WOOL SALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11254, 7 December 1914, Page 6

WOOL SALES.

SECOND OF SEASON'S SERIES 15,972 BALK OFFERED. TO-DAY'S AUCTION. Tlio second wool sale of tho Christchurch 191.1-113 series was opened this morning at tho Alexandra Hall, in the presence of a full bench of buyers, although necessarily the representatives of the countries at war with the Empire, who in past years were prominent amongst the buyers, were, us at tho first sale of the season, conspicuous by their absence, and without the guttural German voices, the proceedings were much quieter than at some previous sales at which Teutonic competition was strong.

The opening sale of the season, as will be remembered', was notable for its extreme briskness, especially for the finer grades of wool, which it was generally surmised would suffer in consequence of the war, and the resulting i absence of Continental competition, in I fact, the. exceptional keenness of the competition, and tho advance in prices of practicallv all classes surprised even the most optimistic, although it was generally taken for granted that the coarser descriptions, for which there has been keen inquiry for the manufacture of khaki clothing for the troops of the Allies, would do something more than maintain last year's the exception of the sale held at Timaru last week, at which much of the wool was not brought forward in the best of condition, owing to the protracted period of dry weather, tho other sales held in various parts of tho Dominion during the season, prices have been on a par with Christchurch values, and m some instances there has been even a further appreciation in prices. "When the Avar broke out there were serious apprehensions that it would result in the woolman's undoing for the current season, but the season has now advanced sufficiently far to enable it to be said that this prediction has proved very wide of the-mark, as instead .of the war proving detrimental to the sheepowners of tho country it lias been the reverse, the higher prices ruling much more than compensating for any additional expenses in the shape of higher freightage, insurance rates, etc. With the removal of the prohibitive import ditties hitherto levied by the United States on foreign wool entering the great republic, it was widely anticipated that that country would become a large buyer, and there can be little doubt but this would have been the case but for the prohibition against exporting wool to countries other than the Empire and her Allies, and the result has been that up to the present Americans have been prevented from participation' in the Dominion's sales, and thus the trade which was auspiciously opened at the end of last season lias temporarily ceased. Efforts are being made to induce the Imperial authorities to remove the restriction, and hopes are entertained that ero the season closes the American ports will again be open for the reception of the Dominion's wool. It will be noticed that within the last few days the British Government has been induced to remove the restriction against merino wools entering Canada and Japan, and there can bo little doubt that if satisfactory guarantees are given that no wool from the colonies would be allowed to reach the country's enemies little time would be lost in securing tho removal of the embargo. At tho earlier sale of the season the quantity of merino wool offered was inconsiderable, and consequently the loss resulting from restricted competition was not felt to any appreciable extent, but at later sales the quantity will show n, decided increase, although the ' total quantity of merino wool now produced in the Dominion is not great. Taken all round, the quality of the wool offered at to-day's sale was satisfactory, although necessarily tho long period of dry weather appreciably affected the. clip, some of it containing considerably more extraneous matter than in normal seasons, whilst the greater part was heavier in the grease than usual. The offei-ings totalled 35,972 bales, compared with 14,409 at the corresponding sale last year, and 17,691 at the December sale in 1912.

