LONDON WOOL MARKET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 456, 18 March 1857, Page 6

LONDON WOOL MARKET.

December, 1856. . iThe last sales of colonial wool for the year commenced on the 6th and closed ,on the ,29th November! The number of bales.comprised in catalogues consisted 0f—13,144 bales Australian; 8,937, Port Philip; 5,5.02, Diemen's Laud; 2,731, Adelaide; 3,141, New Zealand ;! 410, Swan River ; 18,200, Cape. Total, 52,065 bales ; of which about 2,500 bales were from second bands. The attendance of buyers at the opening sale was large, and a spirited competition existed for all descriptions at an advance of Id. to "tjjjd. The principal buyers [for the north, who had been looking for recent rites scarcely being maintained, were surprised at the tone of the room and held aloof for the first few nights, anticipating that, immediate wants being supplied", consumers would be'less anxious, andthat the rise established would be lost. This anticipation was soon dispelled, for our own manufacturers and the continental buyers took eagerly each night's sale, prices hardening after the first few days. 'The dealers, who had been free sellers, of their summer purchases, commenced their operations, and the advance established may be quoted at 2d. to 23^d. on Sydney, 2d. to 3d. on Port.Philip and New Zealand, Id. to l|d. on Cape and other descriptions; greasy wools from all parts obtaining pro rata the greatest advance. -, So satisfactory a result, notwithstanding the dearness of money, must-be exceedingly gratifying to importers, and will no dp-.ibt'give a powerful impulse to the growth of wool; -for at the present rate of consumption we shall soon (in the absence of increasing, imports) exceed supply; indeed, had it not been for the admixture of other mater rials with wopl, prices would have, been excessively high, auda reaction mnst soon have occurred; as it is, trade is maa most healthy state, arid the market wears every appearance of higher prices being established at the February sales. '■ ' .'...■ The absence of all wools of a merino character, particularly scoured from Odessa, assisted materially the'prices of this description ; and those of a plump bright character were eagerly competed for, aod a large proportion sold for export, price not' appearing so much an object with the French buyers,'as. they i; willingly. paid 2s. 5d..t0 2s. lOd. for the best sorts'.' The worsted trade at Bradford running at-present on yarns from English wool considerably cheeked the purchases for that market; had we received our usual support from thence, combing wools, which were, very -scarce, would have beeii dearer than for many years pa?t.

The arrivals -to date,consist of about 10,000 bat;, "nearly^all Sydney'and'Cape. For low wools the market was not so animated,' and 'all ■ descriptions sold established a'dccline ofabout Id. ; 'those of "combing character were only slightly^affected. English wools are advancing, and the better clips are -eagerly purchased at 'he highest'quotations, the 'iriarkot •wearing a firm aspect. — Home Netcs, Dec.-12.

The second-series of wool • sales, which terminated on the 29th ultimo, are thus reported of "by" Mr. H. P. Hughes:— The attendance of the trade has been large, with a -spirited competition tfoT all'descriptions of colonial wool throughout, more particularly for fine as well as full-bodied fleece wool, which realised higher rates in' proportion fo other sorts. Under' the expectation of small sales for February next, and with moderate-stocks of the raw material both in this country and on the continent, purchases were very freely made by the home trade and for export, and, nothwithstanding- the high rate of discount, our sales have gone off at an advance of a Id. to l}£d. per lb. on 'Australian, and about %d. on wool from the Cape. East India aud other low wool sold about equal to last Liverpool sales.

Prices Current.—New Zealand Wool.—Scoured fine, 2s. 3d. to 25.. 5d.; Fine clean fleeces, Is. 9d. to 25.: inferior, is. 5d..t0 Is. 6d.; broken pieces and lock, lOd. to Is. 2d.; lamb wool, "Is. 6d. to Is.* 9d. j unwashed'fleeces, 11 a. to Is. 2d.