MESSRS DALGETY & CO.'S LONDON WOOL CIRCULAR.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 219, 21 February 1866, Page 2

MESSRS DALGETY & CO.'S LONDON WOOL CIRCULAR.

The fourth and last series of sales of colonial wools, the progress of which we reported in our circular of November, closed on the 6th inst. The quantities catalogued and sold comprised a total of 60,287 bales, viz. :— Bales Sydney &|Queensland, 15,662 Tictoria, 6,915 Tasmania, 607 South Australian 1,901 New Zealand. 4,450 Swan Biver, 15 Cape of Good Hope, 30,737 60,287 The quantity of the Australian and New Zealand wools arrived and held over for these sales, being unusually small, and the stocks held by staplers and manufacturers comparatively light, the biddings for these descriptions throughout the series were animated and the prices realised show an advance of a Id to 2d per lb on the average of September sales. Victoria fleece wools of good staple and condition were in small supply, and commanded the full advance quoted, as did also good scoured wools, the bulk was in inferior condition and very faulty, but was sold with less difficulty than in the two previous sales at an advance of Id to a lid per lb. Sydney and Queensland flocks of good quality were in better demand than in September and sold Id higher. The advance was more marked in scoured wools, which in some instances realised 2d per lb higher. . Ifew Zealand and South Australian wooib ln the grease and washed were in small supply, and well competed for at an advance of Id to 2d per lb. The reports from the manufactoring districts show a healthy state of trade with firm prices for the raw material, but the demand for manufacfares since- the completion of speculative orders for America has been leS3 animated. The prospects for next February sales are encouraging, particularly for long-stapled well-con-ditioned flocks, but where wools are faulty the prices realised will always to some extent be uneven and uncertain. Our only apprehension to the maintenance of good prioes arises from the extreme sensitiveness of our Money Market, baused by the numerous (and in many instances visionary) schemes daily launched on the Stock Exchange, which must result disastrously to many parties. The minimum Bank rate is 6 per cent., and the price of Consols and Colonial Debentures extremely low. London, 23rd Dec, 1865. ■■ » — DUNEDIN LIVE STOCK, STATIONS, WOOL, &c. Dbiteb, Macleak and Co. report for the month of February : — , _• During the past month, and as usual at this 8-ason, we are able to report a decided improvement in the stock market generally, but more particularly for breeding Ewes and Lambs, in which transactions to a considerable extent have within the last few days been completed, at prices as . quoted below, and we still have buyers for large numbers of this description of stock. Fat Stock.—The supply of fat cattle, though not great, has been equal to the demand, and prices have ruled a shade easier since the beginning of the present month. The tendency of tlie market generally, at this season, has been downTsard, but the stock of fat cattle in the Province -is now so limited that we can hardly expect to see *ny -naterial reduction in price this year. Fat wethers «£ medium quality are plentiful, but we -are -pleased to notice that they are not being forced on the market in great numbers, otherwise, with the present limited consumption, a glut would'be the result. Fat calves and lambs are Saleable at fair value, according to size and quality. STOBE STOCK.—As before -stated, young ewes and lardbs are in active demand, purchases being -pade prfecipjdly for -the couth* 4 aad

ewes find purchasers at full rates, while full and broken-mouthed are not much inquired for, and no sales of any consequence have been completed. Store wethers are plentiful, but although offering at very low figures find but few purchasers. We hope ere long, however, to observe a better feeling with regard to this class of stock. We have sold during the month: Fat bullocks, from £18 to £23 10s., or equal to 455. per 100 lbs. Fat cows £12 to £15. We quote 455. per 100 lbs. as present value of prime beef. Fat wethers delivered in town, 18s. to 20s. each.; do delivered on stations, 4d. per lb.; fat lambs 15s. to 16s. each ; store cattle, mixed mobs, at £6 10s. to £8; bullocks, over 3 years, £10 to £11; store sheep, maiden ewes, 18s. to 20s. each, according to proximity to purchasers, &c; 2, 4 and 6-tooth ewes, 17s. 6d. each; full and broken-mouthed, from Bs. to 12s. each; wethers, 12s. to 13s. each; lambs, mixed sexes, 20s. to 21s. per pair, one or two choice lots of lambs have been sold at 225. per pair. Rams and Stud Ewes &c.—We have already disposed of a large number of rams from the well-known flocks of Messrs. Rich, Julius, Degraves, Bell, and others, and have to report a good demand still existing for well-bred rams. We would particularly call attention to our annual sale of pure bred stock of every description, to be held on the 2nd of March next, when we will offer a large.; number of pure rams and ewes —both merino and long-woolled —and bulls and cows, all of wliich have been carefully selected from the most celebrated breeders in New Zealand and Australia. Station Pbopebties. —Although there are buyers-in the market for good properties, no transactions have taken place during the past month, holders evincing less inclinaiton to sell. We would call attention to the sale by auction, on the 2Sth inst., of the Hyde Home Station, containing 50,000 acres, with 9,700 sheep. Wool. —We have held our usual sales during the month, the attendance being numerous, and the biddings spirited. All lots offered found buyers, at prices which cannot prove other than satisfactory to the growers. Greasy clips, light in condition, and of good staple, and well got up fleece, were much sought after; and prices obtained at our last sale show an advance of about 1\ per lb. on the fine sorts, and Id. on medium. We regret to find that, in many instances, there is still a great want of attention on the part of growers in separating locks and pieces from the fleece, which, when neglected, destroys the confidence of buyers both in this and the home market, and prevents the grower from realising prices which he might otherwise obtain. The result of our efforts this season has proved beyond doubt that sales of wool by auction in the market are an established fact, thus giving to the grower a sure and good market for his clip, without waiting many months for an uncertain result, We quote prices obtained at our public sales as follows: — Greasy Fleece Merino, 9f d. to 12£ d. per lb.; do. do. half-bred, 12|d. to 13£ d. per lb. ; washed fleece Yl\d. to 20id- per lb.; scoured fleece, 22d. to 25d. per lb.; scoured skin wool, 20d. to 23d. per lb. Hides. —But few really good hides at present in the market. There are purchasers for sound, parcels for shipping, at from 7s. 6d. to 12s. 6d., according to weight. ' Tallow, still very scarce. Good mixed beef and mutton is worth £40 per ton.