LONDON WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 8

LONDON WOOL SALES.

CFrov. Oxtb Special Coreespondbnt.) LONDON, October \. CONTINUED "EXCELLENT TONE AND PRICES STEADY.

Another week has passed, and still we are in the thick of the fight, engaged in a befttle royal, trying to pick up some "cheap" wool. Cheap, did we say? If we write down " dear," as applying to merinos, no matter where grown, we shall be nearer the mark, for this we are certain of : that fine wools have made this week as much as 2d per lb more than what was bid in July, and such a price k indeed sufficient to indicate the continuance of all the sound features which have been noted in past letters. At the same time, fine wools of doubtful yield, mut'hy and tender in staple, earthy and wasty in character, have hardly met witli such, keen demand as was the case last week, anu these wools have sold a little irregularly This is due to a little slackening on tli3 v>a't of Continental buyers, who seem to ac now animated with the desire that what wools they secure must be of good growth and condition ; hence, at the fore part of the week withdrawals were more frequent than has been the case hitherto. Colonial readers- may construe this to be a little weakening, but we affirm that for all really desirable wools, showing medium to good growth and fair average to good condition, the prices paid are on a full par with what was made last week, and here every lot is picked up with rare avidity. The home, trade has bought more liberally this week than last, especially in merinos, while in medium and fine crossbreds German buyers have been larger in their operations. This has caused prices to keep steady at the best of the series, though in coarse grades, wbea the wool has beeu skirty aud

wasty, prices paid have only been on a par with July rates. Continental buyers continue to be the backbone of this series, and the prices that are being paid fot- the best wools, both in grease and scoured, are a wonder to Yorkphire. Even Capes are fully Id better than last series, which is saying a great deal. Taking things altogether, the sales are progressing satisfactorily, and prices are very good for merinos.

Sold by Messrs Dv Croz, Doxat & Co., September 25: — Mount Pisa: Grease — 7 bules first combing BJd, 73 do Bd, 23 second do 7Jd, X do 7d, 94 first clothing 7id, 3 damaged 7£d, 13 DF 7d, 26 broken 7Jd, 1~7 do 7id, 5 scoured first combing 15d, 51 do second uieces 14U1, 10 do third do li^d, 29 do bellies 14d, 3 "do DF pieces 13id, 6 do S do lid, 15 do locks lHd, 4do halfbred pieces lOd. This was a faji-Jy decent -clip, aud sold veiy leadily ruck cd. The scouring- was fairly well done, ■ uiigh some lots handled a little fatty. Morn >>. Hills: Grease — 5 super combing Bd, 5i lual do 73, d,7 3 ,d, 31 second do 6Jd, 39 first clothing 7id. 40 do 7Jd, a damage* 7d, 11 DF 6kl, :il iirst nieces 7Sd, 11 &coxired first combing lotd, 3-1 do thiid pieces 16d, 26 do bellies 151 d, Bdo locks lod. Hood quality merinos; plenty or length; very sound and shafty, but fait/. The scouring was fairly well done. Waihao Downs over crown over heart : Grease— lo halfbred 6*, d, 10 do s|d, 11 crossbred SM, 9 do 4|d, 13 do H 4Jd, 21 three-quarterbred 4Jd, 6 do 4gd, 19 da 4|d, 13 crossbred 4£d, 22 Leicester 4Jd, 4 Lincoln 4Jd; scoured — 2 halibred 13\d, 3 crossbred Bhi, 10 three-quarterbred 7d,~ 9 Leicester 6d, 17 crossbred bellies 6£d, 4 threequarterbred pieces 5Jd, 5 crossbred S pieces s\d, 6do locks old. About all these crossbreds there was nothing more than can be called good average wools of a useful type. A finer quality would be an advantage and command greater prices. CP in circle over Awhea: Grease— 34 crossbred 5Jd, 80 do igd, 2do 4^d 91 do G 4gd. 82 So D Ud, 15 do pieces 3ld. 14 do 4d, 18 do lambs sd. This clip also went to Bradford. Fair quality, and well grown.

