COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8677, 29 December 1893, Page 6

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Messrs Goldsbrough, Mort and Com- : pant, Limited, repoit to their Christ- i church Ageucy as iollows .-—Wool—During I the past month a very large business has been . done in the Melbourne market. Values throughout, allowing for the little variations incidental to a series of sale., havo remained remarkably firm. The market for medium to average merino greasies ia at the moment certainly iv the most favourable position; Continental competition, which has throughout tho season been moat keen, has latterly increased, and ttie tendency of these wools has been slightly upwards. Crossbred wools, in the aggregate, show little alteration, superior qualities and the coarserhaired descriptions maintaining the old level of. values ; lamb's wool of all descriptions throughput the season sold at a high level of values. Scoured wools have ouly come into prominent supply during the latter part of tiie month, and now form a considerable portiou of our catalogues. The demand from all sections of the trade has been very active, and in no past season have the sales been more animated or bidding more spirited. The bulk of the purchases are, as usual, for the Contiueut, French operators taking the largest share. The Home trade have been active bidders, but have hardly acted up to the level of Continental limits. A comparison very favourable to our local market waa offered lon the opening of the fifth series of London sales, where price, were qnoted on I a par with September closing rates. This level has been exceeded throughout the season in our markets, and values have ruled, for the grower, fully 5 per cent, higher, while one direct indication of the attendance and competition is that, with the mucn greater quantity to be marketed here than in London during the season, the bulk of the buying power is transferred to the colonies, the offerings by sales since the commencement of the season aggregating 237,516 and 218,224 bales respectively. Market quotations:—Good and superior merinos' 9d to IOJd, average to good 8d to 9d. medium to fair 6d to 7|d, superior lambs up to la 3_d, good to superior 9d to Is, medium 6_d to Bd, superior crossbred 9d to ll|d, medium 7_d to B|d, superior lambs lOd to lid, average 7d to 9d; scoured merino combings Is 3d to Is sd, medium Is to Is 2'), inferior 10J to lid, crossbred Is, Is 2d, ls4d, Sheepskin's—An extensive business has been transacted ; pelts are in brisk demand at high prices, but full wools attract les_ attention, and are a trifle easier. We quote pelts 9d to Is 9.1; dry skins in bales, merino and tine crossbred 4d to 4j|d per lb; superior up to s_d per lb, crossbred 4d to 5d per lb. , , Hides—The market has varied but little ; prime heavy continue scarce, and are in request at full rates. We quote as follows:— Green ox. extra heavy weight, of heavy substance, 3d to 5d per lb ; average weight 2_d per lb ; New Zealand heavy weight from 3d to 4_d. Kips—Green and salted lj|d, calfskins (sound) 2_d to .3_>d. Leather we quote—Heavy crop up to ls per lb, light do 6|d to 7d, waxed kip lo_d to lid, Waxed runners Is Id to Is 2d, waxed split 10£ dto lid, waxed light.calf la lOd to 2_ 3d, waxed heavy calf Is to la 3d, harness black lid to Is ld, harness brown up to Is Id; b-sils 10_ to 25s per doz, or 9£d to Is 2_d per lb.; Tallow—An active demand prevails. Quotations are—Prime mutton to £24 per ton, prime beef £522 to £25, good and mixed £21 15- to £22 10~, medium £21 to £21 10s. * 8122