COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10062, 2 February 1909, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES. (Per Press Association.) Christehurch, February 2. The fourth wool sale of the current season's series was held this morning. There was a fair muster of buyers, although the attendance was not nearly so large as at the sales held earlier in the season, and several of the American buyers who previously materially assisted to give a stimulus to the market were absent. The aggregate catalogues totalled 4697 bales, as compared with 7700 for a, corresponding sale of last year and 8252 for the sale held in 1907'. The main lots numbered 873, and these sold in the short time of two hours and a-quarter, after which the "Star" lots were sold', and the sale concluded early in the afternoon. The wool offered compared unfavorably with that offered at the earlier sales, few of the clips being of conspicuous merit. Merino clips from the back stations were not open attractively, being in most cases stained. The sale was irregular, the weakness of American competition which was,practically non-existent being severely felt. For three-quarterbred there was a good demand, although the highest price obtained was id below the top price obtained, at the third sale of the series, but was ljd- ! better than at the corresponding sale last year. The demand for merino was weak, this description being neglected and the quality being taken into consideration the prices were easier by from -Jd to Id per lb as compared: with the rates ruling at sale held on January 14, the decline being due to adverse reports . recently received from London. Merino wool .was generally of a low grade, and included a fair proportion of wool held over, from previous sales. Medium halfbrcds sold at prices equal to tho6e ruling at the previous sale, while good descriptions were from i,-d to Jd easier, as compared with recent values, owing principally to the absence of American competition, but very little wool of this quality was on ofler.. Several lines of scoured wools were offered, but elicited practically no competition, and nearly alt was passed. For all classes of pieces there was a-good demand, a fair proportion being taken for shipment, while scourers operated at relatively higher prices than at the previous sale. Following are the prices:—Merino super Bjd to 9d, medium to good 7jd to Bd, inferior 6£d to 7d; halfbred super lid, medium to good 8d to 9d, inferior s|d to 7|d; three-quarterbred super B.[d to 9j|d, medium to good 7d.to Bd, inferior s|d to 6|d; crossbred medium to good 5d to 7£d: long-wool super 7id, medium to good 6d to 7d, inferior ■sd to si<i; down wool, medium to good 6Jd to 7-Jd : Corriedale to 10^d; Shropshire 13d to 14£ d; pieces, merino 6£d to 7|d, threequarterbred halfbred 3id to 91d, crossbred 4-|d to sd; locks 2d to sid: bellies to 7jd, crutchings to 4^d.