THE WOOL CLIP FOR THE PAST YEAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 7

THE WOOL CLIP FOR THE PAST YEAR.

Qoldsborough's March circular contains some interesting particulars of the clip of wool during the past year, compiled from the usual statistics issued from the London brokers. From the figures quoted it will be observed that the importations from the Australasian colonies show an increase of 68,073 bales over tholse of last year, while those from foreign countries, and the yield of the United Kingdom itself, in most oases show a decrease, the aggregate imports of wool showing a falling; off of 56,590 bales, or about 3£ per cent. The opinion is expressed that' the drought experienced during. ' the current year will probably counteract the natural increase that would have ensued in the ordinary current of events. The following are the portions of the circular under notice :— ' We have now before us the usual statistics compiled by the London brokers respecting the production of wool, and we note > that the imports into London and other British ports from . Australia and New Zealand during the year 1881 were 931,889 bales, as against 803,816 bales in 1880, thus showing an increase of 68,073 bales ' from Australasia. The imports from the Cape ' of Good Hope and Natal for 1881 were 197,047 bales, as against 190,614 bales during the previous year, or an increase of 6433 bales. The arrivals from the Levant, India, Persia,, and other foreign countries for 1881 (in which are included 4790 bales from the Falkland Islands) amounted to 234,433 bales, as compared with 3J?2,702 bales in 1880, thus showing a decrease of 138,269 bales. The clip of the United Kingdom also shows a decrease of 42,300 bales, or over 10,000,0001b, the estimated yield for 1881 boing 577,400 packs of 2401b each, as against 619,700 packs for 1880. The importation of River Plato wool into Europo is given as 264,988 bales of 8401b each— or about equal to 635,972 bale 3of Australian wool— as against 257,815 bales in 1880, or an increase of 7173 bales. ' The United States clip, including pulled wool, is estimated at 290,000,0001b, as against 264,000,0001b in 1880, being an increase of 26,000,0001b. As regards the quantity of foreign wools other than South American imported into Europe, it is not possible to obtain accurate returns, but it is not likely there will be any material increase. It ia also impossible to arrive at anything but an estimate of the yield of wool on the Continent, but last year's clip will probably show no increase on the clip of 1880. The importation of mohair into England for 1881 was 35,937 bales, as against 57,449 bales in 1880. By the above figures it will be seen that the aggregate imports of wool show a falling off of 56,590 bales, or about 3& per cent. ."'According to the latest official returns to hand, the number of sheep and lambs depastur.

.'1 ( A ing in Great, Britain .and Ireland* i5i27,839,G36,. I against 34,837,597 in 1874, being a' decrease of close on 7,000,000 within the past seven years. The number of sheep in the United States is returned as 40,190,806 ; while the total number in Australasia, according to the last census, is 75,242,930, each colony contributing as follows :—: — Victoria .. .. .. 10,360,285 New Soul h Wales .. •• 35.393,121 South Australia .. •• 6,463,897 Queensland .. •• 6,933.907 West Australia .. •• 1,*3 1,717 Tasmania .. .. •• 1,7*33,911 Total Australian , .. (12,173,598 New Zealand .. •• 13,069,338 Grand total Australasian .. 75,242,93(5 1 On comparing the shipments from the leading colonies to date with tho corresponding period last year, we find that whilo Victoria and South Australia show a slight decrease! tho exports from Now South Walo3 and Queensland disclose an increased' production more than sufficient to cover tho doficit. Wo aro, howoVer, of opinion that tho effects of the drought in this and tho neighbouring colonies will counteract the natural increase that might otherwise have been manifest ; and we anticipate that when the returns are made up at the end of the year (30th September) ,the total exports from Australia 1 will be about the game as last year.'