COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 300, 21 August 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

(From the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s Circular of 29th June.) wool. The second series of Sales of Colonial Wool were brought to a conclusion on 17th inst. The following quantities were catalogued, New South Wales and Queensland ... 50,047 Bales. Victoria ... . 110,467 “ South Australia ... 38,296 “ Western Australia ... 5,469 “ Tasmania 6,319 “ New Zealand 35,682 « Cape of good Hope ... 24,992 “

Total ... 271,372 Bales. Upwards of 12,000 Rales were either forwarded direct to the manufacturing districts or otherwise disposed of, and it is estimated that about 6,000 Bales have been withdrawn. The sales opened with a large attendance both of home and foreign, at rates quite on a par with those established at the close of the February/March serial auctions. As they progressed an increasing firmness in tone and a general hardening of prices were manifested, and considering the large quantity of wool which passed the hammer during the currency of the series, fluctuations in value were less marked than is usually the case. Two leading features are worthy of notice; the material support given by French buyers, and the brisk demand which has existed throughout for cross-bred descriptions, or wails of a kindred type to those of domestic growth. Upwards of 135,000 bales have been taken for export to the Continent, while the competition between home and foreign operators for coarse wools has established an advance of from Id to 2d per lb., their firm position securing an accession of strength from the general belief that the home-clip of this year’will prove light, and that holders will be inclined to demand higher rates. The series rei'entlv concluded, when compared with the February/March sales, also presents certain special contrasts. Amongst these may be

mentioned the fact that, while superfine Victorian Combing Wools were somewhat neglected during the latter, they received greater attention throughout the former, leading to an advance ranging from IH @ 3d per lb. The medium and inferior kinds of South Australian Greasy were, from their faulty character, with difficulty disposed of at previous rates during the second series. New South Wales Fleece Wools have participated in the average rise in value, but. the extreme prices paid for very superior Victorian flocks have not been obtained for wools received from the former colony. The New Zealand not being represented during February/March, no comparison between the first and second series for such imports can be inst ituted. We regret to notice that in many flocks the severity of the season has had a prejudicial effect on the growth of the wool, so that the prices obtained recently for any one clip do not invariably bear a favorable comparison with those secured for the same mark at the corresponding period of last year. To this there are, however, many exceptions, especially amongst wools of a cross-bred type, which, for the reasons already given, have commanded great attention. The purchases made in (he Colonies on American account have not only obviated the necessity for the transmission of orders from the United States to this market, but it has occasionally happened that wools originally bought with a view to their shipment thither have been disposed of here at figures which must prove remunerative to the shippers. With regard to the future course of the market during the remainder of this year, there seems no reason to doubt a maintenance of values of all descriptions. The arrivals to this date for next series commencing 17th August, are as follow : — New South Wales and Queensland 45,631 Bales. Victoria 48,830 ° South Australia 11,315 ** Western Australia ... 198 ° Tasmania 8,180 ° New Zealand 62,514 “ Cape of Good Hope ... 24,597 “ Total ... 201,255 Bales. Mb. Alp red Buckland’s Weekly Report. —Store cattle in moderate numbers, with a demand at late values. Fat cattle in full supply ; for best quality, prices advanced on last weeks’s sale 2s 6d the lOOlbs. during the auction, but again fell towards the end of the sale. Fat calves scarce and at extreme prices. Store Sheep fairly supplied, with a dull sale. Fat sheep in full numbers. Pigs were in less than usual numbers with a fair inquiry. Prices given were—Dairy cows, £7 to £9; eighteen months old heifers, £2 15s to £3 ss; steers, £3 15s to £4 2s 6d ; store cows, £3 10s to £5 10s ; grown store steers, £4 15s to £7 ; fat cattle, 35s to 37s 6d the lOOlbs ; fat sheep 4d the lb ; ewes in lamb, 16s to 23s 6d each ; wether hogs, 12s each. Maize, 4s 9d the bushel. Farm horses, £2O to £22; riding horses,£s to £9 each. Hides were dull of sale, and withdrawn. Skins freely competed for, and brought from 4s 9d to 5s each ; longwool in grease Hid the lb.