CANTERBURY WOOL SALES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 977, 18 November 1910, Page 8

CANTERBURY WOOL SALES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Chtistchurch, Hovembcr 17. . The first wool sale of .this season's scries opened at Ohristchurch to-day, when 8520 bales- were' offered: .There, was a, very largo gathering of buyers, representing the Homo, Continental, American, and local sections of the trade. The wool was heavier in grease this year than last on account of tho .long spell of. warm weather, but a. large . portion of it', was very earthy. This applied particularly to tho wool from tho Plains! where tho nor'west winds, which have been so prevalent this spring, continually raised the dust from the dry, paddocks. Tho 1 sale was delayed for four hours through a. difficulty that had arisen between the woolbrokers and the woolbuyers, and was not commenced till 2 p.m. In the.first two catalogues most of the wool was passed in, as it was mostly from tho Plains, and had suffered considerably in .condition. When a better selection of wool was offered, competition became spirited,. and continued so till tho.end.of tho sale. Though prices were . irregular it was-- considered •hat, on .tho whole, they were' very satisfactory. The wool that declined most in value was choice halfbreds and fine crossbreds, .which, under the competition of American buyers last season, commanded at exceptionally high rates. There was a limited onantity purchased this year, however,- for the' United States. A small quantity of merino wool offered sold well, but tho fact that Americano are- operating more cautiously resulted in •mces for. these top lot? being lower by about l»d. to 2d. ucr lb. Medium ha.lfbred' and' crossbred wools' were lowor by about *d, per lb., as compared with the opening rates last'year,'but'inferior wools and scouring lots sold fully up 'to last .year's values when condition is considered. Tho ' Oontinont.il buyers operated principally in halfbreds and pieces, and the Bradford representatives purchased most of the crossbred. There was a good local demand for scouring lots, of which there wps -a. considerable proportion in the offerings. ' The following h the range of •■■''-ices, with thoEe for the corresponding sale last'year in brackets: — Merino, 9d.. 12Jd. U0.1d., 12«d.1. Suner halfbrod. Hid., 13Jd: (13d., 15} d.>; medium halfbreds, 9d. to lid. (Md., 12Jd.1; inferior halfbreds. -7/d., S3d. (83d; to Hid.). Super three-quarter-bred.' lid. to 121n\ (12d. to U3d.!: medium three-quarter-bred, 9d. to ICJd. (9W.„ lUd.); inferior three-quarter-bred, 63d. to 83d. (9Sd. to 9d.). Super crossbreds, !od. to IOSd. (12d. to 133 d.); medium crossbreds. B»d., 93d. (9M., UJd.i: inferior crossbreds, 6d. to Bd. (6d. to 9d.). • ■long,wool.-654.., Mid.'(B}d. to 12d.). Best halfbrod nieces, Bd. to 10? d. (Bd. to 10d.); second halfbred pieces; 6d. to HA. (61d. to-7*tl.)';. crossbred pieces. sd. to 81d. (lid.toßld.);,locks, 3>d., 51d. (4d. t0.7d.).