LONDON WOOL SALES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3777, 27 June 1899, Page 7

LONDON WOOL SALES.

MARKET CONTINUES FIRM,

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LOIS DON, May 19tb. It is something in times of " boom” when things continue steady and firm, for with a commodity like wool a setback can bd as rapid as what the rise has been, and while some seem to think prices have now reached a dangetous point; yet we are pleased to be able to chronicle a continuation of the sound features current during the past two weeks, with a demand lor wool as keen as ever. During the past week there has been displayed every feature from which a colonial woolgrower could derive encouragement and satisfaction. It is noteworthy that the catalogues daily submitted have contained a character of wool that buyers hardly expected to see, and in that sense there has been a pleasant surprise. But on the part of buyers there has likewise been some most excellent support forthcoming, and the prices paid have been fully up to any during the previous part of the series. The Continental buyel's, and especially the Boubalt topmakers, have “laid-in” witn a vengeance, while Germany has likewise been fully to the front. The fairly good supply of Newt South Wales grease has suit id well the Frenchmen, this class of wool being well adapted for their fine French cashmeres. Queensland scoureds are an increasing quantity, and bring generally well done, and buyers well able to estimate tho shrinkage, they have commanded very full attention, and sold with great zest, prices being well up to any part of tho series. New Zealand crossbred wool has been on show very liberally, and the trade having more confidence in the future of crossbred wools, have bought very readily. Very coarse, wasty parcels are perhaps scarcely so firm as last week, but anything showing any quality at ail has been snapped up quickly. The same can be said of all South African wools, both grease and scoured. There is nothing of a dragging nature, good grease .especially being much sought after. Competition throughout is both general and keen, and prices are steady and firm. Closing letter next week. Sold by Messrs Charles Balme and Co., May 10th: NR over Takapu; 10 grse ersbd com, 7-jd; 6 do do do, 6,jd; 2 do do pcs 4Jd. Fairly well grown, but quality wants improving. WW; 6 grse ersbd com G;[d : 6 do do do, 6jd; 4 do do, 6d. A merino rani used" here would now greatly help this clip. HB; 4 grse Romney. Bid. JG over K; 4 grse ersbd com, Bd, BR in box : o grse halfbred com, lOd; 3 do hgts ersbd com, Bid. RR : 5 grse cx-sbd com, 9jd. Ashlee :• 2 grse halfbred com, 9d. Ail these five little clips were good, especially the last two. C over J: Grse—6 E and F fine ersbd com, 9d; 46 A ersbd com, 7id; 6 B do do, 7 jd; 30 C do do, 7d; 5 H do do, 6ijd; 5 M do do, 6jd; 6 do lambs, 8d; 1 do do, sd; 3 do pcs, 4jd; 6 do belly do, 5.)d; 5 do crutch do, 4fd. This was a respectable clip, and if all tho lots had been equal to tho first in point of quality they would have sold at a penny more all round.’ JB over Rakana: 43 grse ersbd com, 7d; 47 do do do, 6 jd. Improve quality as much as possible. Tho wool was well-grown, but rather rough. Notice the next clip. Kaiwara: 5 grse A sup com, Hid; 5 do hgts A do, Hid; 2 do do do 11-id; 7 do C, lid; 4 do B, lid; 15 do Ist pcs lOAd; 6 do 2nd do, 9id; 28 do hgts A “haltbred com, lid; 7 do do do do do, lOjd; 13 do do do do lOld; 12 do do do do, 10fcd; 27 do do do do, lOJd; 2 do R do do, Bjd; 5 do dgd, 91d; 13 do Ist halfbred pcs, 9Vd ; 8 do do do, 9d; 12 do hgts do do, 9-id. This was really an excellent clip. Both descriptions were super in quality, and the staple was well-grown and shafty and light in condition. H in flag: Grse—7 Ist halfbred com, 9J-d; 7 do do do, 9d; 50 hgts do ersbd com, 81d; 67 do do do, 8d; 27 do do do, 7|-d ; 27 hgts 2nd do do, 7d;- 5 do do do, 7d; 10 do do do 6,jd; 5 R do do, 6^d; 4 do dead, 6Jd; 17 hgts Ist Lincoln, 7|d; 8 do do do, 7ld; 48 do do, 7£d : 63 do do, 7d ; 31 hgts 2nd do, 7d; 18 do do 7d; 31 db do 6|d; 6 hgts do, 73d; 22 do, 6Jd; (? do, 6fd; 18 hgts Ist ersbd pcs, 6d; ,23 do do do, 6d; 10 do do do, sfd: 10 2nd do do, 51cl; 8 hgts crossbred bellies,, 51d ■ 19 do do, 6jd; 9 do do, 61d. This was/a fairly good average clip, though not the lightest in condition. Fair good quality, shafty and sound. It sold readily. Sold hy Messrs H. Irwell and Co., May 12th : Lome; 5 grse ersbd, 61d. HM over EX over 131: 7 grse ersbd, 7d. HBC: 17 grse ersbd, 61d. JVW over V in circle: 7 grse ersbd, 6ld. H and K: 11 grse ersbd, 6*d. IW: 4 grse Lincoln, 6Jd. 4 : 9 grse ersbd, 6id. OZ : 4 grse ersbd, 6Jd. RDB: 2 grse ersbd pos and bellies, 51d. C 4: 3 grse ersbd, 7d. JE over CIC; 7 grse ersbd, 6£d. FDG in diamond: IS grse ersbd, 6)d. MG; 3 grse ersbd, 7d. Bell: 2 grse ersbd, 6(d. Half-circle over Z: 2 grse ersbd, 51d. W over 17: 4 grse ersbd, 6’ f d. JE over Tahatai: 12 grse ersbd, 61d. JR over T: 5 grse ersbd, 6ld. GR over O: 22 grse ersbd. 6d. UG; 5 grse ersbd, 6jd. TE; 2 grse com, 9d; 4 do Ist JOd; 4 do do, 7-Jd. A over Ohara DrHSff ; 22 grse A com, lOd ; 6 do pcs, 9dr*J do do, BJd. These last two clips were by far the best. The others were coarse and wasty. Sold by Messrs Du Croz, Doxat and Co., May 12th: Kaimataran : Grse—2l Lincoln H 61d : 24 do 61d : 27 do 6jd ; 7 do pcs sd. Too coarse and wasty. Improve these. O : 36 grse ersbd, 7d. JB over Palmerston North: 40 grse ersbd, 8d ; 6 do do lambs, lOd. This was fairly good, the lambs especially so. RY over F hi diamond: 3 grse ersbd, Bd. JDL in square: 8 grse 1-bred 8ld: 5 do ersbd H, 7ld. RRB : 10 grse ersbd, fine. 8d : 15 do do, 6lid 7 do do. 61d; 5 do do pcs, 5Jd. BY over E in diamond ; 22 grse ersbd, 7d; 2 do do. 6^d; 2 do do pcs( 61d: 2 do do do, 4§d. Tvntesfield: Grse—-10 A com lOd; 15 do do, lOid: 13 B do, 9^-d; 2 C do. 94d; 9 pcs 9-id-. ’ These merinos were nice quality, sound, but yolky. So’d well. Leslie Hills: Grse—6l Ist com. Ill; 46 2nd do, lOld : 20 pcs, lOd : 12 bellv do, 9d. Scrd—7 Ist com, 21d: 2 do r.cs, 18 Jd ; 10 locks. 17d; 10 do. 16d. Fine, soft, silky oualitv, sound, good length, the scoureds being well done. IVOR; Grse—67 Ist com. 10*3: 23 2nd do, 101 d : 10 clo. lOd 39 pcs, 10d : 7 halfbred, lOld; 4 do pcs. Sid. Scrd —8 Ist com H. 21 d; 48 do do. 20d ■ 13 2nd do, 20ld: 1.3 Ist pcs, 21d ; H locks. 16cl: 19 halfbred sup, 17d; 9 do. 16d; 8 do pcs. 15d: 2 ersbd do. lOd : 3 halfbred locks, 143. All these qualities were satisfactory: the wool was weß-grown, the scoureds, too, being well done. Highfield : Grse—67 A com, lid - 15 B do, lOd; 16 C do, lOd: 16 do. 1043; 12 pcs, 101 d ; 9 belly do 91d ; 9 halfbred AA. Hid: 23 do A. lid: 17 do B, lOd; 20 do E. 4 do S, 91d : 3 three-cmar-ter-bred 88. 7d: 10 half-bred pcs, lOd ; 6 do belly do. Bd. Good, clean, sound, fine, soft quality but rather fattv. The movement in wool in Bradford continues on a steady and firm scale. The greatest strength undoubtedly at