On account of the embargo against sending wool to. foreign countries, competition* was almost exclusively confined to Bradford operators and the representatives of Nov.* Zealand woollen companies and exporters and fellmongers. From the outset competition Was keen, especially for super lots of half-breds, which were very firm at the rates ruling at the November .sales, and in some instances values showed a slight appreciation. A notable feature of the sale was the keen competition which ciossbcrd clips elicited. A considerable amount of the wool, as mentioned previously, was heavy in the grease, while not an inconsiderable number of the smaller clips were somewhat more dirty than usual in consequence of the heavy winds which prevailed for some time, and naturally this had a deterrent effect on competition, and compared with the sale held a month ago this class of wool was relatively neglected. The passings were again comparatively light, although larger than at thfc first sale of the season, but this can be put down largely to the excessive icserves placed on some clips By owners, some of whom wero apparently expecting a further heavy appreciation in values. The amount of merino wool offered was again very small, and prices ranged from 73d to 123 d compared with 8d to lid at the November sale. Many of the half-bred clips nold extraordinarily well, the buyers making quite unusual efforts to catch the salesman's eye, and a largo number of clips brought prices 12d and upwards. The highest price obtained was 1 l:]d, just the same as the best value at the November sale, while the prices ranged down to Bid against 9d at the earlier sale. Three-quarter-bred elicited ve»v good all round competition, and prices ranged up to 14 id or id higher than at the earlier sale. The lowest price at which a clip changed hands \*:>s Sd. compared with Bid at the November sale. As previously mentioned, cross-bred wool was in keen request, and prices ranged from 7:jd to. 13d against £>sd to 13d at the November sale. The amount offered was not large. Only a small amount of longwool was submitted, mostly of medium quality, and prices ranged from 9d to 10id against 9-|d to 12$ d at the earlier sale. Corriedale was represented by a comparatively small entry, and, taken all round, the quality was not as good as at the first sale of the season. Prices, however, wero firm and ranged from 103 d to 13} d compared witli 10£ d to 14id at the earlier auction. The relatively small amount of Down wool was briskly competed for, and prices were fully on a par with those* ruling at the beginning of the season. To-day's range ran from 10* d to 13-hl compared with 10Jd to 12} d at the first sale of the season. All classes of loeks and pieces elicited fairly keen competition, and prices showed no material change from those ruling four weeks ago. _ The following were the highest priced oliix« .--—Half-bred Pa hail pastures M£d, Ij.JP 14:; d, LX 145 d, dagger over D 14Jd, YWB over Motnnau 14} d. I'-lms over B in heart 14Jd, Bell over Coldstream 14id, Carnossa. 1-1 id, Leadervale Mid, New Zealand over three legs 14.1 d, K over AVaimii 14d. Onepunga 1 kl, Star Key over Spye 14d. Three-quarter-bred : Tk<j> Gums 14id. Met-

inoes: Lowr.y Peaks 123 d. COT over EB Millton 12jd. Southdown : BraekenfieJd 13jd. The following table shows tho number of bales submitted by each of the firms taking part in the .sale:—

Bales. Messrs I'yno »nd Co -1,796 N.Z. Farmers' Co-operative Association 3.357 Messrs Dnlprety and Co '2,920 Messrs H. Maison mid Co. . . . 2,318 National Mortgage and Agency Company 1,403 N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Ageucy Company . 6." 7 Messrs Friecllandcr Bros, Mj Total 15,972 The following table shows the number of bales offered at the Dec-cm her sales during recent years:— Bale*.

The following table gives the prices ruling for the various grades and classes of wool at the first sale of the season and at that held to-day:—

