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Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 976, 24 August 1903, Page 4

quoted 20 and 10 per cent, respectively above 1901 opening prices, or about 40 per cent, above the lowest point. A further 10 per cent, for medium and 15 to 20 per cent, for coarse was gained by the close of January, to be followed by a fall of 10 per cent., which has again been recovered during the last few months. “ The supply of lambs’ wool throughput the season was unusually small. Superior merino qualities showed, on the average, a rise of about 15 to 20 per cent., but medium and inferior descriptions, which had been relatively at a lower level, were, owing to the scarcity, in greater demand, and at the best were 50 to 60 per cent, above 1901 rates. For crossbred lambs the advance was : For fine, about 20 per cent.; good average quality, 50 to 60 per cent.; and coarse, 60 to 75 per cent. . .

COtlu* B . , , 11 As waß to be expected, m view of tne reduced clip, the number of baleß dealt with in Australian markets shows a reduction, but in it" proportion to the ontire growth the percentage was practically maintained." ' The clip of 1902 is referred to as tol- “ Speaking broadly, the clip of 1902 is regarded as one of the poorest ever produced, the only exception to the general inferiority being the production of the Western District of Victoria, the Southeast of South Australia, and Tasmania, where it was well up to average excellence. In actual quality of fibre it was finer haired, but the quality was from starvation rather than from breeding, the staple being flimsy, and lacking the character, soundness, length and silkiness which are characteristic of fine Australian wools grown [in good seasons. The condition * was poor, a general sparseness of yoke rendering|the staple rather harsh and mushy, and open to an undue accumulation of dust; burr and seed were, however, lesß prevalent.”

After these general remarks the clip from each State is dealt with in detail, and a report upon the pastoral year is also given. The prospects for the ensuing season are thus spoken of: — “ The high level of values at which merino wools, now stand would perhaps inspire some anxiety as to its permanence were it not that it appears to be a bona-fide result of the large shrinkage in supplies rather than an exceptional demand arising from some temporary preference of fashion. A reduction of some two hundred thousand hales, practically, all merino wool, is no small factor, ,yet it may in itself prove an element of danger in unduly inflating, prices and necessitating the employment of substitutes or of crossbred fabrics. In any case, however,there is a wide field in which merinos can hardly be replaced, and while the possibility of further advance is necessarily becoming narrower, we look to this to maintain values at or about the current level until supplies recover their normal propor-

tions. Crossbreds, on the other hand,' are still moderate in price, and as the gross supplies show no increase, should he susceptible ol a further rise,. In view of the smallness of visible stocks in Europe with which the year opened, the reduced production that has come forward, and the generally sound state of the manufacturing trade, the prospects for the forthcoming season appear to be distinctly favorable.” The statistics show that the shortage on the Australian clip amounted to close on 281,000 bales. The total sales for the year in Australian markets were 730,338 hales, against 934,666 bales for the preceding twelve months, a reduction entirely due to the diminished clip, but bearing the same percentage proportion to,the production of Australia as that of, the previous year—viz,., 61—62 per cent. The highest prices realised for greasy merino wool were 17$d in Melbourne and Geelong, and 141 d in Sydney, while for scoured wool 24d and 25d respectively was reached. Super Victorian comeback sold up to 141-d per lb.

LU J-XjU pet m-ii* In the statistics; of the bleed of .wool sold, it is shown that there is a slight increase in the proportion of cross'Ujred—viz., 1 per cent., while of lambs' wool only 21,000 balesi .were marketed, as against 53,500 for the preceding year, the percentage falling off from 6 per cent, for the year ending June 30th, 1902, to 3 per cent, for the period under review. The average value per bale of the .Whole of the wool dealt with in Australian markets was £ll 18s 4d, ag:ainst £9 6s 4d in the preceding; year

—an advance of 28 per cent—while the gross value of 739,338 bales sold was £8,810,840, an increase of £102,000 upon the preceding year s figures, although the quantity dealt with was nearly 200,000 bales less. It is shown that there is a larger proportion of scoured wool, and that the destination of all purchases made in the colonies were : oO percent. to the Continent, 26 per cent., to Great Britain, 4 per cent, to the United States, and the balance (14 per cent.) divided between Japan aad the East, local manufacturers and scourers.

aim , ~ .. The whole of these statistics, which form an excellent synopsis of the trade, are published m sheet form suitable for framing for reference at any time to interesting details as regards the trade aad can be had on application to Dalgety. ft 'Company, Limited. S'VLES IN THE COLONIAL' MARKETS. The statistics show that to Dalgety and Company belongs the premier position in the Australian wool trade, 'and affords unmistakable evidence of the high esteem in which the Company is held by pastoralists throughout Australasia, whether disposing of their purchases in the local or London markets. In the total sales by the various selling brokers, the three largest are given as under —Dalgety and Co Ltd., 110,786 bales ; New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co., Ltd., 102JL.8 hales ; Goldsbrougli, Mort, and Co., Ltd., 80,517 bales

In the list of wool importers into the London market lor the year ending 1902, the three largest totals are —Dalgety and Co., Ltd., 50,870 bales ; Australian Mortgage, Land, and Finance Co., 61 935 bales; New Zealand Loan and M.A. Co., Ltd., 58 388 The total quantity handled by Dalgety and Co., Ltd., is therefore as under -Sold in Australia and New Zealand for the year ending 30th June, 1903, 110,786 bales ; shipped to Dalgety and Co., London, for the vear ending 31st December, 1902 55.870 bales ; or roughly one-seventh of the entire Australian clip , and 40,000 bales in excess of any other house in the trade.