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THE LONDON WOOL SALES.

(From the "Argus," Oct. 30.) The recent fall in the prioe of wool has given rise to an animated discussion in the columns of our London contemporaries. The producers of wool, and particularly of merino wool, rebel against a ohange which has such an injurious effect upon their own fortunes, and they have been trying hard to trace it to some temporary or reinoveable cause. Notable among their attempts in this direction, has been their attack upon the English wool brokers, and upon the whole system under which foreign wool is treated on its arrival in London. They complain that quarterly sales do not give the producers fair play, inasmuch as they occasion scarcity at some periods ofthe year, and over supply, at other periods ; while some object to the auction system altogether, and contend that wool should be sold by sample, or by specification of quality, liko cotton or corn. It is further objected that the manner in which the, London wool sales are conducted is unnecessarily operose and circumlocutory, involving a great waste both of time and money. It is also alleged that the London brokers manipulate the sales for purposes of their own, keeping back produce when it should be put upon, the market at one time, and swamping ib with excessive supplies at another, for their own gain aud to the injury of their distant constituents. These and other similar charges have been advanced in the columns of the newspapers by .various correspondents, soveral of whom wrote in the interests of Australian wool-growers, and with a full knowledge of the subject under consideration. But they were not permitted to have it all their own way. The brokers entered into the controversy with great alacrity, and their defence of the existing order of things was prompt and spirited. They deny that more frequent sales would be to the advantage of wool producers, because purohasers from the north of England, from Scotland, and from the continent of Europe, already find it a severe' tax upon their time to attend the quarterly sales, and could not attend at all if monthly sales were established. In that case, they say, the whole purchasing business would fall into the hands of a few brokers, and the producers would lose tho benefit of the healthy competition thab now exists. They also allege that the auction system realises better prices than could be obtained by private sales, especially for wools of exceptional excellence, inasmuch as rival manufacturers often give more than their intrinsic value for very fine lots of wool, under the stimulus of direct competition in the auction room. In regard to the jobbery charged against them, the brokers assert that.it has always been to their own interest to sell the wool at the highest obtainable price, since' their remuneration is a per-centage commission ; while the fact that tho grower has often obtained large advances on his wool before ii is i xposed for sale is a sufficient security that no pains will be spared to realise full prices. It is not denied that wool is subject to higher charges than some other imported commodities,. but the brokers say that this arises from the peculiar character ofthe article. The produce of different growers and of different seasons varies so much, .that the manufacturers will not buy wool without examining it, and, consequently, its sale and purchase cannot be effected by the simple and inexpensive process which suffices for the transfer of some other articles of import. In this discussion neither side has gained a docided victory, bub good will come of it nevertheless. It has brought into prominent notice some disadvantages under which Australian wool growers unquestionably labour, and will tend to their removal. It has not been shown that monthly wool sales would be an improvement on the existing system, and this would be difficult to prove in view of the circumstance thab only one crop of woolis : obtained in a year. But it has been shown that Australian wool is subjected to so much handling and so much moving about from place to place, after it leaves the ship's side, aud before it reaches the manufacturer, that a great deal of expense is incurred ibr which tho producer receives no adequate return. The discussion which the wholo subject has received will probably lead to the introduction of a more direct and economical mode of putting our wool upon the market, to the benefit alike of producer and consumer ; and if so, tho voluminous correspondence which we have been considering will not havo been a wasteful expenditure of our Londou contemporaries' valuable space. But the fall iv the price of wool which his caused so much disappointment in Australia, would only be partially explained oven if all tho charges made against the management of the London brokers wore fully proved. The real cause of tlio decline is over-production. In wool-growing countries whose producers .- are not dependent upon the London ; brokers, prices havo fallen in the samo ratio as our own. The Mark Lane Express of September 6 contains an article translated from the Echo Agricole, in which the writer laments tho decline in merino wool, and attributes ib to tho increasing productiveness of tho Australian sheep runs. He says that the French breeders caused the excossive competition with which they now to contend, by supplying Australia with high-class stock, and recommends them to follow tho English modo in future, and breed for meat rather than for wool. With a rising moat market and a falling wool market, ib is likely that European shoepowners will gradually fall into this modo, to tho advantage of Australian wool-growers. Bub in the meantime our producers may do much to mend their own condition, by improving the quality of their produce and preparing itbetter for the market. Onthissubjoct ' An Anglo-Australian,' who wrote some excellent letters in tho Times ou tho auti-brokors' side of the controversy, offered somevaluablesuggestions, with which we shall close our present remarks : — "T ara fully aware," ho writes, " that the grower has much to do to improve his own position, which in the end must affect the broker or merchant. He should study quality, let his brand be known, have a character for uniform good packing, and be above all small evasions in tho description of his wool. If evor it could bo sold only by sample, liko cotton,, a great gain would be secured, while in all, cases whero large instead 1 of small lots are, offered for sale, dospatch and 'economy ixe at once secured, to the general good. *.