The "following were' amongst 1.113 principal sales: — Glenovis, 18 bales i-bd Hid; dot in. C, 10 Corr 13£ d, 7 at Hid, 4 pes 8d; G H over Iv, 6 Corr 13d; P over Onnkn, 7 x-bd lOijd. 4 at 101 4 at 9Jd, 7 it 9Jd, 3 pes 7id: Loudon, 32 pes lOd; Fy.ro Barton, 3 i-bd 11 16 2-bd lid, o at lOd, 3 x-bd 9|d; Bnrnsido over J N B, 3 i-bd 13id, 9 at 12 id, 5 x-bd 103 d, 4 at 9|d. 3 pes BJd; MB eonjd over Pine Grove, 5 i-bd 13Jd, •) at 13id. 9 at 12* d, 8 4-bcl llid, 6 pes lOid.. 4 mer lOid; K over Wainui, G r.-hel 14d, 4 at 13id, 5 at 13d, 3 at I*2id; J B O. 6 i-bd 12|d- 3 at llid. 6 x-bd lOid, 4 pes 72d; Onepunga. 7 I-Ixl 14d. 5 at 12d, 3 metlOid, '4 pes 9id; R B, 8 i-lxl 12d, 3 x-bd lOJd: Culverden over H. 12 i-bd 13Jd, 7 at 12R, 4 at llid, 3 pes 9d, 3 bels 7\d, 4 mer lOd; B G, 4 i-bd 13id; lliverslea, 10 Southdown llid, 8 2-bd 10-] d; P C, 22 x-bd IOJd, 3 at Did, 3 bels and pes 7Jd; Morna, 3 |-bd 12id, 3 at llAd, 3 at lOfd, 7 at 10'. d; Glenmona, 4 i-bd llid, 19 x-bd lOkl. 5 at lOid. 4 at lOd. 4 at 9fd, 6 at 9 id, 3 bels 6kl; T 8,. 8 i-bd 13id, 9 Mxl lid. 4 nes Bid: G R, 6 i-bd 13Jd; Oak Flat, 12 2-bd IOJd. 13 x-bd 9!d. 4 at 9-id, 3 at 9d, 3 bels and pes 7id; R 2, 4 i-bd 12d, 31 f-bd 10' d, 5 at IOJd. 5 at 9kl, 5 x-bd 9Jd, 8 and pes 7id, 4 crnt 7d: Grasslands. 3 i-bd lid, 3 2-bd lid, 3 at B|d, 6 .a-fc Sid, 8 x-bd Ski, 5 at Bd, 4 at 71d. 3 pes 7-Jd; Waitui, 3 2-bd 10Jd, 7 x-bd 9ld, 11 at 9Jd, 4 at 9d. 3 pes 7d. H G M. 10 }-bd 13ld: I over C, 3 i-bd lid, 4 |-bd 10id. 19 x-bd 9id; St Leonards, 13 i-bd 13id-; I), 1 Corr 13d, 9 at lliid, 4 pes lOid: X in circle, 3 ?j-bd 13id; Elms over B in heart, 11 i-bd 14id, 9 at 13R 4 at 133 d, 25 J-bd lid, 9 x-bel lOd, 0 at 10|d. C at 93d, 3 crnt 7d, 3 Iks 4|d, 4 Lei lOd; Chertsey shed over P D, 6 i-bd 13d, 8 .at llfd, 4 at 103 d, 7 Corr 13kl, 5' at 12id, 9 3-bd 1,0!:, 4 x-bd Old, 12 i-bd pes lid, 4 bels 7Jd; Barford, 7 i-bd 13d,. 3 2-bd 113 d, 4 pes Ski; Lowry Peaks, 10 mer J2sd. 5 pes 9d, 4 at 7|d, 4 Iks 4id, 11 i-bd 13kl. 8 at 123 d, 7 at lid, 3 pes ll id; T> Y, 12 i-bd 12Jd, 12 x-bd lOid, 3 bels and pes 6d; K Y, 4 i-bd 10|d. 15 2-bd 9Jd, 10 at 9d; Annandale. 11 i-bd 12Jd, 17 x-bd 24 at 10£ d, 3 at 10id, 13 at lOid, C Dels 7id, 4 pes Gsd. 74. 20 i-bd ISJd, 5 i-bd lid,, 3 bels and t>cs 9d; Avooa, 8 Lei 9id. 8 At 9id: 3 X, 3 i-bd 13d, 12 *-bd lid; Pahau Pastures, 34 i-bd lljd. 12 at 13d, 3 Wild. 3 dingy IOJd, 4 pes llid, 3 at Sid, 4 bels 8d; Kmkora, 6 i-bd 9id,* 12 x-bd lOd, 3 pes "id; Melton Hills, 12 i-bd 12']d--3 nt llid; Flea Bay, 3 x-bd at 10d, 3 bels and pes 7id; W over G, 19 i-bd lid, 3 at lOid, 3 at 9id, v bels and pes 7d; SA, 4 x-bd Wid. 10 at 9id, 14 pes and bels 7Jd; LJP, lo i-bd 14id; WW, 3 i-bd 13id, 7 at 12K 35 at Had, 3 Down 12!fd, S at 12id, 4 x-bd lid. 4 Lin. 9d. 8 pes 9:] d, 6 at 9id, 3 bels"Bid, 4 at 7-i l d, 4 crut. b;]d, 5 Iks 6\d; ZO over Glenkens, 12 i-bd 13ijd; Tbo Gums, 9 -2-bd llid, 3 bels and pes 9id; Eastwood, 13 2-bd 12id, 5 x-bd llid, 5 at llid. 0 at lid; «) 1-bd 11.-d. 7 x-bd lOid. 13 pes 9id, 1 at Bid, 8 bels 8d; WP eonjd. over AVaiau Hills, 14 i-bd 183 d, 3 at 13d, 4 pes x-bd lOd; MB over S, 9 Boinruvy 10id, 8 at lOid, 3 bels and pes 7d ; Hoon Hay, 4 i-bd-12id, 6 g-bd lid, 6 x-bd 93d, 4 at lOd; Braekenfield, 4 i-bd 13id, 12 at 13id. 4 Southdown 13id, 4 pes lOid. 3 bels 73d; Power F.R.H.G., 18 i-bd 13|d, 6 at 12d, 7 lid, 8 at lOd, 8 x-bd 9gd, 6 pes 9id, 3 at Sid, 4 at tiid; WE, 9 i-bd 13: M, 3 2-bd llid. 8 at lid, 3 ]>es lOid, (3 at Bd, 3 Iks and pes (>idj GJ over Port Levy, 11 i-bd 12id, 2i at llid, 4 at 9id, o at lOd, 6 at 9i|d, lo x-bd lOd, o bels 7d: 801 l over Coldstream, 11 i-bd 14id, 42 at 13id, 19 2-bd 11 : ]d, 0 at lOd, 19 x-bd lOid, 16 at 9id, 7 at Bid, 3 Lei. 92d, 3 at 9id, 7 pes 9id, 4 bels 8d: lIW over Z, 14 i-bd 12id. 11 x-bd lid. 3 pes lOid, 3 bels 73d; Hawkswood, 24 i-bd 13id, 15 at 12id, 6 at lid. 9 2-bd llid, 6 i-bd lid, 5 2-bd 9|d, 4 at 9id. 10 pes llid. 6 at llid, 7 at lOd, 7 be!s Bjd. Iks Oid; Leadervale, 8 i-bd 14id, 10 nt 12d, 8 lid, 6 pes 11 id. 3 bels B;|d : Carvossa, 8 i-W llid, 7 at 13id, b bels and pes llidPentland Downs. 9 i-bd 13id; UxV eonjd., 7 i-bd lli|d, 18 |-bd lid; Taylor's Mistake, 0 kbd llid, 13 |-bd llid, 10 pes 7d; COT over EB, Milton, <5 i-bd_l3|d, 9 me!'. 12id, 3 pes 9d; Star Key over Spve, 7 i-bd l id, 28 at 13J-d. 4 at 12id. 3 at 12d. 15 3-'bd llid, 12 pes IOScIi 16 at 10d, 4 at 6:] d, 3 bels BJd; 0, 4-Ixl 13} d, 8 at 9:|d: Moy Flat, o i-bd llid. 7 J-bd 10-iid. o at- IOJd, 7 x-bd lOd, 1 at 9Jd, 3 at 9id, 3 ms 7;] d; over GY, 3 i-bd lid, 8 j-bd lOd. 4 x-bd 9id, 3 bels and pes 8d; Lynton i-bd 13d, 3 crut. 7d: RRB. 5 j[-bd IOJd, 14 x-bd IOJd. 6 at 9Jd, 7 pes ; over YC over Hntt. 17 i-bd lid, 14 at 9>d. 5 at njd. 3 J-bcl 9id, 3 pes 9.} d. 3 bels 71d; IX, 7 i-bd I4id, 12 at 13id, 5 bels and pes 9d; XZ over Akaroa, 11 i-bd lOd, G at Old; AWB ovor Atotonau, 24 J-bd 14Jd. 17 at 13id, 3 x-bd llid, 3 at 10} d, 4 met 1 , lid, 14 pes 10d, 8 necks 12id, (5 bels 7id. 3 Iks GJd ; New Zealand over Thrt'i Legs. 39 i-bd Llid. 3

