H.—29a

7

wools showed the effect of the dry season, the earlier wools from the Canterbury Plains being extremely earthy, with considerable waste. The total quantity sold at local auction sales this season to date is 315,000 bales, and there is a further quantity of approximately 25,000 bales awaiting sale in the various centres of the Dominion. The ruling prices at the Dominion auction sales for the past season and the four preceding seasons are as follows :—

v Quantity. Value. * ear - • lb. £ 1908 ... ... ... ... 163,934,462 5,716,373 1909 ... ... ... ... 187,619,181 5,914,695 1910 ... ... ... ... 194,472,934 7,954,527 1911 ..' ... ... ... 184,854.145 7,152,682 1912 ... ... ... ... 189,570,691 7,011,541 1913 ... ... ... ... 195,353,533 8,349,882 1914 ... ... ... ... 196,499,896 8,167,279 1915 ... ... ... ... 208,908,118 10,425,172 Fat Stock. The meat-prices fixed in March, 1915, for purchase on behalf of the Imperial Government are still, in force, and these have largely had the effect, of controlling the fat-stock market. Exceptionally high prices have been ruling throughout the Dominion. Market reports for March show that bullocks ranged from £12 to £20, wethers from 255. to 415., hoggets from 17s. to 285., and lambs from 20s. 6d. to 30s. 6d. Hides, Sheep-skins, and Tallow. Hides. The present values of sound ox-hides are llld. per pound and cow-hides per pound, the average prices for the year being lid. for ox and lOjd. for cow hides. Early in February, owing to an embargo having been placed on the export of all ox and cow hides over 45 Ib., the heavier weights immediately fell to lOd. and 9d. respectively, the lighter weights, however, continuing to maintain their former prices. Sheepskins. Notwithstanding the partial embargo on sheep-skins, values have been fairly well maintained : this is attributable to some extent to the increased value of pelts. Values of combing crossbred skins, per pound, are, — 1913. 1914. 1915. 1916. Medium crossbred ... ... BJd. B|d. lld.-llld. lOld.-lOfd Fine crossbred ... ... 9d. 9d. lld.-lljd. lOid.-llld. Coarse crossbred ... ... SJd. B£d- 10£d.-ll|d. 9|d.-10|d. Tallow. Tallow has continued to advance steadily during the past twelve months, present prices being : Prime mutton, 455. per hundredweight; prime beef, 445. ; good mixed, 40s

1912. January. , I 1913. January. 1914. 1915. January. January. 1916. January. Superior merino combings Medium to good merino Inferior merino Superior half-bred Medium to good half-bred Inferior half-bred Superior crossbred Medium to good crossbred Inferior crossbred Lincoln and Leicester Lambs, good Lambs, medium . . " • i d. 11J-131 9-11 7*-8* 11-1-131 9-1 Of 10i-llf 8-10 84-7f 74-10 9|-11 74-9$ d. II4-I34 9-11 71-84 11-4-131 9-1 Of <f-o$ 10J-11! 8-10 64-7f 74-10 94-II 74-94 a. 13-14 iof-ii-4 9-94 13-14f 104-121 10-11 12-13J LOi-114 84-94 lo 114 114-124 94-104 (I 13-14 104-114 9-94 13-14f 104-121 10-11 12-131 LOI-114 84-94 10-114 II4-I24 91-104 ft rl 12-144 12-1S 9f-114 9J 104 84-94 7f-8J 12-14 131-14| 9f-12 114-13 9-10 9-IO4 IO4-I2 124-14 9-11 114-13 7f-9 9-101 8f-104 11-12| 11-13 13-14 9-10f l|i-124 d. 15-171 124-144 11 12 184-21 164-181 134-154 18-19| 16-17| 124-151 15-174 16 18| 13-15.1 I The exports of wool during the past seasons ending 31st S ig the pas st seasons endi ing 31st S Se sptember were as under :—