tho moment, and one which is having considerable influence upon the market, is tho continued firm showing of wool in London. Other outside influences during the past week have been exerting rather a' weakening tenuency upon the market, and tho gambling tactics on tho Antwerp and other Continental termo markets, where futures havo receded, has been sufficient, da/ta to Bradford spinners to make them cry things down and tops easier. But we are pleased to say that merino topmakers have thus far proved themselves equal to tho occasion, and in • stead of falling in with users’ ideas, they havo stood hard by last week’s prices. There seems to be amongst holders one concensus of opinion, namely, that inoy have nothing whatever to give away or receuo on what their wools have cost in London. At 27\d for a good, shafty, 60’s top, no topmaker can afford to bo so philanthropic as to sell at dess, and nobody is disposed so to do. A good deal of gossip is indulged in at the way American wool merchants are stepping back to Europe their surplus fine wools, but we state as a fact that Yorkshire and tho Continent can absorb to-day every pound of wool America has to spate., and at the same time feel little tho bettor for the supposed fill up. Amongst manufacturers this is a . most welcome sign, for it is well known that the cheap wool American manufacturers have been able to lay their hands upon has been a strong factor in helping thorn to fight successfully against European manufactures. These, shipments will only mean a more speedy return to buying in London, the ultimate effect being to raise wool sooner to the long cherished “importing point. ’ Consumption is well maintained in spite of tho dearness of tho raw article. Crossbreds, too, arc feeling then- feet much better, and they are evidently moving nut of their late state of chaos. Mohair is steady and firm. The difficulty of yarn-spinners is not so much the inability to secure orders, but to adjust themselves to the increased cost of the article.