MB.-' HAIRDOA-fiß^^ i v TENSIONS, d^DiW-lA^^CAi-f C^4f ? T X_ -,v XX pipy •/•- PTEm&pXX^vlXm& l «?*yy y ' .■' " ■' • .„.;,... P.si.i -iP-J-vl-f- ■ -..- CHAPTER 111.--BIi)iNO,VI>ININ<J,^ ;-_, ;' p ■ , .-, -p>p<v , { f^^:# -:' ; '. ' -: ■-..;.-. --"..-,■ pr. p u pp^y/y »y^yX^^-p OProta ' London Sooiety. ' tori B^te_a'Be_'.)P| ;t»s" Me. H43pcAs-i# ia whp^^ these genial old boys ore^bae-wlOTs^^ct.^ pied one of the best suites ofibh'amfeeite ih j the was^ t in iill^espeets; l^^^^^iS^M^i tion. . Thither Captain Donoaster went tobreakfast with him on the Monday morn- - ing succeeding : the Sunday afternoon at ; the Zoological ; and break&fc- concluded, jthe pair their plans for the com- ' ing campaign.- •'"Tkm.Pwewlfno&'-&ffii elaborate; being limitedto paying^a Visit T at Mr. Surbiton's house, and enabling Harry to make what way, he could $tK* the ladies." , . vipv-- i'l-'p-pipp "There is no occasion," remarked ;- ; M_v^' Hardcastle, "to make the attack look pre- • meditated, and that is why I proposed^tb^ introduce you in j a public ; place,?? but" nothing can be more natural than thafcl— -° an old ally pf the family-r-shduld'4take^ a * friend with me when I happen to call ; and - I should say nothing if I were you about the advertisement in the paper, which is not likely to have come from the Surbi-y ' tons, and is most probably; some joke con- "• cocted at Brighton with which they have_ , •nothing to do."' •■■■ . , ' y y, There was no. end to the friendly attein- ■■• tions of Mr. Hardcastle He suggested ' that, as they had nothing else to do after •• breakfast, they should have a ride in - ttie- ; ißow ; and when he found that Harry; had no horse in town, he said.it didn't matter, "" he could mount him, and he did so ma •. most satisfactory manner, and fold *Harry always to consider the horse at •hid'difi- '"■ posal as 'long as he remained in London: Harry was anxious, too, about another -*' point. He told Mr; Hardoastle that he did not feel safe in such '« publio plaoe as, the Park, where he had nbfc/beeayfor r •; months ; but jbis hew friend, told^him to be' quite ea_v ontli^fc score* , /?* If^anv&mgf happens, ' salcl he, " I will settle theltmng-'^ for you; it is only for a short timff-hatr you need incur the danger/. -I hope r very Xsoon to seeuyouya.'free man — now,yno thanks?— l assur, you I take a selfish'^ pleasure in. obliging anybody to whom! < take a liking-r-it js my way-." . '-.y The first persoh^they met in the Row; y was a gentleman who was also fpnd : of- 1 friendly attentions-— a genbleman^ih hp.mV ble'life who. .followed^a pursuit- mot. tori- v.known in the neighbourhood-MJhat'^bf -[;:••' warning persons in Harry's .predicamentj ''--- with a viewf.to ;half-crqwns, of enehaies ■-•• being in the>yicinity.'- He gave an intima- ' tion of the kind' to Harry, which -.made . that gentleman wince, especially when he heard that the^n,emy in question- had " walked off with a swelLonlyon Saturday, while he was riding with a lady/-' But Mr. Hardcastle .treated the matter, so < ! lightly, and renewed his assuranpes. of support with such evident sincerity,.. flmt, Harry was soon reassured, and felt almost , as free as he did on what Fielding ,cajfs J r ; "that happy day of the week when . /. ' profane hands are forbidden to contaminate the shoulders of the unfortunate."*' 1 . The next person, they met was Miss . „ Surbifcon herself. She came upon llarry .'