owing to heavy rains on the 25th and 26th June, which had materially interfered, cane-cutting had commenced on many plantations the market was not expected to be fairly and fully supplied, until as late as the beginning of September,

THE MAIL SERVICE.