at lid, 12 at 12Jd, 12 3-bd 12id, 4 pes 12d, 13 at 103 d; Dagger over GD, n i-bd 14Jd. 13 at 133 d, 5 at 123 d, ( at 12 Jd, 7 3-bd 13Jd. 3 *- M I{ H C ]> 9 pos Hid, r, at lOid, 3 at Sid, 4 bels Bd, 3 Iks (3d: U.K., 5 i-bd 12id, 20 ;]-bd 10JT.. r >*rs 83d; TA over Ohara Downs 14 i-bd 13d, 4 at 10Jd, 4 »«* s I( H d > 3 bels 7Ad; Prince of Wales Feathers over G, 10 i-bd 133 d, 12 at 13d,- 12 ij-Ld 12d, 5 'x-hd'lOJd, 3 at lOid, 3 at 9Jd, 0 Shrop. Hid. 7 at 1131 3 pes 10-Jd, 5 bels BJd • Inverness, 14 J-bd 13d, 4 3-bdllJd, 7 pes 102 d. 3 mit. 8d; Shades, 8 i-bd 13d. 13 at 123 d, 6 yes 101<l. » at, 7Jd; Otahuna, 20 4-bd 13d, 4 x-bd lOJd, 6 Lri Old, 3 pes Bld, 3-crut. 8d; N over R, Chapman, 6 J-bd 12Jd, 5 at lljd. 3 at lid. 7 x-bd lOJd, 6 pes Bjd.

