SOARING WOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3720, 4 January 1913, Page 7

SOARING WOOL.

SENSATIONAL NAPIER SALES. GROWERS DRINKING CHAMPAGNE SCOURED HALF-BRED FETCHES 14d.

LARGE NUMBER OF CLIPS PASSED IN AT TOP PRICES. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] NAPIER, Jan. 3.

A most successful wool sale was held at the Garrison Hall to-day, when a record offering of near 27,000 bales was submitted to auction. There was an attendance of 49 buyers, representing British, Continental, American and Colonial houses.

Competition was sensationally brisk from the first lot to the last, and prices were well maintained, and it is estimated that over £450,000 was invested in golden fleece. Superior and Bradford lots were in strong demand, hut. only a limited quantity was offering, and that brought _ the top price, ranging from one shilling to Is Ifjd. Medium qualities, which predominated, met with good competition and brought prices equally good as last sales. Inferior lots were a trifle lower, about Jd per lb. Some of the wool offered bore signs of severe windstorms and was dull and dusty. An outstanding feature of the sales was the passing in by the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-operative Association of a large number of clips at top prices. That firm sold fourth, and their action was interpreted to mean that they had received the latest information of the condition of the London market, which no other firm was aware of. The passing in of so much caused much comment and speculation as to the cause, but those in the know state their satisfaction that an increase in Home values is responsible. It was suggested that the Balkan peace conference had failed and that large orders for uniforms were to he expected immediately, thus depleting Home markets.

The highest prices were obtained by Lake Station for scoured pieces, 14d._ Following js a comparison of prices for the present sales and for the second sales last year.

As farmers, who were present in large numbers, heard, their prices, they withdrew, and frequent merrymaking was the order of the afternoon, champagne running like water and all being highly delighted with the result of the sales.

AMERICANS NOT OPERATING FREELY. BRADFORD WOOLS KEENLY SOUGHT. [PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM! NAPIER, Jan. 3. The second series of the season’s wool sales tinder the auspices of the Napier AVoolbrokers’ Association was held here to-day. There was a large ancl representative atendance of buyers and a record number of bales (26,751) were submitted, 'as compared with 21,055 for January last year. Bradford wools were keenly sought for and realised satisfactory prices, but American buyers were not operating freely and wools suitable for that market showed a decline of jd to §d lb.. Lambs’ wool sold extremely well. Bellies and pieces also caused good competition.

This Last Year. Year. d. d. d. d. Best halfbred 121.-133 -123 Medium halfbred 101—12 101—113 Pine crossbred 11 -121 10—113 Medium Crossbred 93—103 91—10.3 Coarse Crossbred 91—10 71— 83 Inferior Crossbred 83-9 7 — 71 Scoured l-bred pieces 121—14 No offer Pieces 7 — 91 61- 93 Bellies 63- 73 53- 61 Locks 5 — 51 31- 43 Lambs 83—124 73-10 Dead 71— 9 7 -101