. Donoaster like a vision— only I doubt- if any vision ever sat a horse half so' well, 6r „ , managed it with such ease and grace! A vision, I fancy, would ride more in the' , style of the lady in' the picture advertisement, who sits sideways upon an agreeably :'■ rearing steed, holding the reins as if they: were the handle of a' tea-cup, while the skirt of her habit, which is aboutytw^elve ' feetiohg, meanders gracefully among 'the '"■ animal's legs. This was- not Miss Surbitoh's style yOu may be sure, or Harry would not have gone into such; absurd 1 * raptures about her equestrian performance. He had never* too, he thought, seen Xmy-ky body who.looked half so well in a riding - dress, though it is perhaps the safest cos- X] '■ ' tume for all styles of . beauty, and /most '~ - ; styles whioh are not beauty for 'that * f matter. ' •:- /" " : ; ; ' X ■ Mr. Surbiton, who accompanied hia daughter, could not ride, but he did.- He ?-■;' pulled up upon seeing Mr.; Hardcastle; -'■' and the two immediately entered into con- ■-. versation upon some sordid business in which they were both concerned. Mean*' ' while the younger pair, having no' social licence to talk, felt rather in the way , ; until Mr. Hardcastle presently introduced... • his companion, and the rest was plain "sail- " ing. The party first rode abreast, and " then in pairs, and after a canter or two , f together Harry Doncaster and • Blanche *--' ■ Surbi ton found themselves intimate friends. " Three days afterwards Captain Don* caster dined with Mr. and Mrs. Surbiton : , . at their houso .in Hyde Park Gardens..; Mr. Surbiton did not much care about • asking him, but Mrs. Surbiton did, ; which was decisive. That lady never neglected ,-■ an opportunity to. cultivate fashionable, and well-connected acquaintances—they were such a relief, she said, from heivhusband's horrible City friends — and ,she ,: treated the latest on the list with great; ; distinction, as being no more tlian .the .' due of a person who was' a possible viscount—the present one boing childless — '.. and who might — the lady had already , •' great ideas in the way of an alliance for. " f her daughter. Among the guests bidden to the hospitable board of Mr. Siirbitpn was Mr.Shqrn^ „ .• cliffe. Harry Doncaster and he had not met since the memorable night at Brigh*. ton, and had thoir meeting now taltea .< place been elsewhere, Harry would have quarrelled With him, for he could not doubt the nfeahs by which that gentleman had made the acquaintance of. the Surbi-. tons.' It was clear that he must h'aye dropped the glove in the coffee-room,'* ahd .that Mr. ShornelifFe must have appro- . ipriatedit. However, the house they were „ in was no place in which to settle a. question of the kind ; nud.hnviug" onco let if pass, Harry thought he would atxy no more about it, contenting himself with the amiable revenge of making Mr. Shorhcliffe particularly uncomfortable by taking no notice of him, and leaving him unccr-* tain what kind of greeting he had to expect uutil the evening was well-nigh over. * Harry Doncastor indeed was fai* better employed; for he had Blanche Surbiton _._ in oharge at dinner, and enjoyed the lion's , . sharo of her society afterwards. Shorh-'^'" cliffe was powerless to interfere with this., monopoly during the meal, for although;, placed opposite to the lady, there Was "a '\ bar betweon them in the sliape of a sense-; .' .; *' loss contrivance of fruib and flowers, which, as he said afterwards, was;all very ;, ' well in its way, but a bore beyond bearing y' " when it got in the way of one's pbserya-; tion. Ho could' quite sympathise WitK .' ; the Frenchman. who said that he detested' 1 ;. ; ';. the beauties of nature' ; and he "' hat^i ' the . . - scenb of roses as much as : did Hood-s ' v flower-girl who associated them with so "p* muc^ sorrow. The object who filled hisy „., thoughts was almost shut out, from jhis'-';. vision by these Wretched representatives 'y of grace auid 1 beauty^ ; It a was 'fiffii.XlJ indeed, by a. dive of a most undignified P*f, character ;that he could man^ his vis-a-vis,. and In,eied v a remark across a' dln^e^tHbl^l^Jeiw; „ io warrant 5 a^pcefss^t <^^MEWW- PW, his prober^fMW&f^ &#P»* j obtain nothing wore satiß%olbo^,t_^=tTOs

