The Wool Market.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 269, 17 May 1895, Page 2

The Wool Market.

We are indebted to Mr Matheson, local manager of the Colonial Bank, for the following report from the Bank's London offices dated April sth, 1895 : — The second series of Colonial wool sales for tin's year which opened on the ?th March was brought to a close on the 30th March. The available total was 274,000 bales, out of which about 206 000 were catalogued (including 04,000 New Zealand), of this total about 255,000 were disposed of. under the hammer, nearly 155,000 being taken for export, including 1 23,000 bales to America. The quantity held over until next series is only about 20,000 (as compared with 25.000 from the January-February sales), of which 16,000 bales had not been catalogued or offered at auction this series. The attendance throughout has been large from all quarters, and competition unflagging in its activity, French buyers operating; with greater confidence than for some considerable time past, but towards che close the Germans came much more to the front, and took the leading part. As compared with the closing rates of last series, finest Austral:an greasy merinos rule about par, superior scoured merino, 5 per cent advance, medium greasy and scoured merino, 10 per cent advance, and inferior greasy and scoured merinos from 10 to 15 per cent advance. Superior and medium greasy crossbreds close at an advance of 5 per cent, whilst inferior crossbreds show an advance of fully 5 at 7\ per cent, scoured crossbreds of all qualities close about par. Taking the market all round the level of prices for Australian wool is similar to what it was in the May series of last j'ear, and it is a satisfactory feature that tbe bulk of old stock which has fbr so long encumbered the market bus been cleared out. The third s>eiies has been fixed to commence on 30th April, the list closing at _ p.m. on tha* dav, or meanwhile whenever 400,000 bales shal] have arrived. The fourth series will open on the 2nd'" July with a similar limitation as to arrivals.

(Per Press Association.) London, May 15. An inferior selection of wool was offered to-day, prices are unchanged. The Scotchman says tbe Victorian export trade in farm produce promises to equal if rot outstrip tbe most formidable competitor in other quarters of the world. The factory system of dairying bas already yielded results which its strongest advocates could hardly have expected. It advises that with more attention to breeding and feeding- stock, with cheaper freights and more scientific raising of stock, the Victorian farmers will be enabled to complete successfully against Sweden, Denmark, Canada, America.