ENGLISH COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 3036, 15 May 1875, Page 2

ENGLISH COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Dalgety, Ducroz, and Co, report on March lethi— • The first series of wool sales for the present year opened on 23rd February, when the quantities that had arrived were 813,400 bales, viz:— Bales. K. S. Wales and Queensland ... 19,000 Victoria 160.300 South Australia 41.000 Tasmania ■ *°° Western Australia 300 Sew Zealand ... 4,600 Good Hope ... *7,800 Total .. .. 513.M0 Tram the -eowsieneement the attendance of tayert-wwyJjtt«Mwui,Vnfcthel*b}4dlßt»4uriu?

a somewhat lower range of prices than ruled during the February sales oi last year; the reduction averaging about id per lb on good greasy wools and somewhat more on washed fle»-ces, with the exception of cross-bred, which have sold well throughout, and the same may be said of lamb's wool. Prices, however, soon recovered this decline, biddings becoming spirited, and manifesting a freater scarcity of the raw material among ealers at home ajid on the Continent than had been supposed. The sales have accordingly - proceeded with animation; out of 165,000 bales of Australian, 124.000 have passed the hammer, the series being accelerated so as to close before Easter.

Victorian clips exhibit first-class growth and condition, though showing in many Instances an increased prevalence of burr; while the Western clips maintain their usual excellence in both respects, and have elicited very satisfactory competition.

South Australian generally compare favorably with previons seasons in point oi growth, and are less earthy. They have been actively competed for, on French account chiefly, and the prices of particular marks bear favorable comparison with those of last year. For New South "Wales and Queensland wools there appears to have been less inquiry, though in very moderate supply, and they must be quoted lower than last year. Of the wools of our other colonies, the quantity was only nominal, or consisted in the case of New Zealand of the remainder of the previous year s growth, chiefly scoured. The second series of sales will open on the 4th May, by which time arrivals, recently prevented by adverse winds, must be large ; for this, however, buyers are fully prepared already, and we look upon trade as generally sound and healthy, though there are complaints of the smaUness of manufacturers profits.