Sold by Messrs Thomas and Cook, same day : — Tarndale: Scoured — i bales super combing 17Jd 8 first do 17Jd, 23 do 17d, 18 do 163, 7 do lGd, 11 A do 17d, 5 B do 16^d, 5 second do 16id, 8 do 14d, 7 do 14d, 9" skirts 17d, 4 do 15£ d, 6 do 15d, 14 first pieces 15^d, 40 do 15d, 26 do 14d, 8 do 15d, 10 second do 14d, 7 S do 12id, 5 do 13d, 21. bellies 15d, 11 do 14Jd, 4 necks 13id, 3 do 13£ d, 25 locks 13d, 12 do 12£ d, 4 super combing halfbred 12Jd. The scouring here was indeed creditable, while the prices made were likewise very good for Xew Zealands. Excellent quality, very good length, shafty, and in good condition. MMM over Lagmore: Greasy — 12 halfbred 7fd. 20 crossbred 6d, 12 do 5Jd, 8 do 4-fd, 20 do 4Ad, 18 do 4|d, 5 crossbred first pieces 4id; scoured — 4 quarterbrad 14?, d, 6do 13Jd, 6 halfbred lOd, 9 crossbred 7id, 10 do 7id, 19 do 6£d, 4 halfbred pieces 9d, 6 crossbred do 6id, 15 do s|d, 7 crossbred bellies 6id, 8 crossbred locks s|d. This is a wellgrown clip, and was marketed in a very creditable manner. Generally speaking, it was of good average quality, but had it been finer it would have made a better price.

Sold by Messi-3 Buxton, Ronald, and Co., September 27:— NZ & A Land Co. over Kav.arau: Greasy — 47 bales first combing 7Sd, 31 do 7|d, 44 do 7id, 50 do 7d, 14 second "do 7d, 14 do 7|d, 41 do 7. l ,d, 34 do 6|d, 3do 7id, 11 do GJd, 36 do 6Jd, 24 necks 7?d, 4 first pieces 6^d, 6 scoured first combing lG^d, 4 do second do 15^, 3 do clothing 15k1.~ 7 do pieces 17d, 15 do 17id. 11 do A do" 17d, 6 do second do 16Ad, 7 do 15 J .d, 15 B do 16^d, 10 do 14Jd, 5 third do 10-.d, 8 third do Mid, 5 do 15d, 2 do 12d, 7 locks 14d, 12 do ]3i<3, 6do 11 id. These merinos were in nice order and of good length, but the grease lots were certainly very fatty, the scomeds being an improvement. Smedley : Grreasj' — 3 comeback 6Jd, 5 A halfbred sd, 7 do 4UI, 4 do sd, 10 do sd, 8 A crossbred 4?. d, 19 do withdrawn, 14 B do 4Jd, 11 do 4*,d,~ 6 C do 4d, 16 do 4Jd, 13 A crossbred 4Jd, 27 dc 4Jd, 12 crossbred pieces 3£.d, 4 A do bellies 32d, 7 do pieces 3Jd, sdo 3Jd, 9do locks 2Jd. There was nothing here veiy creditable, the wool being very coarse, rough, and wasty. Try a finer quality, and give us some more comeback wools. CA over G over Glenharn- Greasv — 4 super crossbred combing s|d, 20 first do 7d. 15 do sd, 11 second do 5Jd, 14 do sd, 6 Romney do SJd, 5 do sd, 6 ciossbred 4^d, 8 first do pieces 4Jd, 7 do bellies 3Jd. We saw nothing super about these crossbreds, they being fairly useful. Hotuotaria: Greasy — 17 first crossbred s!d, 10 second do 52d, 57 first L do sd, 56 do 54d, 65 second do \\A, 29 do 41d, 20 first do pieces 4Jd, 28 second do 4.id, 15 do 4£d, 32 third do 3?d. Bradford Luycrs took nearly every lot ior the pioduction of 36's and 40's tops, the wool being v,ell grown, shafty, and in average condition. A & Co.: Scoured— 4 AH 16d, 8 do lod, 15 AA Mid, 21 B 14 J .d, 11 C 14d, 6 D & E 15d, 13 X 14d, 8 do" 13£ d, 8 necks lid, 6 do 13Jd, 13 first pieces 14 ',d, 8 second do lid, 6 do lß^d, 6B do 13id, 5A do 13 J ,d, AB do 13d, 5 BB do 9id, 11 locks 12d, 7 halfbred 13d, 4 do 12^d, 7 crossbred lid, 9 do SJd, 8 do neckg Scl, 4 first halfbied pieces 81<3, 4 first crossbred pieces 7|d, 4 second do 6|d, 4 do B do GJcl. The scouring here was creditable, both in meriuoa aud crossbiedSj aud eveiy lot sold

leadily. GJenside: Greasy— l fire crossbred sd, 14 do lid, 15 do Lincoln 4Jrl, 142 do 43d, 11 do 4id. 7 ciossbicd 4^d, 9 do beilies 3Jd, 7 first do pieces 3Jd, 4 second do 3|d, 3 do belliep ."Jd, 4 do locks '2\A, 31 do lambs sd. Give us a better quality as soon as possible.

