COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 48, 23 December 1871, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

MELBOURNE WOOITTALLOW, AND HIDE MARKET. We take the following from Goldsborough’s Monthly Circular, under date of the 4th instant: — Wool —During the past month a large and satisfactory business has been transacted, upwards of 35,000 bales having been offered, and about 25,460 bales sold. The quantity, added to previous sales, makes an aggregate of 44,658 bales disposed of since the Ist of Oct, and the fact of such a number of bales having changed hands in two months proves that the wool growers have not been slow to avail themselves of the advantages offered by this market. The season is now in full operation ; and from the increasing number of buyers present at each sale, and their extensive orders to purchase, it is evident that this city is becoming thoroughly established as a most important wool mart. A large section of the English, Scotch, and Continental manufacturers are now represented here, and considerable purchases have been made for direct transmission to the factories. The operations for America have also been on an extensive scale, and three ships have already sailed for Boston, New York, and San Francisco respectively ; whilst four ships are now taking in cargo for the same ports, and rapidly filling up. The prices quoted in our last summary for washed sorts have been well maintained throughout the month, and clips of this description have ranged from Is 2d to 2s 2d per pound, whilst some choice samples of lambs’ have gone at even higher figures. Superior greasy has also kept its value, being in great demand for America, and rates ranging from Is to Is 3jrd per pound have been obtained, one clip of 132 bales having been sold at the latter figure. It must, however, be noted that the clips which have been selling at over Is Id per pound have been in unusually light condition and thoroughly well skirted, which latter of course adds materially to the value per pound, all the inferior portions of the fleece being taken off. Ordinary to average greasy may now be quoted at from Sd to lid per pound, there being a reduction of from Id to lj,-d on these sorts during the past month. Sheepskins. —Our regular sales have been well attended by the local and shipping trade, and we have disposed of large quantities of all descriptions at full prices. The demand in the earlier part of last month for shipment to Europe and America caused dried skins to realise advanced rates. Y\ T e have sold station skins from 4d to B|d per pound, and washed skins up to Is per pound. Butchers’ skins are worth from 3s to 5s 6d each, and pelts from 6d to 2s each, The Gamecock has cleared out with about 400 bales for New York, and the Nebraska, from Sydney, took about 90 bales from this port for San Francisco. Hides. —Large supplies have come forward, and all offering are readily taken by the local tanners at a slight advance on last month’s prices. We have sold ox hides from 21s to 30s each, cow hides from 13s to 21s each, and wet salted from 3f d to 4J-d per pound. Tallow. —We have held four auction sales during the month, and have sold 1320 casks of all sorts. We bavo a good demand both for shipment and local manufacture, and prices continue very firm. We quote mutton from £33 10s to £35 ; beef, from £3l 10s to £33 ; mixed, from £32 to £33 10s ; and inferior from £2B to £3l per ton.