y: .:•'.„. 1 ,,.|..,..:a.1.^ 1 , •■'!■' .. . -, , 'Xfij^y yittty;ofca.M|M' blur '^i^^blue^wj ende-rtly Miss Surbtoja. colour—and t] glimpse of an occasional "arm. This w themore^exasperatingas he was able see and hear quite enough to know th Harry Donoaster was making his way ir triunlphant manner, and thoroughly c grossing the girl's attention ; while tho more happily seated could place but one i teiptoiation upon the manner in which, she HstenedtoorAddressed her neighbor the pink coi^continuaUy combated wi theivory of hor complexion. Poor Shorncliffe, too, had the addition mortification of being placed next to Mi Mankillen«r a lady of uudecided age b deoided manners; arrayed for fascination a style which ought to ampuntto cohspirai inlaw; who had no featured to speak of, ai thought therefore that her force lay in c pression; who said the smallest thin] with the largest emphasis, and whenev she talked— which she always did---twist< he^fiwe info maniacal grimaces, and ga 1 to her too agile form the contortions of mermaid. She was called, indeed, tl mermaid among the more ribald and i: suiting of her acquaintances ; and one theso noticing the manner in which si was disporting herself towards Mr. Shor: cliffe, remarked that if she carried ;h loplcing-glass and comb into connubial lif she would certainly give the most faithf reflection to her husband's least pleasai qualities, and comb his hair in a mahhi not contemplated by coiffeurs. _ Tbe neighbour tried to enter into hi ideas of a pleasant conversation, but fouc himself so entirely opposed as to the r qujred conditions that he contented hin self at last by answering her at random 80 they talked something in this mannerffYou go everywhere, Mr. Show cliffe; I have seen you at five hundre places this season," . '{ No, I think she is best in the ' Gran, Duehesse.*" , « You are fond of dancing P I knoi you are." *« Iwefei? JPatti of the two." ?Tju)se»re vejy beautiful flowers, adore flowers." " I hear that his last novel is a failure. Are you going to the Zoological ne_ Sunday r" , '? Yes. I heard her twioe at Vienn before she came here." And so forth. But the worst of it— fo 3-Eri Shorncliffe— was that the lady did nc feel offended, but came to the conclusio that her neighbour was a littlo deaf, an that it was a well-bred thing to humou him.r It was a desperately long dinner; for Mi Surbiton inclined to massive hospitalities and thought there could never be enough c of a good thing. But it came to an enc as even desperately long dinners mus do j and when the ladies had all sailed ou >f the room— like a fleet of flowers— th z; itlemen did what gentlemen always d on sl^°k oocasions— took a little more wine andtr to bring together the scatterei element. "" °^ conversation. As for Hari - Donoaster ' c seemed, for the first time aware of tk >ir - P^sence-so engrossed ha. he been with j. n « ;^neighbour, who wa not only by tv\ s ! **". [mispress of hi heart, but of his L re^ aIs J5 f j? r h J s brai! had gained new life. fr?ja\er ,beauty, an< his fancies wete exu ,llara J. ed as » f *tf from a feast of the;god^ '• }£■ Hardcas^ Oe who was on the other . Sld t°| c ta f le nodded to him as he to. lche .5 hls .W with his lips, and his looks said as plainh as looks can say, « I congrat a™ you. Shorncliffe was first in th e ,™jng room, and when Doncaster ci x f^ a tlja apartment he found him engager • 2 J con rersation with Miss Surbiton, «V n i|VKf tending' to iake : tea. To what ext v e^,^ would have succeeded in interesting^ tn< young, lady I cannot say ; for he >'" a! cruelly treated shortly afterwards by> hu' host, w6p 4«w V^iia away to ask ids opinion 'upon , some- important questio» oonnepted witH the City. Harry took the opportunity to Blip inio> the vacant chair, ana was. once more master of the situation.'":.