Sold by Messrs Charles Balme and Co., September 2fi: — AVaikai : Grease— ls first cojubing t»id, 69 do Bd, 4 do Bd, S second do Sid, a first clothing Sd, 6 fiist pieces S^.d, 10 do Bd, 3do 3Jd, 9 bellies Hd, 8 locks "4Jd. rJhc<-cr Jhc<-c were veiy nice and creditable merinos. They showed a very good quality, were sound, well gio-.vn, cuid in good condition. JB over Rin diamond : Grease — 25 first combing 9d, 21 do Bd, 10 do 9d, 86 do Bftd, S do 7Jd, 17 first clothing Bd, 8 double fleece 77 Ild,1 l d, 14 bailies 6jd, 6 do 4id, 36 first crossbred combing 7d, 14 do 7d, 13 do 6}d, 8 second do 6|d. The merinos heie were of a very useful nature, first-class quality, very sound, but fatty — by no means a bad fault. Ardmorc over lieait: 2 scoured halfbied pieces 6d, 3 do locks sjd. A', erage wools.

Sold by Messrs WiHans and Overbury, September 30 • — Mangaohane : Scoured—3 bales second 15d. 2 pieces 13d, 8 A crossbred S^d. 7B do 62d, 11 Cdo Bid, 4D do 66 J25,J 2 5, "ll do 6jd, 11 E do s^d, 6 S do sid. 23 do necks 6d, 14 first ciossbred pieces GJd, 10 second do S^d, 6B do ??.d, 7do s|d. These are little piiccs for crossbred wools, and one wonders what "fat" will be left .for the owner. Take consolation : the future cannot be worse. Ohurukura: Scoured— 2 crossbred lG|d, 3 halfbred A lOd, 9 do B 9d, 14 do C B£d, 3 crossbred A 6Jd, 4 do B 6Jd, 7 do s|d, 16 do 5-\d, 3 three-quartcrbved A s£d. 6 do B 5J,d, 11 halfbred necks 9d, 10 do pieces 7Jd, 9 crossbred necks withdrawn, 6 do piece 3 s|d, 10 do sd. Another decent clip realising wretched prices. Had these been merino wools they would have fetched 17d to 18d. Are they now worth growing? See next mark. Bin heart over Elms: Greasy— B first combing lOid, 92 do lOd, 33 second do 9id, 9 do 9d, 19 do SJd, 38 clothing 9id, 7 second do B\d, 20 pieces Sid, 20 B do 7\d, 8 fir3t combing halfbred 7Jd, 20 do fed, 69 combing halfbred Bd, 38 second do •7Jd, 20 do B£d, 46 do BJd, 40 third do 7Jd, 15 combine three-quarterbred 7d, 14 third do 6d, 4 combiug three-quarterbred 5Jd, 18 halfbred pieces s^d, 11 do B do sd, 7 do bellies od. This i 3 a clip which to-day is commanding very keen competition, and selling at high prices. Excellent qviality and well grown. Sold by Messrs H. Irwell and Co., same day : — Lan : Grease — 31 bales first combing 7Jd, 17 halfbred first do 7d, 33 crossbred do Cd, 9 do sd, 50 three-quarterbred do withdrawn. Good average wools of a x'ery useful type, but quality in crossbreds want 3 well maintaining. Knowaley: Giease — 7 halfbred fhet combing 7d, 13 crossbred do GJd, • 4 dc 4Jd, 21 threequarter bied do withdrawn, 4 crossbred pieces 4d, 11 do 3|d. A nice, useful clip. EB over Abbotsford: Grease — 4 halfbred fiist combing fijd, 5 crossbred do 6Jd, 6 three-quarterbred do withdrawn, 3 crossbred do pieces 33d. Good average wools and very useful. HH over T : 14 greasy crossbred pi^es 3Jd. JK: 9 greasy halfbred 6Jd. 6do crossbredi iid. This last clip, especially the halfbred lot, was very useful ; the other veiy coarse and a little wasty.

