COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1928, Page 1

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

WOOL SALES. (By Telegraph—Rer Press Association.) SYDNEY, Jan. 12. At the wool sales there was keen competition and the market very firm at the best point of the recent sale. Greasy merino sold to 36J pence and come-back to the record price of 30) pence. THE GOLDEN FLEECE. CANTERBURY’S RETURN FROM WOOL SALES.

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 11. It is estimated that the total value of the wool sold at the sale in Christchurch last week was about £021,000. At the sale 27,004 hales were put up to auction. Of this number about 290 failed to sell under the hammer, hut probably the majority of the “ passedin ” lots were disposed of privately later. The average price per hale at the sale, reckoning all classes, fleece wool and fellmongering lots, has been estimated at £23. A catalogue of 27,000 hales at £23 a hale gives a total of £021,000. The total value of the wool sold at the first Christchurch sale of the present season, held at the end of November, when the catalogue totalled 13,847 hales, was estimated in round figures to be £300,000, so that, as a result of the two sales nearly a million pounds has come to Canterbury. At the wool sales held in Christchurch last season 72,703 hales wore sold at n total value of £1,437,864. If present values are maintained this total should be exceeded tin’s year.

I NCR BASE IN iltlltv's .MARK r. I. AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. Boots and shoes are predicted to advance in price in the near future, and an early advance is expected in the price of all leather goods. There is a world shortage of hides and the market lias been steadily advancing for the last nine months. In March last liest grades of cow hides were selling at the Auckland sales at 7d a pound. At this afternoon’s sale the market registered a further advance on 1927 closing rates, and cow hides made up to 14\d. The movement is not a local one, hut is the result of the world shortage, and values are regulated by a strong dennd from America and the Continent of Europe. 'l’lio market for ox hides has advanced from 30 to 40 per cent over the period, while, calfskin values have also moved up. Apart from the fact that there is reported to he a world shortage in hides, conditions in the overseas leather trade, especially among many of the bigger hoot and shoe manufacturing firms, have improved during the past year, and there is a healthier demand for most classes of leather goods. Cow hides, which can ho worked up into ninny of the fine fancy leathers, are subjected to an especially heavy demand, and to this can he accounted (he comparatively greater increase.

ADUINCTON STOCK SALES. CHRISTCHURCH. .Jan. 11. At Addiugiou stock sales to-day the following prices wore realised: Reef.—There was a similar yarding to last, week, hut tho market, especially for medium steers and heifers, was decidedly firmer. Prime steers fetched £ls to £l(s 15s; extra choice to £lO I2s fid; medium £l3 to £ll 10s; others to £0 15s. Prime heifers sold nf £0 15s lo £ll lfts: extra prime to £l3 2s fid ; medium £7 lo £0 ss; and others lo £O. Prime cows fetched £8 5s to £11; extra prime to £l3; medium £0 10s lo £8; olliers to £5. Store Cattle.—A small yarding met with a good sale. Three-year-old steers fetched £0 18s Od and upwards; yearling steers fo £3 18s Od ; yearling heifers to £3 7s Oil. two year heifers £4 to £4 Tls. Forward cows sold at £4 io £3 15s.

Alutton. A short yarding consisted mostly of owes with the quality very irregular. The market, especially for wethers, was decidedly firmer. Prime wethers sold at 30s to 3 Is Od : extras to 38s -hi ; medium from 27s Od to 29s Od ; and others to 24s Od. Prime ewes sold at, 24s Oil to 31s Od; extra- up to 34s 7d; medium from 19s to 245; and others to 14s Od. Tho exporters were unable to operate to any extent. Lambs. —A small yarding met with a really good sale. Several lines of West Coast lambs of excellent quality were entered, and sold up to 31s 4d, for the To Kinga Coy. Prices were all well up to, and in many cases were above the schedule. Store Sheep.—A larger yarding, with a fair number of lambs, including a consignment from tlie AVest Const. The market was firm for all classes. Store lambs were selling especially well. "The liest fetched 23s to 25s Od. others to 19s. The host forward wethers fetched up to 25s 3(1; medium 21s to 23s 6d, others to ]4s 8d; two-tooths 20s to 20s 4d ; ewes with lambs 14s to 17s all counted; s.m. owes, best 24s to 29s od, doubtful 16s to 225, others to 10s Cd. Pigs.—There was a large yarding, especially for pork. There rvas no quotable change in prices. Choppers fetched £3 to £3 17s Od ; baeoners 50s to 61s. light porkers 34 to 38s; heavier porkers 40s to 48s 6d. Best stores sold to 345: medium 24s to 28s 6d; others to 19s. Small weaners sold at 8s to 14s, good to 17s 6d ; slips t /-v lOe

IO IMS. avelltngton wool sales. WELLINGTON. Jan. 11. The third Wellington wool sale of tho season commenced to-night. The total to be offered af this series is 20.000 bales. The wool offered is bright and attractive and light in condition. Bidding was keen and well sustained, and all sections of the trade appeared d-e sirous of getting parcels. Crossbred wool is in good demand. There was a distinct recovery m values (the December price having been less than that of November). and prices for fleece wool and for lambs wool were equal to those ruling in November, in some cases being a shade above.