- ■;., x - '-■ v-. - Hpw they got therer— by what pretence -«aud at whose suggestion— l know not; but in a few minutes the pair were miles away ;(drawiagrroom measure) in the con* aervatpiy,; There was no one near ; and you may be sure that both were conscious of the fact. /. Miss Surbiton, indeed, so far appredated it as to take the opportunity oi asking a question which she would not have Hked to ask with a chance of being heard. "Pray ; excuse me, Captain Doncaster : for asking you ; but where did you gei that little turquoise ring you wear on youi watch-guard P ' "Originally," answered Harry, "bj the prosaio process of buying it, if I re member rightly ; but how I came by il lately is more than I oan tell. I thought I had given it away years ago. It seems however, that I have been wearing it for some little time, at least, next to nrj heart, for my servant found it in the sid< pooket of a coat. How it came there i a mystery to me, but I remembered it as being my former property." " You were at the Dragoon Guards' bai at Brighton last week— l know you wer< —■I saw you there. It was there I los the ring. It must have come off with mj glove, which I dropped going out." A light broke in upon Harry Don caster. " I was an idiot," said he, " not to hay connected the two circumstances before It was I who found the glove. You wW in the' carriage, and had driven off befor I could return it." " Toil found the glove P I thought i was Mr. Shorncliffe. He brought it bac ' very unnecessarily, and made a great fus about yit at the Zoological Grardens 0 Sunday. He was a stranger to us ther . though it seems that papa banks wit him." 1 " . ;< "." The fact is* I lost the glove by acci dent, and Mr. Shorncliffe appropriated i( „tbut the ripg, whioh I had not observec was not then ia it, and must have falle. out previously, and remained where I ori §inauy placed the glove. I ought t aye quarrelled with Mr. Shorncliffe fc his share in the proceeding, but have d( termined to forgive him in consideratio of the temptation. His object was to us tite glove ior the purpose of getting a introduction to its owner." The pink coral gained a decided advai tag© oyer the ivory as Harry said thes words. " I oonsider his oonduot highly import nentj" said the lady; "but it does n( alter my opinion of him, for I did not li_ hira from the first.' • "I will at any rate restore the ring, gaid Harry, disengaging it from his chaii and placing it in its owner's hand. . Blanche Surbiton looked^ curiously 1 her companion as she received the orni meni.J '■ip ..,•''.'•■ vQWeiyptiwyveeoUeotion,'' sheaskei ciuietl^ sibf the person to whom you ga\ ;,:itw^n^agoJP"yf - " • , ■ perfectly as she wi ."'; /ih^jS^ipsien'yeiars s|nce--just befoi -J W^ *o Indiaj-^an iilto^^ Can it I y-tEft*§r^l|C,/.i '-"' --^'i,-.-' examine the poSs bihtviwhichsuKeested itself. , ppp^tM^^^^pf- Bpfen or eight y^ai of a^,, anE you.gaye the ring to her upc

,/!-;,. -„■-■ "' ' — !~ &i . HtUft.J^o far, looking for seaweed, and had hr 'sflyeffupbh a piece of rock until the tide . as — thfen coming in— -surrouhded her. She td was in great danger, for she was too J iat frightened to - help herself. You were 1 a walking upon the beach at the time, waded h- through the surf, and oarried her cm shore, ise She was j nearly fainting—you were very- . in- kind to her^-revived and soothed her— as and ultimately gave her back to her ser- • ir f vant, who had been talking to a soldier th and came up at the last moment. On ( leaving the child you placed this little