WOOL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 4, 22 January 1903, Page 13

WOOL.

Christchurch, January 17.— THe third of this season's wool sales was opened to-day, when a record catalogue of nearly 20,000 bales was offered. There was a full attendance of buyers. Bidding was somewhat irregular, being brisk for merino, and specially fine hftlfbred and quarter-back, very keen for strong crossbreds and longwools, but languid for inferior and medium %p good halfbreds. Competition for pices, locks, and oddments was rather slow and erratic except for lots wanted by colonial woollen mills, which brought very full rates compared with the December sales. Merinos were firmer,, fine halfbred without change, good medium and inferior halfbred to fd lower. Longwools and crossbreds, especially showy sorts, marked a distinct advance of id to lid per lb. The following is the range of prices :—Superior merino, lOd to Hid ; medium, 9d to lOd : " inferior, 7d to 9d ; halfbred — superior, 8d to 9£d ; medium, 7d to 8d ; inferior, sfd to 6£d ; crossbred — superior, 6d to 7d ; medium and inferior, 4d to s*d ; longwool — superior, 5d to 6£d ; inferior, 4£d to 5d ; pieces and bellies— good, sjd to 62d ; inferior, 2*d to 4£d ; locks, Id to B*d. London, January 16.— The Bradford wool market is brisk. Common sixties, 24d ; supers, 25d ; super forties, 13d ; common, 10id. London, January 18. — At the periodical sales of hides there was a good demand. Queensland ox, 5Jd ; cow, s£d ; New South Wales ox, 5d : cow, 4sd. Leather is quiet at 12s. Basils are firm. First New Zealand, Is 3Jd.