THE WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 18

THE WOOL SALES.

ADELAIDE, December 1. The wool sales are dragging, best crossbreds only being in demand at par to 5 per cent, below prices at previous sales. Merinos were from 10 to 15 per cent, lower. BRISBANE, December 2. At the wool sale to-day good wools were from 10 to 15 per cent., and medium 20 per cent, lower than at last sale.

CHRISTCHURCH, December 7. The second wool sale of the current season was held to-day, when 15,972 bales were offered. Much of the wool was heavier in grease than usual, while there were many shabby lots, the result of excessive winds There was a large attendance. All super lots elicited keen competition. Prices were on a par with November rates, but there was a slight casing of values in the case of discoloured parcels, although those also sold well. Locks and pieces wore unchanged. Competition was more general than it the first sale, but was largely confined to Bradford and colonial milk. TIMARU, December 2. The first wool sale of the season was held to-day, when 8371 bales were offered and 7245 sold- American buying was barred. Largo orders for the army enabled Home buyers to compote freely for all suitable wools. Owing to the dry weather and high winds some of the wool was very earthy, but a number of clips were bright and attractive. Brokers report that the prices as compared with the recent Christchurch sales receded from l£d on low-grade crossbreds to Id on medium halfbreds and bright three-quarterbreds and fine crossbreds, while bellies, pieces, and locks showed no decline. Th« following was the range of prices: Merino (very little), Bgd to lid; super, halfbred and Corriedale, 12d to 14d (one lot 14Jd); medium, lOd to ll^d; inferior, to 9|d; super three-quarter bred and crossbred, lid to 12j,-d; medium, 9d to 10£d; inferior, 7|d to B|d; best pieces, 9id to lid (on© lot 12d); medium, 7d to 9d; inferior, s£d to 6|d. Messrs Dalgety and Co. report having received the following cable from their head office, dated London, November 30: ‘‘The net quantity of wool available for the December sales amounted to 75,000 balcvs,” DUNEDIN MARTLETS. FARM SNIi DAIRY PRODUCT? Messrs MTlroy Bros, (successors to Irvin© and Stevenson), George street, report paying for produce during the week ending the Bth inst., as follows; Fresh eggs. 1/1 a.iz I Separator Butter, lO^dlb Salt butter: n >t buying 1 Honey (bulk), ojd lb WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS. J. Lindsay and Co, Princes street south, report under date the'lst inst.;

Wheat pei bu uel. Best m lling ... 0/u Fowls' ... £i9-8 0 Milling oats ... 3 0 Feed oats., ... 2/9 Malt barley ... 4/b Feed barley ... 4/1) Cape barley ... ?/4 Maize B/0 per ton. Flour, in 200’a ... 270/ Flour, in 50‘s ... 29 /0 Pollard 150/U Bran 120/0 Oatmeal, in 25’s 280/0 Pearl barley .. 290/u Kggs, fresh 1/0 —l/1

Oaten cnaff Prime... 95/3 —10C/0 Good 80/ 1 Inferior 45/o—so/U Ryegrass and clover hay 10/U —90/0 Straw: Wheeten ... 40/0 Oaten 45/0 Rolled bacon ... Od Side bacon ... 8d Smoked hams ... )0d Cheese ... ...fid— 7d Salt butter 9d—lUd (according to quality!

Onions. —Melbourne. 17s per cwt. Potatoes.—Prime quality freshly unpitted, £5 to £5 10s per ton. Chaff.—This market is particularly firm, and prices in our opinion are likely to go higher. Wo would be pleased to receive samples or have the offer of any you may have for sale. Prime, from 95s to 100 s; medium, from 80s to 90s. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT. WELLINGTON, December 7. The High Commissioner cabled as follows on December 5 (Note: Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices):— Mutton. —A poor demand continues. The market is declining on account of the largo supply of Dutch, together with frozen supplies, which arc likely to increase. Holders are anxious to soli. Canterbury, 5 11-16 d; North Island, s|d; ewes, sgd. Lamb. —The market is dull, and is declining, especially for light-weights. Canterbury twos, 6 9-16 d; heavy-weight fours, 6RI; other than Canterbury, 6|d. Beef.—The conditions are unchanged. The arrivals at the market include 55,000 quarters of frozen from New York. New Zealand hinds, 6|d; fores, 52d. Chilled is in moderate supply. Hinds, 6d ; fores, s|d. _ Butter. —The market is very firm. Danish is in restricted demand at 147 s to 1495; Now Zealand, in good demand, 132 s to 1345; Australian, firm, 120 s to 1325; Siberian, good inquiry, 120 s to 1245; Irish creamery, offerings very small, 125 s to 1325; Argentine, firm and in good request, 12.8 s to 130 s. Cheese,—-The market is verv firm. Canadian in fair demand, 78s to 795; New Zealand, white and coloured, firm and little offering, 76s to 775. It is estimated that the sto-ks of Canadian cheese o r > riecemb'r 1 at London, Liverpool, and Bristol were 215.000 boxes, as against 309,000 boxes last year. Hemp. —The market is rather quiet. The stock of New Zealand is small, and prices are nominal. Spot Now Zealand, good, fair grade. £24 10s; New Zealand, fair grade, £23; fair current Manila, £24; forward ship-