ring tal; upon her finger, and she has always worn iss it since in remembrance of her deliverer." ( ut " I remember every incident you menih tion," said Harry; "and now that you t ey bring the child to my. mind can recall ad her face in your own. .But time makes _> great changes in young ladies who are gs not grown up." . er And here Harry Doncastor made an _d ; obvious remark or two about the influence ye of time being sometimes of a favourable a character, which brought the pink coral ac to the surface again. Then he asked a ' n-^ questionin his turn — bf " Did you recognize me P" lie At the ball I thought h- your face familiar to me, and soon remem^; , er pered where we had met. You have ; ? e, changed very little— scarcely at all, in- i ul deed." nt Harry did not ask— and I dare say did er not care— whether the tendency in his , case had been favourable or otherwise ; and er the 'lady' was 'hot sufficiently gushing to td voluMee. the information. That the disc- covery of their bid acquaintance gave a- pleasure to them both \vas easy to be seen ; i ; and when Mr. Shorncliffe — by the merest — accident,, of course— came presently into a- ihe conservatory, even that very assured id gentleman arrived at the conviction that he was no welcome addition to the party, le (To be concluded in next Hbbah>). Bbbakfast.— A SucoEgspur, Exebbimbht --•The Civil Service Gazette hi* the -following j interesing remarks j—" There are very few simple articles of food whioh can iboasfc ao ». many valuable and important dietary proper- , ties as cocoa. While acting on the sorvei as a gentle stimulant, it provides the bocly with some of tbe purest elements of nutrition, and ia at the same time corrects and invigorates the action of the digestive organs. These beneft>r cial' effect- depend in ft groat measure upon >t the manner of its /preparation, but of late n years such olose attention has been given to d the growth and treatment of ooooa, that there ,r is no difficulty in securing it with every woeful quality fully developed. The singular suet . oe'-- whioh Mr. Epps attained by his ho:moao- - 3' pathio preparation of oocoa has nover been j£ surpassed by any exporimentalist, Ear and 1 wide the reputation of Epp'B Coooa has 8] >read L by the simple force of its own extraord inary . merits. Medical men of all shades of opi inion have agreed in recommending it as the s afest c and most beneficial article of diet for per sons 0 of weak constitutions. This superiority of a '• particular mode of preparation over all ot hers d is a remarkable proof of the great result s to y be obtained from little causes. By a thore ragh ?, knowledge of the natural laws whioh go rern d the operations of digestion and nutrition, and s by a oareful application of the fine prope rties s of well-seleoted ooooa, Mr. Epps has prov ided a our breakfast tables witb a delicately flavo ared j beverage which may save us many heavy dook tors' bills. It is by the judicious use of t moh articles of diet that a constitution may be [' gradually built up until strong enough to re. ' sist every tendency to disease. Hundred a of subtle maladies are floating around u»» r eady 7 to attack wherever there is a weak point. Wemay escape many a fatal shaft by keeping our * • selves well fortified with pure blood and a t properly nourished frame.— [Advt.J

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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1108, 10 December 1869, Page 3

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4,241

THE LONDON WOOL SALES. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1108, 10 December 1869, Page 3

THE LONDON WOOL SALES. Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1108, 10 December 1869, Page 3