AUCKLAND WOOL SALES

Evening Star, Issue 18808, 5 December 1924, Page 10

AUCKLAND WOOL SALES

KEEN COMPETITION. CROSS-BRED AVERAGE £35 A BALE. PENNY BIDS A FEATURE. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND. December 4. The first Auckland wool sale of (lie season commenced to-night. The: catalogue was n. very largo one, comprising .18.892 bales. 'lhe bulk was cross-bred, and thu average price over all was from 221,d to 24d per lb, or about C 35 per bale. Average wools of the same class were about uii a par with the Christchurch rates, while sniuc of (ho stronger wools sold rather hotter. Compared with the prices realised at the February -sale in Auckland cruss-hreds were up from bid to 9d per lh; hoggets were up from 6d to 9d: and half-hied.-, were up ' 10d. The, bench of buyers was the largest seen in Auckland. Bradford buyers took most of the wool sold to-night, but American and Continental buyers were also operating. In view of the high prices realised at the sales in the south this season, farmers had rushed every available lade to Auckland, and this accounted for the unusually large catalogue. Prices to-night wore up to expectations. The sale will he continued to-morrow.

Buyers numbered between sixty and seventy. One or two of them who nro usually prominent hold hack, but whether because the wool was not suitable to their requirements or because they hoped that prices might ease was not apparent. This had little or no effect on the bidding, as competition was eager for the majority of the lots. In some instances the eagerness to secure a certain lot was so keen that pandemonium reigned. One particular buyer was out to secure a certain lot at any price. An unusual feature was the number of penny bids instead of farthings. Practically every lot- offered was sold under the hammer. The wool offered was very attractive, the “ get-np ’’ in particular showing improvement. Competition for finer wools was of the keenest description. A large crowd was interested in the progress of the sale. The range of prices was as follows:

Merino: Average 35j}d to 351,d. Fine half-bred ; Average 32d to 34d

Medium half-bred: Average 30d to 33d. Coarser half-bred : Super 30d to 31d, average 2Td to 2&d. Fine crossbred: Super 28d to 29id, average 24d to 26d, inferior 22d to 24d. Medium cross-bred: Super 25d to 27d, average 23d to 24d, inferior 20d to 22d. Coarse cross-bred: Super 23d to 25d, average 2ld to 23d, inferior 20d to 21d. Lincoln cross-bred: Average 20d to 21J.c1.

Hoggets.—Fine, 29d to 3.1 d; medium, 26d to" 28dg coarse, 24d to 25d; low, 21d to 22d.

Bellies and Pieces.—Fine cross-bred, good to super, 20d to 22d; low to medium, 16d to 19d; cross-bred, good to super, I6d to 18d ; low to medium, 14cl to 16(1. Cm tellings.—Medium to good, 14d to 16(1: inferior and seedy, lid fo ,13d. Locks, —Cross-bred, good, 9d to 12d.