BOWLS. YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1057, 21 February 1911, Page 7

BOWLS.

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

WISHART FEATHERS. At'tho Palmorston bowling green on Saturday afternoon a rink.of Woodvillo bowlers, comprising Messrs, Wardrop, Rose, Gothard, and Nicholson (s.). played an interesting' gnmo with tho holders of tho Wishnrt Feathers, Jlossrs. Kissell, M. O'Reilly, Ilodgins, and C. Smith (s.). The visitors started off well, but 'got stuck on tho unlucky number, 13, and, when there were three heads to go, the game was:. Palmerston 20, Woodvillo 13. However, the latter gor a 3 and a 4, which brought them ahead, niid they lay three on tho 21st hend, when tho. Pnlmorston skip put in his last bowl, and gained the shut and the gnme, the Palmerstonians thus i-otnining tho trophy.

CONDITIONS IN BRADFORD. - (From Our Special Correspondent.) , Bradford, Jnnunry G. New Year markets art seldom of a lively character, mid 1911 is no exception to tho rule. 'Last Monday in Bradford was very largely of a holiday nature, and again yestorday nothing was done over which any man can shout. To a very largo extent things are quietly resting, although there has como across .the horizon a little 'disturbing factor in a somewhat marked fall in Continental futures. It does seem a thousand pitic-s that the wool trad* should bo always open to be alfc'ctcd by a section of men who are not concerned about the actual material. This kind of business seems to have grown considerably , in recent years, and without the shadow of a doubt Continental, torhio markets play an important part in determining tho actual course ot'.the raw material. This certainly seems very , strange, when, these gentlemen never handlo a pound of wool from January to December, and yet they aro concerned in., manipulating markets to their own mutual advantage. Everybody knows their tactics and what they are up to, and t» find prices sold down id. to Id. per lb. in about a week's time, is, to say tho least, not a very commendable stato of affairs. However," tho course of Continental futures, and the serious fall, has in no senso struck terror into the,minds of the Homo trade, and to a very-largo extent prices aro where ; they, were a "fortnight: ago.'l cannot say that Bradford is at all characterised by briskness; in fact, it is not. Tho meeting on Exchango yesterday was well attended, but there was a complete absence of business, although prices aro spoken of as being steady. ' Sometimes it is advantageous to get a littlo below the surfaco and to Know whero things stand. A personal interview with' a score topmakers soon shows what is tho actual standing of tho raw. material,; and I am glad to bo ablo to. say ■ that so far thero is no apparent weakness cither in merinos or crossbreds, though I still think that a spinner 'can' buy at' a (farthing less in all qualities than ho could a fortnight ago.' Some topmakers to-day aro, very firmly quoting 2fi}d. for their standard Gi's, and even Whitehead's aro at that;-figure. At tho same timo it is'well-known that other big firms aro sellers' at. 2Gd., while .it is whispered that even a fraction less has been taken in-one or two quarters. This on the surfaco seems to indicate a little weakness, but it is surprising that with fully six' Weeks quiet rtiarkets tho de- ■ cline hns not been more than it is. . Tho fact is, tonmakers nro ill pnod position, and tho, quantity nf tons they liavo sold for February and March delivery is such that thev can afford to ignoro what lias been-taking place. The raw material continues to bo I'rnmul lip. big pilfs of wool nro being shifted, and there is still a keen demand for, tops to be dclivewl. and so lonf as that' obtains I am satisfied that wool will tako caro of itself. ; '■ -■ ' ~