LONDON WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 6

LONDON WOOL SALES.

(From Our Special Cojibespondent.'; London, March 25, BETTER VALUES STILL.

Everything this week in Col&man Street Wool Exchange ha 3 betokened life, vigour, and stir. If one could have seen any American competition present, the sales would have been in the third havens, but as ifc is the owners and growers of the article cannot but bo satisfied with the progress made. Competition &6 every flay's sale has bceu moil acfcivp, and all sections of the trade have been well to tho front. The fcoDe to-day has acquired additional strength) and the rise on merino wool averages from 7£ to 10 per cent., while instances of a much greater improvement have been by no means infrequent. F/ne croesbreds are also the turn dearer, but the coarse descriptions are out of favour pt fully £d do?n. Specialised, tha market tot GMflsy weol

at 10£u, which last series ptonted by American demand, ahows seally no change ; the mesb thai; can bo said is that it realists very firai a.ud regular prices. Bufe oe the oblier hfc,nd Ihe ties is ■£& on laiddling loin at 8d to 9d last time, aud a3 muoh *z yd 04 tho inferior range atuom 6|<i t'; 7i-1 per lb. Pieces also sell with avidity sX |v Vj Id sdvanca. In regard to scourecls, «he irnorvverr.cnb is mostly a full penny on light, bright parcels, and l^d on faulty descriptions, as vvell as on all kinds of pieces. The keau inqait? for locks is also a noteworthy feature. Ct'ossbrod wools have vatisd according to

grade. Fins quality New Zealand-; arc ittivdy compst'scl for at jk't I© lrt advance; but wLiie mediam ;ot« aro about bta&dy, ooarae pxrcels hay« gireci way genoraily by id per ib. Sl-'ped iteola have bewi v?ry tcaitily reprcsenfeeci.

South African wools have likewise participated in the generally improved market. Greasy parcels of combing ehfrracrer are £d and shorter six months' growths -^d to -£d d^arsr, according to condition. Scoursda, which this sale are scarce, are realising to Id more, am? native Qe.< can may ba called a. full -£d higher on th« siudill quantity so far sold. Taking, things nil round the sales are progressing most sntisfaebotily': the only thing to be regretted is Iha absence of American buying and competition for the best wools.

Sold by Messrs JJcnry P. Hughes and Sons, March 18— Tekoa s Greasy— 9 bales combing super IM, 21 do AW 9id, 27 do B 9d, 7 do H 10d, 21 do BW withdrawn, 21 do E 8R 6 do H Sid, 23 combing 0 BJd, 59 pieces A BJd, 13 do B 7 id, Tlieee were vetv nice quality , shafty^ aad well £to\fn.

