NEW SOUTH WALES CLIP OF WOOL-1891.

Otago Witness, Issue 1966, 29 October 1891, Page 6

NEW SOUTH WALES CLIP OF WOOL-1891.

Of the 114,078,077 sheep in Australasia, aocording to Mr Hayter's statistics, 55,986,431— or nearly one-half— were at the close of 1890 owned in New South Wales. Since shearing time last year tbe season throughout Australia has been propitious; therefore flockmasters anticipate a very considerable increase in the aggregate of the present clip of wool as compared with the preceding one. A high percentage of lambs has been returned, and as they are customarily shorn in Australia, the additional contribution of wool from the exceptional increase alone must add considerably to the otherwise large volume calculated on. The current wool season in New South Wales is extremely backward, necessitating the postponement, after the inconsiderable opening sales, of further operations till the arrival in Sydney of considerable consignments delayed in transit by the flooded condition of the routes from the early-shearing districts. It has been, however, satisfactorily ascertained that the clip will be much heavier than that of 1890, and as that was again in excess of its immediate predecessor, the following particulars published in the Sydney Mail, from returns recently laid before the Parliament of New South Wales, will convey an approximate idea of the increase in production this season : — COMPAKITIVB NtTMBBB OF SHBKP AND LAMBS Shorn ht Nbw South Wxlbs dummj the past Two Ybars.

Regarding the number of sheep shorn, it is explained that the figures for 1890 show an increase of 6,686,837 sheep and lambs shorn, being an inorease of 14*7 per cent. There is a seeming discrepancy between the number of sheep given aa for the oolony at the end of the year and that returned as shorn, but this arises because between the dates, " while some are cast for food, aome lambs are born and shorn." It will be observed the increase last year was largely in the number of lambs. Again, the " increase in the amount of wool was 26,825,5531b, or about 11*6 per cent., the estimate implying a somewhat smaller yield per clip, last year's clip not being so generally favourable as in previous years." In reference to the expected increase this year our contemporary says j— "As the lambing of the year has generally been reported as a large one, and the clip generally as weighty, about 285,000,0001b to 290,000,0001b should be yielded, or an inorease of about 30,000,0001b in excess of last year's figures." The wool already forward is generally in good condition, is sound and well grown, although to some extent seedy and burry ; and as was the case last year, when the strike retarded shearing, late-shorn clips this season are likely to be more or less impregnated with seeds and burrs. In referenoe to the probable range of values at the Sydney sales the Mail says:— "So far growers seem disposed to meet buyers freely, it being generally conceded that in view of the outlook in Europe, wbioh is none too bright, and the large supply of the staple this season, no improvement in prices can be reasonably expected during the ensuing six or eight months."

How Shorn. Number in 1889. Number In 1890. Sheep. Iv greaie Greek washed ... Hot water and tpout Scoured ... ... lambi. 36,553,856 475,254 80,000 1,445,105 40,935,736 1,271,712 580,794 In greaie Washed 6,790,889 74,693 9,285,871 33,521 Total 45,420,797 52,107,634 The quantity of wool shorn in the two years is shown in the following table : — Quantity, 1889. Quantity, 1890. Sheep. Greasy ... „. Creek waihed Hot water and spout Scoured ... ... Lambs. Ib. 213,611,596 1,514,872 330,000 4,157,532 Ib. 234.740,862 3,974,100 1,905,730 Greasy ... Wuhed 11,671.840 116,707 17,556 099 51,329 Total 231.402,567 358,298,120