ENGLISH COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2492, 26 April 1871, Page 2

ENGLISH COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Dalgety. Dncroz and Co., of London, report, under date February 23, as follows: — The first series of colonial public wool sales for this year commenced on the 2nd, and will continue till the 27th current. The wools held over were variously estimated from 40,000 to 50.000 bales, and newarrivals were 76,811. The following have been catalogued— Australian aud Queensland 26.623 Victorian - 32,826 Tasmanian ... ... ••• •■• 1321 South Australian IS <'l° 2 . West Australian ... ... ... 785 New Zealand ... 14,168 Cape of Good Hope 24,223 113,252 The sales commenced with very fair competition, and at prices fully equal, in some cases slightly exceeding, the closing rates of November —a scale which has been well maintained throughout, and with but little variation. Australian and Queensland have been for the most part of a medium character, and iv very seedy condition. The attempt to grow long wool in a climate which is not adapted to sheep of that class, has introduced irregularity and inferiority into many flocks ; while even where, the wool is close and fine it is often infested with seeds. It is to be hoped the last fine season will remedy in some measure the latter defect, and ensure a better result for good clothing wool. Victorian wool is generally very well grown and healthy. A large proportion is in die grease, but is "showy in appearance and has met an active competition; there is less burr than usual. The very choice western flocks have experienced the want of the very spirited French competition which procured so high a value for them last spring ; still they have for the most part been fully appreciated by the home trade, especially where j long and strong in stayile. Their condition is equal to that of any former year with but few exceptions. Scoured and lamb have sold well. South Australian is well-grown and sells at about the average of last spring. Tasmanian and Swan River wools are of a i very ordinary class of held-over and skin | wool. They . show a slight improvement in price. New Zealand washed and scoured fleeces have also shown a little improvement. Greasy was perhaps a 0/J higher than closing November, rates, till towards the end' when they appear to have suffered from comparison with the greasy Victorian of the new clip. They are still, however, quite a 0/1 higher than the average of November. On the whole, the market is in a far better and sounder condition than could have been expected after six months of a desolating European war- Importers of last year have had the satisfaction of seeing the decline of the summer and autumn arrested, and their imports pass into consumers hands, while tbe average prices of the new clip, owing partly, doubtless, to improve * quality, compare not unfavorably with those of February 1870.