Nowadays it's a treat to see a good lot of New Zcalund meiinos like the3e. Sold by Messrs Buxton, ilonald, and Co., March 19:-JN^Vin /-'.iarnond : Greasy- -'26 bales R cros-brfid !4d lf>7 Cdo BJd, -15 do 86, i F do 3d, 18 crossbred pieces- 6J.1. 13 An bellies f^cl, 3S do lambs 7jd, Hdo 6Jd. C .ndit.iou. here was y'si th.it could, be desired, and helped considerably <o a«11 the clip. It \v%3 ihoroughly good, 'jhrcs O over Bucclouch : Giva«y— 6 firftt i-orahing lOd, 2 c -mb-ing9fr.-i,2 do 7J.1,'10 first halfbred combing 9J.1, SS do 9d, 7 do Sh<\, IB second bolfbred combin? Bd, 12 three-quavlerbied do 8-1,9 do 7id, 8 crossbred do 7d, 7do 6Jd. Tho merino was specially good. FncreaTO This g>-ade, and have less ciossbred staple. Ranaatira: Greasy— 7 A crossbred BJd, G7 B do '7U, -13 0 do 7Jd, IS D do /.H, 3< crosiLred pucc-s sid, 4 do Gd, 10 do . r '3>l Ji-ai>n>va condition and quaMLy. ES(J : G-o»sv-33 A i -osobred lMK?,sts Bid, 125 do Sd, 20 B cvosiobrccl II SO, 69 or. 7t<l, S G crossbred Bd, 5 crossbred II 7R 23 do 7H, 4 do fi}d, 15 crossbred piec-'s fild. 6do 6d, sdo bellies 61 1, 15 do 51 1, 31 do lambs 7id, 21 do GJd. Thi3 ra a very largo clip, and showed a good gi'own staple, but heavy and wanty. Keep up comlitioa and attend to quality hi' the direction of fineness. Can-.iagtoti : Greasy— 2 merino 9d, 22 balfbreJ H Bd, 25 do 9d. SC ib.ree.cmavterb-.edSAfl. 24 di Lincoln H BJd, 18 half bred pieces Bd, 5 do CJcl, 16 three-g.uarturbred do 6Jd, Bdo 7^(3. Good avt- r*gc clip. Sold by Slesi-ri Gha-i. Balrae and Co., March 21:— Lanlb Hill: Grease— 2 firit coinini? 9d ; 23 halfbred combing lOd, 39 crossbred do 91, 19 do Brt, 9 do II S^d, 13 do 7J-i, 15 three-quarterbred combing Bd, 4 cro^p.bred uiecßs 7^d, 7 do 6Jd, 6 crossbred bellies Gd. Very go 3d— sound, sbafty, and nice quality. Small target ia diamond over UK: Grease— 6 super combing 9W, 31 first combing 9d, 19 do Bi>), 8 serond combing B£d, IX coml/sng 9a, "9 do S?.d, 4 double fluece 7£d, 12 clothin? 9d, 9 pieces 7d, 30 quarterhred combing 9Jd. 9 do H 9jd, 7 do clothing 9Jd. 140 fiist hatbved combi»g 9J", 58 second do Sd, 26 rio Bid, 30 halfbvod clothiog BJd, 11 do H-Bi, 8 sandy half bred 7R 5 damasjed 7fd, 3 quarterbred piecr-s 04d, 18 halfbred pieces 7id, 13 do 7J, 2 damaged 6Jd. This was a, Very good avi-riige clip, both qualities being well grown and sbafiy. S-jld hy ]\lessv3 Jr.ccmb, Son, and Co., March 22:— WM'L: Grease— lo bales crossbred fine 9d, 50 do Sid, Bdo 8-1, 9do Bd, 52 Lincoln Bd. Look after cinditioc. H and II over K'iiwarva : Plipo— 7 halfbred 9£d, L 7 three-qaart*rbred 9d, 43 crossbred Sid, 27 Lincoln Bd. 5 crossbred lambs 7Jd, 4 combing 9Jtl. These flne-haired lots s. Id vory well. O -in diamond: Grea« e— ll Asoven-elgbth-bred Bsd, 33 first ero.=sbsed Bd, 40 seven-eighthbred 7ld, 14 crossbied second 7Jd, 35 do 7iA, 13 do pieces 6|d. These showed a wcil-grown staple, but wers ico wasty. The home vsool maiket duriug tbe past week has cot been absolutely devoid o£ interest. More than ever woolmen ate convinced of the pound value of the raw article, and the way London sales are going is not wkhout having some tffect fn the m».rket iv a ge! eua! way. All round things show a distinct hardening tendency, aud pai ticulai-ly so for merinos. The few who have been to fche sale* and returned aay it is impossible to buy wot.l iv London and comb and sell at what Bradford spinners are wanting to pay for the tojes. But this 1 does not alter topcaftkets' ideas. All round men are asking a halfpenny more to what they were a fortnight back, and there is every indication of an advance being established before loug. This makes all fine men put on a gocd fronr, and users., to do business, are compelled to hearken to better prices. Ia fact, those producing 60's tops of any length and colour at all find ifc very hard work to show oae atufder2o£i, though a eaort burry one can be easily bought at 193. Still "at these figures men are not; anxious sellers, lulders belioviug ifc policy not to push things on too hard. All oiir combers are very busy, and day and night work is common. Inquiry still coEiinues to come freely from spinner?, and thero is again a disposition to buy and lay to stock all good fino qualities of tops. This aays much for the lafcure, and the idea is general that wool wili not be cheaper this year. B«en fine crossbreds are again better to sell, but 40's figure rather bad, bsing as low as ever they have been. Fine, bright crossbreds are fiuding much favour in yarns among makers of these coloured and black fancy dress good*, which at present are so popular. In Kuglisli wools, there is still business beiug done ia the best bright growths, but here lower prices ate expected to be taken, and the nearness of the coming clip d«es tioi; mend matters. Our yarn spinners Sad trade move slowly. In export dep&rtrsents there corner no relief from the late quietness of orders, though on home account there is a shade naoro trade btirdng. Mohair spinnero still keep busy and prospects are still good. In pieces tfieio i 3 acme improvement in home circle? for spring ropeftt?, bat American orders arc very quiet indeed. Batter ropoits come from lkel<Sa»t, and more trade is nturi&g for that quarter.