WOOL SALES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18571, 22 December 1925, Page 14

WOOL SALES.

GOOD COMPETITION. STRONG TONE IN EVIDENCE. (PSISS ASSOCIATION TSLBOSAX.) DUNEDIN, December 21. j The first wool sale of the season, I which took place at Bums' Hall, commenced on Saturday evening, and concluded to-day. The catalogues totalled 15,064 bales. There was a full bench of buyers, including several new operators. Great Britain, America, France, and Germany were represented, and practically all classes of wool met with keen competition. Bradford buyers took the heaviest weight;of wool, while the local mills were keen buyers for all superfine qualities, both fleece and pieces, and Continental buyers, although* not securing a large proportion, materially assisted in maintaining a strong tone throughout the sale. From the commencement of the sale it was evident that practically all classes of wool, fleece, and pieces alike, would provide sound competition, and this proved to be the case, values throughout being fully equal to, and in many cases in advance of, late northern sales. This is borne out by the fact that fully 95 per cent, of the offerings was sold under the hammer. The following is the range-of values: Merino—d. d. Extra super ~ ■;",'■ ~„ 29} to 23j Super .., ": ..■ 18§ to 20 Average .. , - >.- 16* to 18 Inferior ..; T' ,» 14 to 16 Fine Halfbred— "■' ;.' Super >.• ' ;'•..• 18 to 20$ Average -. .■ -..- 16 to 17* Inferior .., .... 12} to 15 Medium Halfbred — Super .. .. 16i to 20 Average -.»• .. 14J to 164 Inferior .„ ~„ 12 to 14. Coarse Halfbred—■ Super M w. 16- to 18 J Average M ..- 13 to 15 j Inferior ... >. : 10 to 12 i Corriedale— Super **. WM 18 to 20| Average .. .. 18 to 17 Inferior— None offered. Fine Crossbred — - Super- .. -..• 13J to 15} Average >.„ ~„ 114, to 13 J Inferior -...-.- .. 9to llj Coarse Crossbred— Super .-■ w 12 to 13 Average »v .« 10 Jto 11J Inferior „.. „., 8* to 104 Bellies and Pieces — , Merino, good to super -..- 13 to 18£ ' Low to medium .. 9 to 12 Halfbred, good to super 13 to 16$ ..Low to medium .. 9J to 12} Crossbred, good to super 9 to 11} , Low to medium .. 5} to 8i Crutchings, med. to good 7 to 10 Inferior to seedy 4 to 6 Locks — Halfbred and merino ..; 5 to 8} Crossbred ... ~.„ 3 to 6 WOOL IYALUES. l6wer level prevails. FOR SAFE TRADING • ~ (»T CABLS—PEISS AJSOCUTIOK—COn»IO«T.I ' (AUBTBAXIAJf AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION-.) ',, LONDON, December 20. Commenting on the wool position, •Mr H. Dawson writes:— ''.'Some' hopeful features are beginning to emerge, from tie recent perplexing. conditions.ri The tension of being caught,short of supplies for immediate needs is relieved, an,d more wool is near I'at hand.; Consequently users are watching carefully "for .the best opportunities I for replenishing., / i All this" indicates a return to a more normal and safe trading after a very disturbed jper^od. "There, is, a strong undercurrent of demand, and, a general anxiety to make j early, operations atja safe price, which appears in "crbsabreds to have been reached; '.'■ .., .....-,.■:, .. / "The lower level of values is encouraging a better turnover, and more machinery is running. T England is again becoming a more.'important factor in the world fs, markets.... In short, the worst phases of „tl}e . disastrous year just closing, are passing away and, after the most .severe crisis of this generation, -the .wool trade emerges still virile. and, strong./ *-

NO ALMONDS. CHRISTMAS SUPPLIES SHORT. NEW SHIPMENT CONDEMNED. For some weeks local merchants hare been anxiously awaiting for shipments of Sicily, almonds, which is the usual •cooking almond in such great demand at this season of the year. Local stocks were exhausted and the arrival at the goods shed of several shipments for various firms was hailed with delight. Arrangements were made for their urgent distribution, but a bomb-shell awaited the various importing firms. . The almonds on examination were found to be contaminated with a foreign fruit-fly and were at once condemned by- the'authorities. Consequently the, almond famine will still continue, and storekeepers all over the city and country who had almond purchases "to arrive" will now stand very little chance, of getting; even a fewpounds, as local stocks were practically exhausted early this month. It is fully realised that the authorities in condemning such fruit as this are acting in the best interests of the country, as no one, whether importer or farmer, wants to see that dreadful pest, the Mediterranean fruit-fly, established in New Zealand. RANGIORA STOCK MARKET. In consequence of the ho'idays, the Rangiora market was held yesterday, a day earlier than usual. The- entry was poor, the attendance small, - and business very dull, i Several lota of sheep were passed in, the Bales made being 10 fat lambs at 295, 20 aged owce at 0s Id, 61 ewes and 67 lambs at 22s 6d, 30 two-tooth wethers at . 22s 7d, 36 at 21s. 75 at 20s lOd, and 76 at 20s 6d. Thirteen head of cattle were yarded. Cows ,in profit made up to £i 10s, fat cows £o to £5 10s, steers £1 15s, and bulls to £4 -is. Pigs—About GO wore penned. Porkers made 50s to 60s, stores 34s 6d .to. 3Ss, , medium weaners 24s to 3CS, and imall 17s to 235. Poultry—Roosters made up to 12s 6d a couple, hens 6s, ducklings lis, ducks 6s, turkeys 25b, geese 16s. In the produce department, chickwheat sold at 20s to 27s a bag, oats 17s to 275, ■meal 12s 6d, peas 18s to 20s, chaff 3s 6d to 4i 6d, potatoes 10s, onions Id To. Skins, etc.—Halfbred sheepskins brought 12s, crossbred 10s, • pelts 2s to 3s 6d, calfBkins 3s to ss, fleece- wool 9Jd lb, pieces 6d, locks 31d, fat Sid lb, horsehair 16d,