LONDON WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 7

LONDON WOOL SALES.

(Fkom Our Special Corhespondent.) LONDON, February 5. A FIRM FINISH.

Coleman Street Wool Exchange closed its doors last Monday, and buyers have all .gone home. Up to the very last lot competition was well sustained, though in the case of coarse crossbreds tRe very top values ot the week previous were hardly maintained. Buyers seemed to satisfy their most pressing needs, and consequently looked on more complacently, being determined only to take wool at less. However, values haie all stiffened, the close being firm ancTsteady. Ido not think I can do better in summing up the series than give- the official opinion of Messrs Charles Balm© ■andi Co., the well-known selling brokers. They state that of the quantity sold, about 65.000 bales ha\e been taken for export, including some 5000 bales purchased for shipment to America. ' "With the turn of the year the position in the manufacturing districts became more favourable, especially as regards the coarser grades of wool. It was recognised that stocks of the raw material, both fine and coarse, had been reduced to an abnormally low level, and that _the fal 1 in quotations for the latter class at the November series had been carried further than the actual state of the industry warranted, owing to ' bear ' operations on the part oi those anxious to purchase wools on advantageous terms on the over-sea markets. Consequently, there was a sharp reaction in the values of the lowei qualities of crossbreds prior to the commencement of the auctions.

"Merinos were not materially dearer .t the outset, prices for the better grades being firmly supported, while those -paid for wasting and inferior sorts barely reached November parity. With the progress of the sales, demand for sccureds became vca-y keen at quite 5 per cent, advance. Greasies in light condition also slightly hardened, but the results obtained for wasting parcels, as well as broad-haired Adelaides, continued to be somewhat disappointing. 'Tine crossbred? were unchanged to be-srin with, but later . on weakened, and finally ruled from par tc 5 per cent, cheaper, the depreciation being most noticeable in the cas.e of Victorian clips. Valuos for medium grades, which were 5 per cent, higher during the earlier sittings, also receded, and ultimately stood on a par with previous quotations. Coarse qualities Mere- eagerly sought after by Yorkshire buyers at the commencement, and realised 10 to 15 p&r cent, improvement. As isoon, however, as the more pressing requirements of the trade were satisfied, bidding became less animated, and at the close prices were not more than 7^ to 10 per cent, above those current in November. Seoureds and slipes, which have been in small -supply, have throughout eliciier 1 keen competition, and sold at very ful' rates. '•yiie position of South African, wools was

not appreciably changed until towards the end 1 of the auctions, when light-conditioned greasies and Eastern Province snow-whites wero about 5 per cent, dearer. "As compared with the closing rates of the previous series we now quote : • — • Australasian. Merino, Gi case— super par to £d per lb cheaper „ „ medium par „ „ inferior par to Ji „ „ „ Scoured — super Id „ dearer „ „ medium Id „ „ „ „ inferior \d to Id „ „ C.o-sbred, Giease— fine par to £d „ cheaper „ „ medium war „ '„ coarse .: \d to £d „ dearer „ sliped— fine Ad "' „ „ „ „ me Sium Id „ „ „ „ coarse Id „ „ South African. Snow white super ... par „ niduium ... id „ dearer „ iuferior ... £d fl „ Fleere— Washed ... par Grease — Fair condition id to id „ " „ „ heavy „ jd „ „ "The second series is fixe I to open on March 8, the list of airivala being closed pn the 29th of this month." CLIPS SOLD ATSD CRITICISMS. Sold by Messrs Dv Croz, Doxat, and Co., Jar. vary 28. — Leslie Hills : Grease — 18 bales first combing 12d, 59 do lid, 47 second cto j 10]. d, 5 clo-lOd, 11 pieces 10* d, 10 Bdo 9d An Al clip; full of merit in every point and particular. CR: Grease — 47 crossbred first 9£d, 14 do S^d, 24 do Bd, 28 do second B|d, 48 do Bd, 17 €>o- AH SJd, 17 do H Sd, 22 dc Bd, 42 do 7£d, 4 do «d, 4 do first pieoea 7Jd, 18 do | belly dio 6|d, 13 do second dio 6|d, 8 do locks 4Jd, 3do first lambs lOJd. Very good! quality, well grown, shafty, and in first class order.

