COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 44, 25 November 1871, Page 11

COMMERCIAL.

Melbourne Wool, Tallow, and Hide Market. (Goldsbrough’s Monthly Circular.) Wool. —During the month, wools in the grease have ranged from 9d to Is 2J, and a few choice lots up to Is 2£d, whilst washed fleece has realised from Is 3d to 2s 2d per lb, these prices showing a large advance on the quotations which were ruling 'it few months ago. The total sales to this date has been about 19,198 bales, of which a considerable proportion has been bought by American buyers for direct shipment to the United States. The anticipations we formed several months ago of a diminished yield of wool this year bid fair to be confirmed, judging by the clips which have reached us, and by the reports we are receiving from the various upoountry districts. It will be remembered that, in consequence of the constant rains, the shearing last year was greatly delayed, the sheep being in many cases shorn from one to two months later than usual; consequently from thirteen to fourteen months’ growth of wool was in numerous instances shorn, instead of the usual twelve months’ growth. This year the sheep have been shorn at the usual time, consequently a large proportion have not more than ten or eleven months’ growth of wool ; and it therefore follows that a diminished yield, as compared with that of last year, must be the result. The fine season has to some extent counteracted the deficiency, the sheep having had abundant feed, and the fleeces being generally well grown ; still this has not been sufficient to compensate for the shorter time of growth, and we believe that a falling off in the yield, as compared with last year, will be apparent at the end of the season, the stations being now lightly stocked. The operations of the meat preserving companies have certainly been productive of great advantage in enabling the flock masters to dispose of their surplus sheep, and the benefits which have been derived are apparent in the improved clip. A large proportion of the stations are now stocked with healthy, strong, young sheep, and the flocks will, no doubt, rapidly show greater excellence, the injurious effects of attempting to depasture large numbers on insufficient feed having been fully demonstrated during the past few years. As regards the condition of the clip, little fault can be found, the bulk of the wools which have reached town being in excellent order. Considerable attention has been paid to careful classing, and most of the large clips have been well sorted and are in good marketable condition. Many of the Riverine clips are in the grease, and very light; consequently they have been readily taken, principally for" America, at prices which must be very encouraging to growers, and which will no doubt induce them to increase their efforts to secure greater excellence. PRICES CURRENT. Greasy—inferior, 8d to 9id ; greasy, ordinary to average, lOd to Is ; greasy, good to superior, Is 0-i-d to Is 2d. Fleece, inferior, 1 2d to Is 3d ; fleece, ordinary to average, 1 4d to Is 6d ; fleece, ayerage to good, Is 7d to Is lOd ; fleece, superior, Is lid to 2s 2d. Scoured, inferior, Is 2d to Is 4<d ; scoured, ordinary, Is 5d to Is 7d ; scoured, middling to good, Is 8d to Is 9d; superior, (none offering), nominal. Sheepskins. —Our usual sales have been ■well attended during the month, and we have sold a large quantity of all sorts, at improved prices, a large portion of dry skins being taken for export to America. We have sold butcher’s skins from 3s to 6s 9d each, and station skins from 3|d to to B|d per pound. Hides.—The market has been fully supplied, and all offered been taken for local consumption. Prices continue very firm, and we have sold ox hides from 20s to 29s each, cow hides from 13s to 20s each, and wet salted in good condition from 3fd to 4£d per pound. Calfskins are worth from 5d to 6d per pound. Tallow, —Since the departure of the last mail we have said 1,245 casks of various aes criptions, the bulk Consisting of good mutton. Notwithstanding the continued scarcity of freight, prices are about the same as they were last month, We have sold mutton from

£32 to £34 12s 6d ; beef, from £3l to £33 mixed, from £32 to £33 lOd ; and inferior, from £2B to £3l per ton.

Wanganui. —The “ Herald” of the 20th has the following report :—Fat cattle are declining in,price and may be quoted as follows : —Large framed fat bullocks, £5 to £6 ; fat heifers and cows, £4 to £5 ; store bullocks, £3 to £4 ss; mixed* stores, two and three years old, £2 to £3 ; with very little demand. Fat half bred wethers, heavy weights, 13s to 16s; medium wethers, 93 to 12s ; merino wethers, fat, 7s to 9s; stores, none in the market; likely to be large numbers in the market after sheaving. Horses,light draught, £lO 10, to £ls 15s ; serviceable hacks, £9 to £l2.