Sold by Messrs H. P. Hughes and Sons, October 3: — Howard: Greasy — 7 bales combine AH Sid, 21 do E 7£d, 11 do 3d, 13 do BH Bld, 47 do E BAd, 20 do W Bd, 10 C 7Jd, 8 pieces first 7Jd, 11 quarterbred BJd, 19 halfbred A 7d, 8 do 6Jd, 5 do 61, d.6 l ,d. 10 halfbred B GSd, 43 do 6'd, 78 do 6d,~18 do GJd, 23 do sjd, 11 dc sd, 11 three-quarterbred A 42d, 46 do B 42 d, 21 do 4d, 4 Leicester A 4»d, 5 do B 4\&, 9 halfbied pieces first 55 J t d, 5 do 4Jd, 4 three-quarterbred do 4Jd, 5 scoured B 16\d, 4 do lGd, 2 do pieces first 16d, 3do second 15Ad, 10 do 13 id, 4 looks Hid, 4 halfbred combing: 13d, 11 do 12id. 5 threequarterbred XT.d. 4 halfbred pieces first 121<3, 8 do 12d, 5 halfbred pieces 9kl, 4 do Bkl, 13 do 6|d, 3 three-quaiterbred pieces first 7Jd, 3 do B 7.1 d. 3 do 5Jd, 6 do 6£d, 7 crossbred do 6}d, 7 halfbred locks 6d. This was a fail, large line of wool, and very decent too, the meiinos being well grown, but f httls heavy in grease — by no means a bad fault, so long as the wool is sound. Crossbreds good average stuff. Ohoka : Scoured — 14 combing J6UI, 12 do B 14' d. 4 B 15d, 13 BB 15d, 4 pieces 15d, 4 do 12id. 4 do lid. 6 locks lO'd, 10 quaiteibred lod. -27 halfbred super 13* d, 26 do 13*.d. -17 do 11 ' d. 46 do 9\d. 37 crossbred A 7\d. 4 do B sjd, 19 halfbied pieces 12d, G2 do Sid. 22 do 9d, 9 do Bd. 13 do GJd, 20 three-quarierbred piccer 62d, 4 do 7Jd, 11 do 6d. The scouring here was of high order, being a capital colour, very clean, and shafty. We thoiight the cossVi-eds particularly a good lot of wool. Greenfield: Grease — 1 halfbred combing 6Jd, 39 crossbred do 6*d, 25 do sd, 19 do 4-Jd, 54 three-quarterbred do sd, 52 do withdiawn, 20 Leicester sd, 13 do sd, 7 dpmoged 4'd, 2 fir«t crossbred pieces Id, 2 second do GUI, 12 do bellies O^d. Some of these lots were veiy well giov/ 1 , though ilie prices realised T-vers small. Ciostbiods to-day are httlo in pi ice.

Looking at conditions in Bradford in the light of London, it must be paid that things arc " off," there being, so far, nc response whatever. Users here have taken up, if not an antagonistic attitude, one which causes them to totally ignore all claims of sellers for higher prices, and transactions

are to-day reduced to the very smallest dimensions. The fact is, nobody he-re, unless it be the most optimistic topmakcrs, has any great confidence in values for merinos keeping up at the highest level of London, and to obtain what tops are costing is an absolute impossibility. Prices all round have been put up on a level with what wool is costing, but super 60's can stiil be bought easily at 20d when spinners make such an offer; but as yet little business has been done even at that figure. Everybody seems disposed to wait until they see how wool is going to finish and what response there is in yarns and pieces before paying much higher pi ices for tops than what they have ! done. The following table shows the full coui«> of prices during the past month:— -

Description of Staple. Lincoln hoggs Lincoln wethers Deep-grown hoggs Deep-grown wethers White super hoggs White super wethers Irish hoggs Irish wethers Shropshire hoggs Shropshire wethers Oi dinary half bred hoggs . Ordinal y halfbred wethers Wiltshire Down tegs Wiltshire Down twes Super 60's, colonial tops .. Ordinary 60's, colonial tops Ordinary 40'«, coloninl tops Ordinary 36"5, colonial tops Ordinary fa'O's, Buenot Aj res tops Turkey average mohair ... Cape firsts, mohair CO to d. S} 51 (j 51 61 ? I1I 1 7 «1 10} Joi 1»1 'I' 7 ? i | "5 <o ~ 5i 6 it 51 7 I1I 1 7 10s s 7*l S3 « I a ', O 2. I p. «^ co d. Si 5* 6 5J 6i f 1 6 I s 71 61 105 ll't 191 18J I 8 £ j d. 81 P 8 51 7 G SI 8 H 61 ]0A 10J 20" 19 8 7i ! & s .n s 5* a. si 61 6 6i 6i oi (5 8 01 101 10£ ■? I 7i I 38 37 ISA 18 17 131 18 17 134 18J 17J 13 18}