mcnt about the same price. The output from Manila for the week was 19,000 bales. NEW ZEALAND ADYICE. Messrs Dalgety and Co. report that the head office cabled to Melbourne on_ November 27 as follows: —“Wool; Merino tops lower; Crossbreds dearer, 64’s. 29gd to 30d; 56’s, 27J>d ; 46’s, 22d; 40’s, Butter; Danish, 4 kroner higher, probably owing to German purchases. Poor demand here, 1445. Colonial butter firm: Australian, 1255; unsalted, 130 s; New Zealand, 1325. Cheese; Market firm, 755. OAMARU MARKETS. (From Odh Own Correspondent,) OAMAEU, December 5. The local grain market is still very slow, because of the dearth of offerings from the country. The supply of wheat has been almost exhausted, and the only sale reported is one of 400 sacks of mixed velvet and Tuscan, which changed hands at a country station at 5s net. There is a consistently good inquiry for oats, but that cereal is difficult to obtain. Farmers, none of whom has a large holding, are not willing to sell until they see how the incoming crops are likely to turn out. At present the prospects are not good, but 24 hours’ rain would _ improve the chances of a fair crop, and if such a rain came quickly a fair quantity of oats might become available after New Year. No business has been done in A grade Gartons, which are worth 2s 8d net at country stations. A line of B grade Gartons was taken at 2s 6jd net at a country station, and more is obtainable for good weighty samples. Several sales of Algerians have been made at country stations at from 2s 4d to 2s 6|d net, according to quality and railage charge. There is a good inquiry for barley of all descriptions, with very little in the district to meet it. A line of 300 sacks was sold at a country station at 4s, the price to tho grower being subject to agents’ commission. Feed barley has been sold at country stations at from 2s fid to 3s 2d net, according to quality. An inquiry for oaten sheaf chaff is being experienced, but there are no sellers at present. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (Fbow Oub Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, December 6. The oats market is firm, and sellers are asking 3s, f.0.b., s.i., for A grade Gartons, but very few sales arc going through at that figure. Stocks are light, and it is not anticipated that prices will recede until the advent of the now harvest, if then. To farmers prices remain the same as last week —viz., on the bases of 2s fid, on tracks, for A grade Gartons. There is a good demand for chaff, for whicli up to £4, on trucks, at country sidings, has been paid by merchants for prime quality. The general price, however, is £3 15s, on trucks. Old potatoes are nearly done, and our market is dependent mainly on the north for supplies of new potatoes, which are being retailed at 3d per lb. There is a good demand for machinedressed ryegrass, both wholesale and retail. The main wholesale inquiry is from tho North Island and from Australia. The hemp market is a little firmer, but prices are still a long way from paying point. Very few mills are operating in this district, and these are working on contracts made in the early part of the year. There is no wheat on this market, and millers have been depending on Canterbury for their supplies. It is understood that as high as 6s, on trucks, has been paid, but the Government price is 5s 3d. The flour market is very bare, and supplies are being got from Oamaru and Timaru. The local price is £ls, on trucks, at Invercargill. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Mesers Dalgety and Co. report as follows : —Oats: The market remains firm, and very few lines are offering. All grades of oats arc meeting with a ready sale on arrival at quotations. Prime milling, 2s 9d to 2s lOd; good to best feed, ,2s 7d to 2s 8d; medium to good, 2s 5d to 2s fid per bushel {sacks extra). Wheat: There is no business passing in this cereal, as there is a complete absence of supplies, and it is difficult to name values. Potatoes: Consignments of late have been very light, and it is difficult to obtain prime freshly-picked tables, for which there is a good demand at advanced values. There has also been more inquiry for medium and inferior lots, and stocks of these are now in small compass. Prime freshly-picked tables, £4 10s to £5; medium to good, £3 to £4 per ton (sacks in). Chaff: There has been a good inquiry of late for prime quality. Consignments have been light, and tho market is firm at quotations. Medium and light quality has also been meeting with more demand. Prime black oaten sboaf, £4 15s; best white oaten sheaf, £4 7s fid to £4 12s fid: medium to good, £4 to £4 5s per ton (sacks extra). Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report as

