COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4977, 6 March 1877, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

GOLDSBROUGH’S MONTHLY CIRCULAR. WOOL. A fair amount of business has been transactedduring the month, and full catalogues have been submitted considering the lateness of the season ; the total offered since last summary being 12,113 bales, of which 9605 1 bales have been sold. Prices have been well maintained, and increased firmness has been noticeable at the more recent sales, notw.' thstanding the Inferior condition of a considerable proportion of the lots offered. The auctions will no'doubt continue for three or four weeks longer, but the quantity remaining to pe offered is comparatively unimportant, and the season may now be considered virtually, over. In reviewing the business of the season, we have reason to congratulate the growers on the unexpectedly favorable results which have been realised. The sal6s opened at our warehouses on the 18th of October, and looking at the generally unsatisfactory aspect of the Home markets .at the time, excellent prices were obtained. It became evident that buyers were prepared to operate at very full rates,' based more on a prospective advance rather than on the actual quotations then advised as being current In London ; in fact, so satisfactory were the prices deemed to be, that many of the growers, who, in anticipation of a very dull market here, had already shipped their clips, regretted having done so. As the sales progressed increased spirit was manifested. more especially after the telegrams reached here on the 16th of November advising the opening ot the November sales in London at an advance of Id. to 2d. per lb. on the rates of July and August. Subsequent telegrams gave still more favorablei.intelligence, thus imparting a further degree of firmness to the market; consequently prices towards the close of November ruled at an advance of fully Id per lb. on greasy, and 2d. per lb. on washed, over the opening rates current in October, These advanced rates have been maintained to the present date, the market being strengthened through the prevailing impression that prices will open firm at'the bigh rates of November in the February sales, now about commencing in London. ... Superior clips of greasy have met with active competition for America, and prices ranging up to 14d. .per lb. were given during December and January for , exceptionally good lots. .This demand for the United States not wily added to the value of the choice clips, but also strengthened prices for, the inferior to ordinary descriptions; those buyers'for England and the. Continent who could not compete with the'Americans for the best lots being thus led to operate to a greater extent in the lower classes. In all 78-17 bales were sold for direct shipment to America, consisting almost entirely of-the best unwashed lots offered.

Washed wools have also met with brisk competition throughout the season, hut occasionally the inferior to average descriptions have fluctuated a little, being at times more dull of sale than the choice lots They have, however, generally recovered quickly, and we now quote them quite as firm as at any time during the season. Superior clips have invariably commanded spirited competition, and one very choice well-known Western brand realised 2s, o»d., whilst another lot realised 2s, 4ld. per pound all irvnui for the fleece. Scoured wools have commanded fully proportionate prices. .. . ~ With reference to the general condition of the clip, we should class it ns being, if anything, rather under the average, a considerable proportion showing lighter fleeces than usual, and being also frequently tender in the staple. This is the result of the dry season and consequent scarcity of feed during a great portion of the year. More than the iisul quantity lias come forward in the grease, owing to the supply of water being insufficient for washing. Burrs and seeds continue to be prevalent; but they h(ive in most instances been kept with the broken wool and pieces and locks, the fleeces having generally been skirted freely in order te rid them of these defects. In some cases no extent of skirting could eradicate the burrs from the best portions of the fleece, and it is to be regretted that a large number of clips have been much depreciated in value in consequence. An important feature in the season’s operations has been the large quantity of wool'from the adjoining colonies which has been'sent here for disposal. Strong efforts were made at the commencement of the season to induce consignments to this market, and cheap contracts for freight were made, thus enabling growers in New South Wales and Queensland to forward their clips here at almost nominal cost. Directly these low rates were published, a steady run of consignments commenced, and most of the steamers that have reached here during the last three months have brought wool for sale, more especially since the prices realised for the first lots became known. The usual sales in this market have thus been supplemented to the extent of several thousand bales ; and, judging by the generally satisfactory prices that have been realised, it is evident that the new trade which has been so successfully inaugurated will next season assume much larger proportions. The announcementthat the February sales were fixed to commence on the 20thinst.—being several days later thaniast year—has given general satisfaction, as a number of additional vessels have thus been enabled to deliver their cargoes in time; and the succeeding sales will in consequence be re ieve.l to a considerable extent. A total of 127,582 bales has been exported from this port alone, being, we believe, the largest quantity of Port Phillip wool hitherto offered in the first series of the year. Last season only 36,085 bales fioin this colony were forwarded in time, with correspondingly small quantities from the other colonies, the total catalogued being 107,101 bales. It is estimated that this year about 240,000 bales from the different colonies will be included ; but judging by the excellent passages most of the ships have made, even a larger quantity may be ready; consequently the succeeding sales of the year will be equalised more in accordance with the demand, and probably a much steadier range of prices will be the result. We find on comparing the returns of exports, that 275,671 hales have been shipped from Victoria from October Ist to date, as against 273,112 bales shipped at the corresponding period of last year, tints showing an increase of 2559 hales only, or less per cent. There are still 37,353 hales to be shipped to make up last year’s yield of 312,566 bales; and we doubt if there will be much, if any, increase when the total year’s returns are made up. The exceptionally dry season we have had will no doubt have counteracted tlie increase that might otherwise have been apparent. The shipments from South Australia from October Ist to date are 109,228 bales, tints showing an increase of about 10,000 bales. The exports of New South Males will probably also show a small increase, estimated at 7000 bales; and no doubt there will he a larger quantity shipped from Queensland, probably to the extent of 4000 bales over last year. The total increase from tlie four leading colonies may thus be estimated at about 23,000 bales, or less than 4 per cent., which js comparatively trifling, and much less than was anticipated before the effects of the unfavorable season became apparent.

The Customs duties r terday were as under £ s. d. Spirits .. .. 31S 4 6 "Wine .. ., 21 9 10 Tea .. .. 67 10 0 Coffee .. . . 41 19 6 seel red at this port yes- £ s. d. Ale (bulk) .. 37 10 0 Goods by wglit. 86 19 1 Ad valorem .. 786 6 6 Other duties .. 90 1 0 Ale (bottled) .. 122 15 0 Total .. £1628 9 8