WOOL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4512, 6 September 1875, Page 2

WOOL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —In a letter inserted in your yesterday's issue, Mr. Samuel Revans again returns to the matter of Rio Plata wool. Some time ago, for his information, I gave him the exact statistics of the wool-clip of the year 1873-4, shipped from the Rio Plata States. He seemingly has never been ahle to conceive how ha could have gone so far astray in the figures which he published, as ever since—now and again—he has returned to the matter. This time he has got hold of a statement issued by a firm of wool-brokers conducting business in Antwerp and Melbourne, a mere touting advertisement, He meets there the statement that the Rio Plata bales average 8 cwt. Well and good; that merely shows that they say so. The figures in my letter setting Mr. Revans right gave the total number of bales and the number of arobas shipped. Mr. Revans, if he divides one by the other, will get the precise average weight, a little under 5 cwt., if I remember rightly. Mr. Revans meets also the statement that by shipping wool to Antwerp instead of London, exporters from these colonics will save £2 10s. per bale ;he swallows it at once. I would ask any one who knows anything of the matter, "would the freight to Antwerp be less ? Would the marine insurance be less? The only thing that might be less is the store rent; but as this in London amounts only to 4s. 6d. per bale, -where is the saving of £2 10s. to come from ? It cannot be that a higher price is obtainable for wool at Antwerp, because Mr. Revans tells us on the authority of these wool-brokers *Aat Yorkshire wool-buyers frequent the sales at Antwerp. Now, it seems very plain to me, that Yorkshire woolbuyers will not go to Antwerp unless they can buy at lower prices than they can buy for in JLondon. I think Mr. Revans may safely conclude that the statement of the weight of Rio Plata bales, and of the quality of Rio Plata wool, are on a par rcith the statement of the saving of £2los. per bale.—l am, &c X. Wellington, September 4.