Stock, Wool, and Produce Markets.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 122, 22 November 1897, Page 2

Stock, Wool, and Produce Markets.

WOOL SALES

Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. report as follows : — The opening wool sale of the season was held in Thomas' Hall last Friday. Owing to the wet weather interfering with shearing only some 1200 bales were forward, of which we offered 470. This season's clip, as far as we can judge from early arrivals, is well grown, of pound staple and somewhat lighter in condition than last year. The bulk of the wool offered to-day, however, wag only of medium quality, and included a large proportion of more or leaa logstained lots, which failed to attract much attention. In contrast to these wools, several really nice, bright and well-grown crossbreds elicited good competition, and soli readily at 7 id per lb — the top price of the day. Only a few merinos were catalogued, and these sold at last season's rates. A feature of the sales was the enquiry for really good pieces and bellies. Buyers were not present in full force, several large operators having not yet arrived in the colony, while to-day's catalogues were not large enough to attract th-» full complement of Southern buyers. Our local buyers were all represented, but showed little inclination for business, and most of the wool sold was taken by the English representatives. The following is a comparison between to-day's prices and those current at the opening sale last season, showing a drop in all crossbred fleece of Jd to Id per lb, and in halfbreds of }d to while merinos and good pieces showed no change : — First sale To-day's last sale. season. Superior Lincoln and crossbred ... 7d to 7sd 8d to Bsd Good medium Lincoln and crossbred ... 6sd to 7d 7d to 7Jd Good halfbreds ... 6Jd to 7|d 7d to 7fd I nfer iorand log - stained crossbred s 5d to 6d 6d to 7d Medium merinos ... sJdto6d s|dto6}d Good pieces and bellies 4}d to s}d 4\& to s*d Locks ... lJdtoSid 2d to 3d In connection with this table we would point out that there was a considerable drop between the beginning and end of last season, and that to-day's prices are consequently not so much lower than where we left off last season. Growers were not prepared for the drop in values quoted above, and consequently more than one half of the catalogues were withdrawn. As regards prospects for future sales, we are of opinion that with additional baying power prices will harden, bat we cannot encourage sanguine expect atiom, and we do sot recommend consignments to this market unless farmers make np their minds to accept somewhere about Friday's prices. The following are the principal sales effected by ns :— J.W.B., 2 bales slipe, 1 comb, Bfd ; do, 8 bales slipe, 2" com b, 7id ; do, 2 bales slipe, 3 comb, 6£d ; ROW, 4 bales greasy crossbred, 7^<3 ; WFH-PN, 1 bale half bred, 7d ; JWS, 1 bale crossbred, 6£d ; Clareville TR, 2 bales crossbred, 6}d ; Aohonga, 1 bale Lincoln rams', 6d ; do, 21 bales dingy crossbred, 6d ; do, 6 bales B half Dree", 6d ; do, 22 bales A crossbred pieces, 5Jd ; do, 4 bales B crossbred pieces, 4£d ; do, 15 bales bellies, 4#d ; do, 7 bales locks, l|d ; R-M, 1 bale crossbred, s£d; JWS, 1 bale dead, s|d ; CWB-Cadmis, 3 bales pieces, 6£d ; do, 1 bale ewes' pi. pieces, 6fd ; do., 1 bale hoggets' pt. pieces, s£d ; A-Akitio, 1 bale crossbred and pieces, 6d ; do., 1 bale dead, B}d ; do., 10 bales pieces, 4f d ; do., 2 bales locks and pieces, 2±d; do., 5 bales looks, lid ; DF, 2 bales stained, 4fd ; Morrison's Ran, 2 bales crutcbings, 4|; do, 1 bale crntchings and fleece, 4sd; Clover brand, fleece, 4id.