GOLDSBROUGH'S MONTHLY CIRCULAR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3919, 30 May 1877, Page 2

GOLDSBROUGH'S MONTHLY CIRCULAR.

Melbourne, May 14, 1877. Wool.—Transactions during tlie month have heen few and unimportant, this being the dull season of the year. About 300 bales have heen sold, consisting chiefly of small lots and remnants of clips, and the price obtained are about equal to the rates current last month. The English advices are not of an encouraging character, and the anticipations of lower rates in the May series of sales in London have been confirmed by the telegrams which have been received. Our telegram dated London, May S, is to the effect that tlie sales have opened at a reduction of 10 per cent. on February rates—the quotations being estimated at oidy about 5 per cent, over the very lowprices of July and August last year. This reduction has caused much disappointment to shippers from here, but hopes are entertained that prices will improve as the sales progress. The war between Russia and Turkey lias of course had a disturbing effect, but the large quantity which has judiciously been withheld from the sales will no doubt operate beneficially—ineleeel it is to be regretted that a similar course was not adopted last year before the opening of the July series. Our telegram states that manufacturers are not well employed, but the stocks they had on hand in England were low before the sales commenced, and the English buyers will no doubt have to operate to a considerable extent in the series now progressing, in order to meet present requirements ; consequently it is quite possible that prices may improve. Prices current remain nominally as fol- —

Superior „ Sheepskins.—The regular auction sales held during the past month have been well attended by the local and country fellmongers ; and we have quitted a full supply at quotations, viz. :—Fresh butchers' skins, 2s Gd to os each, cross-breds, up to 5s 3d each ; dry skins, of ordinary growth, 3J-d to 4id per lb ■ well-grown station skins, 4id to 6d per lb. Faidty ancl inferior classes are difficult to sell; butthereis agood demand for first qualities, which are now showing a fair length of staple. We have no shipments to report, all sales being made to scourers,

Tallow. — The limiteel epiantity offering has caused prices to advance considerably, and they are now higher than we have seen them for a long time past ; the supply being barely equal to local requirements, very few purchases for shipment have been made. At our weekly sales we have solel 63-4 casks of all descriptions, at the following prices :— Superior mutton, -_39 ; orelinary to gooel mutton, £31" 10s to ,£3S ; beef, £34 to £36 10s ; mixed, £32 to £35 per ton.

s. d. s. d. Greasy— lnferior 0 6 to 0 7 Ordinary to average .- 0 7i „ 0 9 Good to superior .. 010 „ 1 0 Fleece, washed — Inferior . . . . 1 0 „ 1 li Ordinary to average ..12 „14 Average to good .. .. 1 4A „ 1 7 Superior 1 9" „ 2 3 Scoured — Inferior 010 „10 Ordinary 1 0 „ 1 2 Middling to good ..13 „16 Superior 17 „ 110