The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 118, 9 April 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

April 9,1853. We give the following extracts from the circulars of three of the leading Wool Brokers; it will be observed that in two, particular reference is made to New Zealand 'Wools which attracted considerable attention and lively competition. The hints respecting more care and attention in packing deserve the consideration of the Wool-growers, as much stress is laid upon the necessity of separating wool in grease from that in good condition. " The Third Series of Sales of Colonial Wool tins season, commenced on the 14th Oct., and concluded lOth Nov., comprising: — 15,916 Bales Australian, 17,325 " Port Phillip and Portland Bay, 5^294 " Van Diemen's Land, 1,225 " South Australian, 1,789 " New Zealand, 44 " Swan River, . , , 9,479 " Cape of Good Hope.

51,072 " Since the August sales there has been an uninterrupted good trade in the woollen districts, and the consumption of wool was perhaps never greater than at the present time. Although there is great anxiety with many about next season's wool, the prevailing opinion among" our buyers leans to the belief that there is not much to apprehend from a deficient supply— they eagerly purchased the whole quantity offeree, commencing with an advance of )4d. to \d. on August prices, which improved to Id and l#«-------after a few of the early sales, and concluded firm at the latter quotation. " Middling and low qualities of stout-haired combing wool are in great request; the demand for this description of wool has undergone a material change of late, the high numbers ot yarn have been for some time comparatively unsaleable, and we have been nearly dependent on buyers for foreign account for procuring »ie

due relative value of the finer sorts of combing wool, and it must be borne in mind the continental markets are very capricious. The leading spinners at Bradford are of opinion that the production of a stouter stapled combing wool may be safely recommended to the consideration of flock-masters, particularly in Port Phillip and Portland Bay. " There was good demand for the finer qualities of clothing and scoured wools, of which latter a fair proportion was offered. Several ■superior well-managed parcels from New Zealand, attracted much notice, and commanded a lively competition; —when the flocks of that colony become more extended, no doubt there will be greater regularity in the packing, which is much to be desired—fleeces in the grease, or otherwise objectionable, should be carefully excluded from wools in good condition. Pkices Current—New Zealand. s. d. s. d. Fair and good Flocks 1 4to 1 10# Inferior and ill-conditioned 1 0"1 3 Lambs 1 4 " 1 8% Scoured 1 8 " 2 0 Locks, Pieces, and Broken 0 11 " I 5 Grease 0 8 " 1 1 Skin 1 3 " 1 8 Thomas Southet and Son." "Until within about three weeks of the commencement of this series there had been a general complaint among dealers, of a difficulty in realising profits on and making sales of Wools purchased in the July and August sales, although it was well known that the activity among the manufacturers and consumption of their, stocks had ,been very great. The determination, however, of the Merchants to bring on only one series of sales instead of two, as usual at this period of the year, was attended with the beneficial effect of causing an almost total exhaustion of consumers' stocks, enabling dealers tO; effect a corresponding reduction in theirs, which would not have been the case had the sales commenced at an earlier period. The result has been to draw together a very large assemblage of buyers for the supply of immediate wants, from the manufacturing districts of the north and west ; but the attendance of foreign buyers has been small, and their purchases very limited. This may partly be accounted for by their heavy purchases in May last. " The sales opened at a small advance on the average rates of July and August; and in a few days from the opening prices further gradually advanced from 5 to 10 per cent., more particularly for Clothing Wools, for which, and for Scoured Wools and the finer Australian flocks, of which the selection has been very good, the demand and competition have been very spirited. Combing Wools, of which there has also been a good supply, although few of extra quality and wash as compared with May, have partaken of the advance to a more limited extent, excepting cross-bred deep-grown coarse qualities, for which there is just now an animated demand for Bradford Combing purposes, at prices that may appear discouraging to the growers of fine Combing Wools, but which we hope will not produce this effect, as this description goes into a few hands compared with the finer qualities. " We are glad to notice the marked improvement in growth and condition of many flocks from New Zealand; the coming properties of which give great promise for the production of that colony ; more care, however, is required in sorting and packing the various qualities, which perhaps can hardly yet be expected until the flocks become larger and quality more uniform. "Although a considerable portion of the last Clip from the Australian Colonies has arrived at a late period of the year, and much is yet to arrive, as will be seen by the annexed Table of Imports, it is gratifying to be able to report on the prospect of an increase from some of the ports, to compensate for any probable deficiency this year from Victoria. "The four sales of 1851 contained 169,296 bales Colonial; the four of this year have only amounted to 155,180 bales, leaving probably a larger quantity for February next than we have usually had at that period of the year. " It is satisfactory to report that the advance obtained has not been caused by extraneous speculation; purchases being for the most part confined to consumers and dealers for the supply of their wants until the early sales of 1853, indicating most favourably the healthy state of our market.