CANTERBURY WOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14530, 18 November 1910, Page 6

CANTERBURY WOOL.

, .— FIRST SALE OF THE SEASON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—press ASSOCIATION.] CnRiSTCHTTBCH, Thursday. The first wool sale of the season's series opened to-day, when 8520 bales were offered. There was a very large gathering of buyers, representing the Home, Continental, American, and local sections of the trade. The wool was heavier in grcaso this year than last, on account of the long spell of warm weather, but a largo portion of it was. very earthy, This applied particularly to the wool form. the plains where the north-west winds, which have been so prevalent this spring, continually raised the dust from the dry paddocks. The sale was delayed for four hours through the, difficulty that had arisen between wool-brokers and wool-buyers and was not commenced till two p.m. In the first two catalogues most of the wool was passed, as it was mostly from the plains, and suffered considerably in condition. When a better selection of wool offered, competition became spirited and continued so. till the end of the sale. Though prices were irregular it was considered that on the whole they were very satisfactory. The wool that declined most in value was choice halfbreds and fine crossbreds, which under competition of American buyers last season; commanded exceptionally high rates. A small quantity of merino wool offered sold well, the woollen mills as usual demanding such goods. Medium halfbred and crossbred wools were lower by about id per lb, as compared with the opening "rates last year, but, inferior wools arid scouring lots sold fully up to last year's ; values, when the condition is considered. The Continental buyers operated principally in halfbreds and pieces, and Bradford representatives purchased most of the crossbred. There was a good local demand for scouring • lots, of which there was a considerable proportion of the offerings. The , following is the range of prices with those of the corresponding sale last year in brackets:—Merino, 9d to 12id '(10-id to 12id); super, halfbred, Hid to 13id (13d to Is±d); medium halfbreds, 9d to lid (llid to 12id); inferior halfbreds, 7Jd to Bfd ; (82d to 10d); super threequarterbred, lid to 12id (12d to 14jJd); medium threequafterbred, Sd to 10id (9id to llid); inferior threequ'arterbred, 6|d to 83d (7id to 9d); super crossbreds, lOd to 10id (12d to 13jd); medium crossbreds, Bid to 9Jd (9id to llid); inferior crossbreds, 6d to 8d (6d to 9d); longwool, 6Jd to IOJd (Bid to 12d); best - halfbred pieces, 8d to 10|d (8d to lOd); second halfbred pieces, 6d to 7id (6id to 7id) ; crossbred pieces, 5d to Bdd (4id to 8id); locks, 3id to sid (4d to 1 7d). '