WELLINGTON PRICES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVIII, Issue LVIII, 4 December 1909, Page 5

WELLINGTON PRICES.

WELLINGTON, December 3. The second of the 1909-10 series of Wellington wool sales held to-day was not only the most important December sale yet held but was a very satisfactory clearance of the wools offered. Unlike the November sale the American competition did not' dominate the position, and for the very good Reason, that there was not the same selection for the requirements of the trade. It was essentially a Bradford tops day. Condition for condition the prices were quite equal to those ruling at Napier. As was anticipated there was keen competition for the lower grade wools, and taking condition into account these were dearer than at the November auctions. The best price of the sale was 13|d for light conditioned halfhred, while a very light conditioned Romney line went up to 13Jd, an advance of fd on the beet price of the November sale. In one or two catalogues a good percentages of the lines was passed in, owing to -growers' ideas of value being above the true market basis. Farmers had not only made the common mistake of supposing that because a certain crossbred topped a previous market theirs should about do the same, but had overlooked the fact that with the warmer weather the wool was much heavier, in condition than in November generally. The prices ruling last December and in November and December of this year were: — Best half bred, December, 1908, 9£d' to 12d; November, 1909, 12d to 132 d. Medium' halfbred, 7sd to B|d, 12d to 13* d, lid to 12d. Super crossbred B*d to 10|d, llid to 12fd, 12d to 13Jd. Medium crossbred 7d to BJd, B^d to 10^'d, 9£d to 10£ d. Coarse crossbred 6*d to 7£d, 7d to 9*d, 8d to lOd. Inferior crossbred s£d to 6^d, 6fd to Bd, 7d to B£d. Bellies and pieces 3d to 7d ; 4d to 7fd, s*a to BJd. The actual prices realised cannot be accurately compared with those ruling at this time last year, without allowance being made for the remarkably light condition of this season's clip. Cable news just received in Hawera from London states that the wool sales closed with prices firm and prospects good. A good demand is reported for all kinds or crossbred wool, i