follows;—Wo hold our weekly sale of grain and produce on Monday, when values ruled as under:—Oats: There is good inquiry for all lots of prime Cartons and sparrowbills. Shippers and millers are buyers of all lines of this description. Prime milling Cartons, 2s 9d to 2s lOd; good to best feed, 2s 6d to 2s 9d; inferior to medium, 2s to 2s 7d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: In the absence of any wheat offering the market is unchanged. and prices remain as before. Potatoes: The demand for old potatoes sill continues, and any freshly-picked lots meet with ready sale. Best tables, £4 10s to £5; medium to good, £3 10s to £4 5s per ton (sacks Included). Chaff: The market at present is barely supplied with prime chaff. During the last wceic a considerable quantity has been sold for shipment, and any lots of prime quality coming to hand are readily disposed of. Prime oaten sheaf, £4 10s to £4 12s 6d; choice black oat, to £4 15s; medium to good, £3 15s to £4 ss; light and discoloured, £3 to £3 10s per ton (hags extra). HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE, December 3. There were average supplies at the hide market to-day. Competition was keener than at last sales, and prices were id dearer. The Dunedin Woolbrokers’ Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., A. Moritzson and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company, Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Otago Farmers 1 Co-operative Association, Donald Reid and Co., Stronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) report as follows:—The fortnightly sale was hold on Thursday, when only medium catalogues were submitted to a full attendance of buyers. Competition was fairly keen, with the result that prices were very firm as compared with last sale, although the sale, as a whole, was somewhat irregular, cowhides, as a whole, selling very well. Quotations: Extra stout heavy ox, B|d to 9d; stout heavy do, B|-d to B|d; medium to heavy do, to B|d; light do, to stout heavy cow, to Bjd; medium to heavy do, 8d to 83d; light do, to Bgd; calfskins, good, to lOd; medium do, to 9ijd ; damaged and inferior, 3d to Bd. Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co. report as follo’.vs:—We hold our fortnightly sale of hides at our stores, Crawford street, on Friday morning. There was a good attendance of buyers, and, under keen competition, we cleared our catalogue at prices which may be quoted at |d per lb advance on those ruling at the previous sale, with the exception of calfskins, which declined fd to Id per Jb. Our catalogue consisted of 699 hides and 450 yearling and calfskins —a total of 1049. We quote: Ox—Extra, Bgd to 9gd; stout heavy, B|d to 3|d; heavy, 83d to B^d; medium, 8d to 85d; light, 7|d to 83d. Cow—Extra stout, to BAd; heavy and medium, 8d to B§d ; light, 7fd to B|d; damaged and bad-conditioned ox and cow, from to 7Jsd; bull and stag, 63d to s§d; calfskins, 9|d to lOd, for best; medium, 9sd to 9gd; damaged and inferior, to 7|d per lb, i OTAGO FARMERS’ HORSE BAZAAR. The Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association of Now Zealand report:—We held our weekly horse sale on Saturday, when wo had an entry of 38 horses all told. Consignments were forward from Oturehua, Waikouaiti, Allanton, Taieri, Waitati, and the Peninsula. There was a large attendance of contractors, traders, town-carriers, farmers, etc. All our country consignments found fresh stables under the hammer at satisfactory prices. We quote: Superior young draught geldings, £32 to £3B; medium draught marcs and geldings, £25 to £36; aged draught marcs and geldings, £2O to £22; strong spring-van horses, £lB to £22; milk-carters, £l3 to £2O; butchers’ ordercart horses, £l6; harness horses, £ls to £l7; weedy, aged, £2 10s to £7.