AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10044, 3 February 1896, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL

Proas Aisoolation,—Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Sydney, February 1. The first fortnightly wool sale showed no abatement in the briskness of demand, and following the course of tho Loudon market liighor prices were paid. _ For all good lots there was spirited competition Most of the offerings, however, were of inferior quality, For those olusscs there was no improvement. During the week 18,500 bales wero offered by auction, and, including private sales, 20,600 were sold. As tho wool season draws to a close the stagnation in shipping is becoming very marked. Numbers of ships are lying idle in the harbour, having failed owing to the shortness of the clip to get the expected loading. A leading |freight brokor, speaking of the matter, said many ships would never get loaded unless they cancel the wool charters. The experience of many years has never known steamers to quote a farthing to three-eights of a penny a pound freights for wool, as they are doing this year, and such things as 17s 6d per ton tallow freicht was never before touohed. A great deal of trade is being diverted to foreign ports, and the tendency is yearly increasing; The local wool sales are largely liable for this. Foreign buyers snap up wool on the spot, which formerly reached the Contient via London. Another dull week for the import market. UreadstnfFs are steady, but quiot. Flour: Limited sale; most makers nave brought forward ireely. Immediate prospects of shipments from New Zoaland also tended to steady the market. Inactivity is the chiof feature. In produce lines, oats, prime, few, weakened to 2s 2d. Potatoes, snort supply, advanced, Locals, £7 to £7 10s; Colacs, £5 10s; New Zealand kidneys, £5 to £5 10s. Bacon is scarce, with advancing tendency. M klbours b, February 1. Wool: Competition shows great animation, all descriptions of good greasy and scoured merino being especially in demand. The inarket'is extremely firm, with an improving tendency, ' Reports from London are fully reflected in' the lo'ial prices. The import markets are quiet, with a slight weakening tendency. Wheat: Owing to the anxiety of the millers to reduce rates, the result of inability to sell flour, but very little is doing. Prices range from 4s lljd to 5s OJd. New Zealand oats are placed at 2a 6d in bond.