Sold by Messrs Willaas and Overbury, January 2D. — Cnsgoge : Greasy — 6 bales combing lOd, 7 do 9J-3, 3 pieces 7^d, 3 quaarterbred lOd, 6 halfbred H lO^d, 21 do EMW lOd, 15 crossbred H 9id>, 12 do W and E, S^d, 15 do 9id, 32 do 9d, 16 ■do W and E Bd, 3 do 7|d, 7 Romney Bd, 6 Lincoln B£d, .20 do B|d, 35 do WE and H BJd, 5 do Bd, 9 do 7|d. 6 first pieces halfbred 9d, 3 do Bid, 9 do crossbred 7d, 7 bellies 6*d, 8 pieces Lincoln 6j|d, 5 bellies do 6kl. A first class lot of wool, th&re being an excellent quality and growth. t Sold by Messrs H. Irwell and &., same day. — Otago over circle: SliiDe — 5 bales crossbred lambs 9icT, ,30 combing halfbred withdrawn, 25 do crossbred 9£d, 25 do lOd, 25 do 9|d, 42 do 9d, 42 do Sid, 11 do paeces 7£d, 7 second do 6|d. Just average wools, and went to Bradford

Sold by Messrs- Dv Croz, Doxat, and Co., February 1. — Stonyhurst: Grease — 32 first combing lOJd, 9 second do 10£ d, 4 first pieces 9id. 49 half bred first lOd, 127 do lOd, 12 do second 9d, 38 do 9Sd, 8 first Down 9£dl, 3 second cilo B\d, 4 three-quartenbred first BJd. 10 do second Bd, 29 halfbred first pieces "3d, 4 fhreequarterbred do 7d, 17 halfbred belly do Bd. Very good quality, first ola.ss growth, the wool being just the ticket both for Bradford and Germany.

Sold by Messrs Buxton, Ronald, and Co., same cky. — ESC : Greasy — 15 bales A crossbred lOd, 78 B do 9Jd, 37 C do Sid, 2 do Bd, 9 A do pieces 7£d, iO do bellies 6Jd. A well-de-veloped sta-ple, first class condition, and altogether a good, desirable clip. Tautane : Greasy —30 crossbred lOd, 55 B do 9Jd, IS ob Bhd, 6 E do 9a, S D do Sid, 17 A dio B£d. 30 cto Bd, 20 C do Sftd, 9 do necks Sd, 22 first do pieces 7Jd. 18 ~<3o G£d, 11 first do lambs 9d. Sola like fury, at ihe best prices of the series. A first class clip.

COURSE OF PRICES.

t Bradford market has once, more assumed its normal state, the attendance being veryfull and men longing to do business. Current prices exhibit pronounced firmness, and because holders are asking more money business cannot be done. There is a groat struggle proceeding between "those having tops and yarns for eale and those wanting to buy, and no doubt this will continue foi same time to come. It is very difficult to state clearly -what is a reliable quotation for a supei 60' s top, for where com© are sellers at 23£ d, others aro wanting over 24d. There ie a good' dea l less doing than could be done if holders would mako a slight concession, out the knowledge that stocks cannot be rpplaced causes men to insist on their quotations. Crcesbreds arc* unchanged, ralher quiet, but exceedingly firm in face of London's verdict. The following tablo chows the course of values during the past month: — j I::: : ; I

Description. CO Ha I 1O S3 I §1 a 1-5 a. d. d. d. d. Lincoln hoggs Lincoln wethers Deep-gsown bofrgs Deep-?vo\vn wethers ... White super hogcs White super wethers Irish lio?gs Irish wethers ... ... Shropshire hofrgs Shropshire wethers ... O'd'n'y halfbied ho^gs ... < ''d'n'y half bred wethers... Wiltshire t)oxvn tegs ... Wiltshire Down ewes Super 60's, col. tops Ordinary 60's, col. tops ... Ordinaiy 60's, col. tops .. Ordinaiy4o's, col tops ... O'd'u'y 60's, Buenos Ayres tops ... Turkey average mohair . . . Cape firs s, mohair... ... S 8 S 7s 8 75 81 Si 9i 91 I! H'J 23i 2:* 16* Hi 8 8 II 3 a Pi si Si] lU| m 23i £2^ KiJ 12 8 8 ? 8J S 1 Sj 9* I! Si! 23J iei 8} k 8 Si Si 8? 81 »? 8 BJ.8 J . H. 7 115 24 23 l«i 12 1 , 8 Si 8" H Si « 8V fij 8J Si 1H 24 23 16i 12f 23 I 13 lift ill 231 14 13 13