FARM AND STATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 12

FARM AND STATION.

(Continued from page 8.)

LOKDON WOOL SALES. The news from tho London wool sales i* distinctly gratifying. There wrb a rise in prices at the July sales, but this was really odlj equivalent to a return to tho prices of the previous July, which had gone down decidedly In the course ot the year. Tho present advance, however, of from 10 to 20 per cent.— say 15 per cent.— may bo regarded as ground gained, compared with last year's prices; and if it is maintained or improved upon at subsequent salec, and at the local sale?, the gain to the colony vtiil be by no means inconsiderable. At tbe same time, the monetary result to the colony of the present advance must not be exaggerated. Probably three-fourths of the year's clip had been sold at previous salea—a good deal of wool got Home ©arliet than lntt year, and co in time for the July sales— and this being the case only about one-fourth of. the clip will have the advantage cf the higher price. Still, this is something, and as" the market is reported to have an advancing tendency, there is reason to hope that the whole of next year's clip will realise fair prices, and that an impetus will be given to the general trade of the oolony. Tbe wail of low prices has been monotonously insistent for so long a time that a somewbat livelier state of matters \?IU be very acceptable; and though the fir*t signs of improvement must not be allowed to produce over-confidence, close observers have for some time predicted that things were about to take a turn for the better. '