COMMERCIAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3905, 23 April 1877, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

MURRAY, COMMON & CO.'S WOOL REPORT. Herald Office, April 20, 1877. Wool. — From the commencement of the new year, the course of this staple has been steadily on the decline. It had been hoped, and to some extent expected, that the high rates which ruled towards the close of last November, auctions would be tolerably well sustained in the first series of the new year. There certainly was some ground to believe that the decline, if any, would not be great, as it %vas well-known that consumers were but slightly stocked, and tlie Eastern question seemed likely to be pacifically arranged. Prices have, however, gradually receded, until they now stand about on a par with the preceding August quotations, and the whole of the advance gained in November has been lost. The sorts which appear to have suffered most are medium and inferior greasy, and faulty and badly washed wools. Crossbreds, which were previously in good demand, are now also somewhat neglected. The uncertain state of European affairs prohibits the possibility of foretelling with any amount of exactness, the condition of the market for the immediate future, but everything taken into consideration, prospects are by no means so gloomy as at first sight would appear. In the first place, the woollen industry, generally, is considered to be now in a pretty sound condition, and consumption has increased. Secondly, manufacturers and dealers are but moderately stocked ; and thirdly, supplies are not likely to be much augmented, as from Australia the increase is expected to be moderate, River Plate only showing any great additional quantity. Taken oil the whole, there is so much favorable, that in the event of the disturbances at home soon being settled, there would appear a fair prospect of a steady market. The following statistics will, we think, prove of interest : — PRODUCTION OF CLOTHING AVOOL.

— As the season may now be considered over, we take this opportunity of thanking the growers and settlers of Hawke's Bay, most cordially, for the kind support and co-opera-tion Aye have experienced since our establishment here. Owing to our xiremises at the Spit not having been in readiness until the season was somewhat advanced, we have necessarily labored to some extent under difficulties*. We are glad to say, however, that notwithstanding the many obstacles we have had to contend with, the result proves eminently satisfactory. We have had the pleasure of passing through our stores for despatch to the home market, some considerable portion of the wools grown in this province (to date about 0000 bales), and as our appliances are now pretty nearly complete, Aye look forward with some amount of confidence to next season, hoping it will bring us a still greater share of busmess, Avhich we shall use our best efforts to conduct, with the utmost attention and despatch. We may mention that all wools with -which we trust to be favored next season, we intend to ship from this port direct.

187(5 1875 1&74 IS7O ISGO Australas'n 782,950 724,020 061,701) 550,007 IST 039 Cape .. 183.SSS 189,511 151.733 150,383 110,127 Rvr Plate.. 201,550 251,837 255,937 227,300 50,630 Total 1,223,283 1,105,90S 1,102,409 927,0i)9 327,802 THE SAME IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS IN THE STATE AS CLIPPED. IS7O 1875 1374 1870 ISCO Australasian .. 2(i4 244 \ 222 J ISO 00} Cape 45 4U 40 43} ">i)V River Plate. . . . 201)1 20H 207 181 f 40V Total .. .. 521 \ 491| 478 i 405 ~127 THE SAME IN MILLIONS OF POUNDS, WITH ALLOWANCE FOR SHRINKAGE. 1870 1875 1874 1870 ISGO Australasian .. 14S 13r>f 12U 104 \ 35 Caps 33} 35 S4\ 2!) 14? River Plate.. .. 73{- 70i 724 09 id Total .. ..255 242}: 231 J f 202} 05}