WOOL MARKET.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 477, 19 November 1879, Page 3

WOOL MARKET.

Tun New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's Home Circular for September, says :—As might naturally have been expected faulty Wools, especially scored descriptions have been, throughout the sales, more or less difficult to dispose of, and in consequence great irregularity in prices has been shewn. Although the selection of combing Wools, whether washed, scoured, or greasy, free from defect, was by no moans large, buyers have been prone to take exception to parcels which in a more animated market would freely have gone into consumption. Clothing Wools have not met with much favor, and this remark applies alike to the finest Hocks of New South Wales and to the more ordinary descriptions. Amidst the general reduction in values it has been satisfactory to observe that, to a limited extent, purchases haVe been made for the American market of lightconditioned greasy Wools suitable to the requirements of the United States. As these purchases have been at a time of year when, usually, American buyers do not come forward, it is a comfirmatOry indication of the revival ol trade in the i United States which may lead early in 1880 to more extended operations, when a much larger selection of suitable wools may be looked for. Further inspection of New Zealand growths has unfortunately confirmed the opinion expressed in our Circular-, No. 74, when writing as to those cataloued during the second series, and although the priced 'catalogues afford unmistakable evidence of a much lower range of values tor Wools from that Colony than was reached a year ago, it must not be assumed that the dtilerence correctly represents the fall in prices between and the present month, much of the decline being due to the interior condition of the clip now in course of disposal. The irregularity in the value of lambs’ Wool demands attention, and the position ot the home industry has sensibty affected its consumption. Burry sorts are specially neglected, hence it not unfrequeutly happens that the “ friction ” in values between the first and second qualities of any one parcel seems abnormal, buyers being readily found lor the portion free from defects and well grown while they will not compete for the faulty lots. With the decline in values

now current for nearly all descriptions, it behoves growers and shippers to eyereise greater care in the preparation of Wools for this market than lias been the practice of many in past years. Buyers are now keen in detecting faults, which under more favorable conditions they would overlook, and accordingly they have not been slow to make complaints in various directions. In the case of several parcels of scoured wool it lias been found that in packing, shreds of cotton, twine, and other like materials have been so intermingled as to cause serious inconvenience and loss to the purchasers. Li the case of other shipments exception has been taken to their continued undue subdivision, thus increasing needlessly the number of small and “ star lots ” in the catalogues lor which it is well known that less competition exists. It has also been observed that while some Wools are unduly skirted by detatching from the fleeces portions that might with advantage have been left untouched, in the case of others —notably the lower qualities of crossbreds in the grease—no attempt has been made in this direction.