December, J904 . . 16,548 December, 1!)03 . . 'JJ.937 December, 190G . . 21.393 December, 1907 . » . 17,301 December, 1908 , . 19.3J8 December, 1000 . . . 20.747 December. 1910 . , . 18.119 December, 1911 . . . 16,082 December, .1912 . . 37,GDI. December, 1913 . . 14.40!) December, 1914 . . 15,972

November. December. d. d. d. d. Merino — Super — Hi to 122 Medium io good . S to 11 7i to 11 Inferior — — Half-bred — Super 12 to lis J2J to l it Medium to good . it t« iij 11 to 12 Inferior 9 to 10j 8i to 101 Tlir ee-quar ter-bre-d— Super 12$ to 33$ 12| to Hi Medium to good . Si to 12 9i t o 12i Inferior Si to 9» 8 to &i Cross-bred — Super 13 to 14i 13 to 13J Medium to good . to Hi 9J to 11J Inferior — 7| io 9i Longwool to 124 9 to 104 Corriedale — Stiper ... 13 io 11} 13 to 134 Medium io good . 11? to 12;> 11 Ho 12* Interior 10' to Hi lOj to lli Down ivooi J0£ to 12i 104 to 13* Pieces- *' Merino . — 71 to 9 Cross-bred . . 3} to 10 OS to Si Half-bred . si to iii to 1*21 Bellies 4 71 to 9J 6 J to 114 Locks ... 4>. io 54 to 6.'v Crutckinga 5\ to 9i GJ to SJ Underneath will be found the range of prices at the correspond in g sales in 1912 and 1913: — 1910. 1913. d. cl. d. d. Merino . 91 to 13 10i to 13 Half-bred . 9i to Hi 1\ to 13 Cross-bred . 8J to 134 8 to 9i Tlirce-quarier-bred . 91 to 134 7£.to l(>i Lcngwool . Sj to 10; S to 9i Devon, ivool . . 11 to 13 94 to lli Coriiedala . . . 10-i to 131 9i to 12i Pieces —• Merino . . . G.l to 10i — Cross-bred . 6J to 11 4;} to 101 Half-bred . 7 to 124 5J to lOj Three-quarter-bred — 6 to S3 Bellies Locks . . 1 to 6^ 3f to 5} Crutchings . o to Si 5 to 7 X