The Past Four Years. (From July 1 to June 30.

Otago Witness, Issue 1951, 11 April 1889, Page 6

The Past Four Years. (From July 1 to June 30.

The total shipments of wool from Australasia Btnce the Ist July to latest dates received amount to 1,139,952 bales, as compared with 1,107,248 bales for the corresponding period last year. An increase of 32,704 bales so far is thus apparent. There are still four months of the year to be accounted for, but with the exception of the wool detained on the River Darling—' estimated at about 40,000 bales— there cannot be niuoh more to come forward from the inland districts, the clip as a whole having reached the seaboard more expeditiously than in 1888. For the period between the present date and the end of June last year 179,880 bales were shipped, of which 71,612 bales were the produce of New Zealand; and presuming the same number of bales will be exported this year for the corresponding period, the i esult would be an increase of 72,704 bales. Much depends on the correctness of the Darling figures, and there is some doubt if the 180,000 bales required are available, owing to the forward state of the deliveries. Under these circumstances, then, in putting the increase in the Australian clip of 1888-89 ab between 60,000 and 70,000 bales the estimate is likely to be well within the mark. Of the total quantity (456,961 bales) of wool sold in the Australian markets during the year ending February 1889, it has been estimated that Home buyers have taken about 130,000 bales, Continental buyers 190,000 bales, and American 38,000 bales, thus leaving ,about 100,000 bales for local speculators, wool-scourers, and manufacturers, The actual quantity taken

( oh American account was 38,241; bales. Th c - I. previous yearfe- total -purchases fbr-the-.United _ 1 States and Canada amounted to 1 22,825 bales. lOf the Australian sales it is dbserved : " This

year the purchases have been more' evenly distributed than usual. The Continent has bought largely both fleece wool and pieces, a good supply .of all descriptions has been- taken for Yorkshire, while the American purchase (chiefly the choicest wools) show an increase 0f ( <68./per cent.- on- the most extensive operation ever before made here in one season oh American ; accotibt." ' Of 'the actual quantity sold Melbourne and Geelong contributed '214,876 bales, Sydney 198,51? bales, and Adelaide 43,568

It is observed that phenomenal £9 has been p the increase in production of the staple, the rapid development of the local sales has been still more remarkable, and must arrestjthe attention of all interested in the irdustry. , This season, for the first time in the history of the sales, the volume ©yyipinesstransacted in the local mar!kefs^hf/readhea,to'wlthin a few thousand bales .o( "one-half t ; tue^ total production— a result which'at sd'early^S date the pioneers of the industry could never have anticipated. "And now as each succeeding year witnesses 'the entry of some old shipping house to the ranks of the selling brokers, a new and constantly re* ourring impetus is given to the trade — an .impetus which,, properly ,, directed, cannot fail c to . ensure tnf speedy . arrival of the liirie confidently looked" forward to when the whole of the wool grown in Australia, will b» "first marketed in the colonies." ii is suggested that the Australian selling season is of too short* duration to allow a .business of the magnitude ainSed a'^ J to ( be 1 subc'ess'fdlly carried through. The facilities for conducting a trade twice as large as the present one already exist, and the regular buying power is sufficiently strong to absorb many-fold the quantity at present qf^r,64, CJ jjWhat, then, is easier than to commence the season a month earlier than customary? for it is the early-shorn clips.that do not pass through the warehouses, comparatively little wool going direct to the ship after the local sales begin. With the growers of these early clipSj'theri, r.estVthe future of the Australian markets; and, as many of -them already regard the local sales wibh growing favour, we feel sure -that. time alone is required to bring about so welcome a consummation as that above referred to. . ' The retrospect of the season's business, though devoid of any striking events, is , nevertheless interesting, inasmuch as it is so eminently satisfactory. Values have had an evenly upward range,. competition has been keen,' the demand strong and steady, while growers, on the whole, have assisted operations by their willingness to accept, true .value. In brief, these are the season's leading features, and they find ample illustration in the detailed record of the various markets which follow.