THE WOOL SALES. London, November 30.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 14

THE WOOL SALES. London, November 30.

At the wool sales a large selection was offered. Best wools were very firou, Americans being the chief buyers. December 1. The Bradford wool market is quiet, owing to buyers refusing the prices of sellers. December 2. At tbe wool sales best greasy combings have advanced £d during the week. Americans are buying all the best parcels. . Wool is firm and spirited. December 3. Best scoured wools are relatively cheaper. December 4. At the wool sales American buyers are competing keenly, and prices are maintained. The wool market is quieter, but prices are unchanged. At the wool sales prices were easier. Best merinos and greasieß declined slightly. American competition is less keen. Sydney, December 5. The wool market has undergone but little change. . Competition remains unabated, while better classes are a little fi-mor. Auckland, December 2. The first woal sales of the season by the Auckland Woolbrokers' Association were held yesterday. There was a general fall in prices of from ,£d to J d per lb. The total number of bales catalogued was 4500, which is a considerably larger number than the first sale last season. There was a large attendance of 'buyers. December 3. • At the wool sales about 4500 bales were offered, of which number 3500 were disposed of under the hammer and the bulk of the remainder sold privately. The tone of the market was not quite as healthy as laßt year, and there was an all-round falling away on latt year's sals prices equal to about f d per lb, inferior clips being about lower on (he average, and medium about -£i to £d, while some superior clips were Id less. Prices ruling were : — Long wool, 6d to 8d ; crossbred, 6d to 7|d ; pieces, 4£d to ssd ; and bellies, 4d to s£d. The best price of to-day was for 51 bales sold by G. W. Binney and Sons for Bd. The clips all round were heavier in the grease and slightly shorter in staple, due to the dry weather and the early date of the sales. Wellington, December 4. Considerable interest was taken in the first of the series of wool sales for tbe season, which took place to-day. About 3500 bales were offered by the various brokers. Tbe great bulk of the wcol was disposed of at satisfactory rates, and in cases where sales did not take place it .was due mainly to the reserve placed on the lots by growers, which were higher in proportion than ruling in the London market. Lttstrous and good-condition wools were largely competed for, but inferior samples were also in good demand. Competition was brisk for locks and pieces. There was a good attendance of local and English buyers, and the quantity catalogued was nearly double that of last year. The New Zealand Loan .and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) have received the following cable from their London office :—: — • • Wool : The sales progress firmly. Since close of last sales washed and scoured merino super are par to £d per lb higher. Greasy merino super, washed and scoured merino, medium and inferior, fine and medium greasy, fine washed and fine scoured crossbred are £d to Id per lb higher. Up to date 85,000 bales have been sold." Messrs Dalgety and Co. have received the following cables from their head office : — Dated London, 30th November : " Wool sales continue with increasing spirit, and prices have gained further ground, with the exception of clothing, inferior, and faulty wools. American buyers are operating freely." Dated the 2nd inst. : — ♦• The demand for good greasy merino and crossbred fleece wool is favourably affected by the demand from America, and prices are fully maintained. For greasy short wasty and scoured wools in general, prices are a shade easier."