HOMES AND FOREIGN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1336, 30 May 1872, Page 2

HOMES AND FOREIGN.

PUBLIC SALES OF COLONIAL AND FOREIGN WOOL. London, Ist March. The first series of sales in this year commenced on the Bth ultimo, and terminated this evening. The aggregate quantity sold was but slightly in excess of that declared on the opening day, though in one description, to be remarked upon presently, a very decided accession was brought forward. The quantities from the various nies comprised:—Sydney and Queensland,- 17,793 bales; Port Phillip, 49.480; Adelaide, 21,956; Van Die-men's Land, 524; New Zealand, 4,332 ; Cape of Goad Hope, 20,783 ; Sundries, 950; Total 115,818 bales. Skins, 200.

These Auctions were looked forward to with mingled feelings of curiosity and hope stimulated by so many considerations- -of short supply, excessive demand for both goods and wool, the support certain to be received from France, and the absolute necessity of our own manufacturei s purchasing more or less to keep their mills running—led people to speculate upon the extent of the advance that might probably take place. It may safely be said that giving full weight to those varied considerations, the improvement actually realised has outstripped the expectations of even the most sanguine, and afforded indubitable proof that for some time the era of extreme depression, or even of a moderate range of value, ha- passed, and that buyers must prepare themselves for prices more nearly adequate to the labor, capital, and skill employed in production. The first evening exhibited a large attendance, and an excited maiket, resulting in an improvement of fully 2d per lb This was increased each evening by Jd until the original advance was nearly doubled at the close of the second week or tenth day. Prices then seemed to be on the turn for clothing wool, except, for Sydney, of which so small a quantity was offered, and they gradually settled down at a penny decline from the highest point, at which reduction thev closed, but reviewing the course of prices, it may be safely taken that an average advance of to 3d. has been the result of these auctions.

Sydney was unfortunately in very scanty supply, under 15,000 of first hand wool, and although this quantity might have been increased by a trifling relaxation of the rule, by admitting a vessel with 3,000 bales, which arrived during the sale, but had sailed ten days before another reported in time. This slight modification was not made, but its place was more than tilled by about 3,000 bales of second-hand wool, which increased the exhibit of Sydney by 15 pet cent, and thus rendered any guarantee to the buyers as to a limitation of quantity altogether nugatory; the actual arrival of Sydney in time being 14,783 bales, the sales 17,793 bales. The flocks of Sydney and Queensland comprised many good useful wools, both scoured and in and also a small flock of fleece washed of Mr N. P. Baily, of Mudgee, which brought as high as 4s 3d per lb, and although on thi* brand 50 per cent advance was realised upon the previous season, this is comparatively trifling when regarded in the light of other large clips which have sold at cent per cent advance upon February values of 1871.

The selection of Port Phillip wool was extensive and varied, comprising some very beautiful flocks of western wool in prime condition, and others so light in grease, that one brand sold so high as Is IOJd, and lambs, Is 11 Jd in an unwashed state. The Murrurabidgce washed wools were decidedly in a better condition than the previous season, the pink tinge of color then observable being succeeded by a clear white, indicating less earthy matter in the fleeces, and generally better washing,

Adelaide was lighter and belter grown, and consequently participated in the rise to the extreme prices paid for other greasy wools.

Of Van Piemen's Land and New Zealand there is little to report, the quantities offered being unusually meagre,

Gape did not share the full advanceof Australian, having been previously relatively higher in value, but they sold well at an average improvement of about 2d per lb. The next auctions will commence on 11th April, when about 160,000 bales, will be offered. Webster, Dart all, & Co,. Brokers. Mr Samuel Saville Kent,, late HerMajesty's Inspector of Factories, is. dead. He had the dreadful misfortune to be the father of a murdered child and of the murderess, and for some years to lie under the btigma of himself the murderer. Nearly twelve years have now passed since the name of the little Wiltshire village of "Road was on every tongue. For five years of" that time many Englishmen believed, that Mr Kent was one of the greatest criminals unhanged. His. daughter,. Constance, was the real culprit. The stay which her Majesty proposesto make in Germany during the Easter recess will piobably last about ten days, or a fortnight.. Her Majesty (observes, the Times) lias not seen her- half-sister-the- Princess of Hohenlohe Lagenburg,, whose health does not permit her to* travel, for six yea is. The visit is to. be strictly private. The AUgemeiueZoitung says of the proposed vi>it :, — "•' The Queen of England, will shortly take up her abode for a fortnight at Baden Baden The villa Delmar has. just been engaged tor Her Majesty from the 29th March to the 15th April.. She comes to visit her half : sister, thePrincess of Hohenlohe, who. has lost, her husband, and her relative, the Dukeof Augustenburg, has already taken up his abode in the Franzosischer Hof. Other peisons of high rank are expected about the same time, so that the-sea-son will be opened very early.." A laic English paper says :—By thearrival of the Liverpool, B.iazil, and: River Plate Royal Mail steamer TychoBrahe, we have news of a fearful massacre of foreigners by a sect of* fanatics, known as ihe Sephys of TandiL The Buenos Ay res Standard says the details are of too Knocking and i evoking; a character to be published. A man has died in Sou thington,, Connecticut, who had kept hi< cotiin in his house and his grave clothes in. constant readiness for several years. The Pvev. J. Buller gave a lecture on " Education " in the Wesleyan Church, Grahamstown, on Wednesday, May 15, in which he is reported to have said, on the use of the Bible as a schoolbook :—" T do not think it should be insisted on; nor, on the other hand,, should it be absolutely forbidden. Todo this would give an anti-religious aspeot to the scheme quite as much as enforcing it would seem to give a religious character. There are historical truths in the Bible that can be found in no other book. Tins might be left an open question and settlad in the several school districts just as circumstances may make it expedient. In no department can legislation meet every case; and in passing a system of education to suit all parties, \ think there should be sought the greatest possible amount of benefit with the least possible decree of grievance. The duty of the State terminates with man's social life —the aim of religion is to lit him for immortal being. Jt is enough for those who are charged with responsibilities of Government to secure for all the people the means of education* so that they may know how to act in ihat sublime aphorism of the Lord of all—' Ptender, therefore, unto Csesar the things that are Cjesai's, and unto God the things that are God's.'"

We observe from a late paper that no fewer than seven bakers had been sued at the Police Court, Thames, foubreaches of the " Bakeis' and Millers' Act," by not having bread-scales on their counters, and by not having their bread branded.. Fines in each case were inflicted. The Magistrate found fault will) the Act for not providing a penalty for light weights in all cases, tried for selling goods under weight.

A Gi'ey Valley correspondent of thoGrey River Argus says that numbers. of the old residents have returned sadder but wiser men, after taking a trip* to lieofton.