PLEASANT SURPRISE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 82, 7 April 1934, Page 10

PLEASANT SURPRISE

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALE FINER GRADES APPRECIATE DEMAND UNEXPECTEDLY KEEN. [ Per Press Association. I CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. The fourth and final wool sale of the Christchurch season was held this afternoon. Owing to the free disposal of the preceding sales, a very small cata- ■ logue of 4262 bales was offered. The selection was a poor one, comprising mostly back country, West Coast and held-over wools, which were mainly pnd heavy in condition. Competition was unexpectedly keen, especially from the Continent, which lifted most of the fine quality fleece and pieces. Bradford buyers were comparatively quiet, confining their attention to the lower grade top-making wools. The clearance was approximately 95 per cent. Fleece wools of 48 count and over were better than at the March sale -by a farthing to a penny per lb., and fine pieces showed a slightly better appreciation, most averaging from a halfpenny to a full penny more. This estimate makes allowance for the difference in quality at the two sales. Crossbred showed little if any difference, but was up to the rates ruling recently at other centres. Pieces formed the major proportion of the offering, and crossbred lots were also more numerous. A few clips of good average Corriedale and halfbred were forward, but most of the wool was heavier in condition and carried more dust than the wool offered at the earlier sales. There was a practically full bench of buyers, all the European buying points being represented, in addition to the local mills and fellmongers, the latter of whom competed actively. The sale was a pleasant surprise for vendors. The market for all classes of fine pieces and fleece was better than at the sale on March 2. French and Bradford competition was keen throughout, the former for fine pieces and Bradford for all classes of fleece. There was very little wool offered suitable for the German trade, but some of the high priced lots were secured fo’Germany. The comparative absence of high-class fleoce wools restricted competition from local mills, but fellmongers secured a much heavier proportion of pieces than usual. Considering the quality of the catalogue, the sale was an excellent one. Top price of the sale was 20|d for three bales of halfbred. Fifteen bales of halfbred made 20d. and seven bales of halfbred sold at 19Ad. The best Corriedale figure was 20d for five bales. The next Corriedale price was 19Ad for 15 bales. The best Merino price was 19jd for 17 bales of ewe. Fine pieces made up to 17fd and five bales of halfbred necks also sold at 17Jd.

Range of Prices. Merino, 64/70, 60/64— Super .. ’ Average Inferior d. IS to d. 19} 15' 12 to to Corriedale— Super 3 81 to 20 Average .164 to 18 Inferior 13} to .15} Fine Halfbred, 58, 56/58, 56Super 18} to 20} Average 164 to 184 Inferior 14 to 16 Medium Halfbred, 50/56, Super 16i to 174 Average 144 to 164 Inferior 12} to 14 Extra Fine Crossbred, 48/50Average 10 to 124 Inferior 8 to 94 Average 74 to 8} Inferior 51 to 7 Medium Crossbred, 4/46 — Average 64 to 7} Inferior 4} to 6 Bellies— Halfbred: Good 13 to 131 Low to Medium .. 10} to 12} Pieces—• Half bred: Good 15} to 17} Low to Medium ., 11 to 15 Bellies and Pieces— Crossbred: Good 8 to 9} Low to Medium .. 44 to 7} Cm tellings— Half bred: Medium to Good .. 7} to 104 Inferior and Seedy . 54 to 7 Crossbred: Medium to Good . . 5} to 8} Inferior and Seedy . 3 to 5 IrOCkS— Merino .. ,. 7} to 81 Halfbred to 84 Crossbred 4 to