LONDON MARKETS.

Southland Times, Issue 1540, 20 February 1872, Page 2

LONDON MARKETS.

The circular of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, dated London, 14th December, reports : — wool. As announced in our last circular, the closing series for this year of sales of Colonial wools -commenced on 23rd ult., and was concluded on 7th inst. The following figures show respectively the arrivals and quantities catalogued during the course of the sales .—-New South Wales : Arrivals, 20,068 bales ; catalogued 21,865 hales. "Victoria : Arrivals, - 8,263 bales ; catalogued, 13,929 bales. Tasmania : Arrivals, 619 bales ; catalogued, 635 bales. South Australia : Arrivals, 1,39.9 bales ; catalogued, 1,692 bales. New Zealand : Arrivals, 6,233 bales; catalogued, 8,904 bales. Swan River : Arrivals, 36 bales ; catalogued, 43 bales. Cape : Arrivals, 30,205 bales ; catalogued, 25,951 bales. Totals — Arrivals, 68,813 bales ; catalogued, 73,069 biles. If from the former we deduct 5,500 bales, the quantity in approximate figures which found ito way into second hands prior to the commencement of the public sales, it will be seen that about 10,000 bales of wool in those of dealers, speculators, and the trade, were introduced, the holders being tempted to offer by the high rates ruling. This was an unusually large quantity to be co brought forward, but as the sales throughout were exceedingly buoyant, no prejudicial effect was felt, more especially as high limits were placed upon these parcels by holders. As might be expected foreign buyers did not operate so freely as the home trade, the class of wools offered being more adapted to the wants of the latter. The quantity taken for export is under 20,000 bales. The general course of prices throughout the series may be stated as follows : — Good clothing, Id per lb.- advance on thoße of September-October, good combing, l£d advance, while half-breds maintained the extreme figures ruling during last sales. The supplies from New South Wales and Queensland were in good demand, while those from Victoria, consisting chiefly of scoured and indifferent parcels, did not, "except in the case of some good lots of the former, meet with so much favor. In the case of one parcel of 100 bales a novel feature presented itßelf in its arrival and disposal during the series just concluded, although part of the new clip of the present year. New Zealand wools met with good competition, and commanded full rates. On reviewing the course of the market during the year cow drawing to a close, the gradual rise which has been apparent since the opening series must be regarded with great satisfaction, good fleece wools having obtained an aggregate rise of fully 8d per lb during the preeent year. The opening sales of next series are to commence on the Bth February, and at present everything seems to augur well for stiff prices being then obtained. Australian advices inform us of the presence of American buyers in their markets, and that vessels were in consequence laid on the berth from' "Melbourne to New York and Boston ; while the copiouß rains which had fallen would interfere with the early shipment of much of the clip of the present season. Under these circumstances, the prospects with which the year 1872 will be commenced are unquestionably far more favorable than those which ushered in the present one. We are glad to be in a position to announce the fact that a movement has been made by the London and St. Katharine Docks Company in the redaction of their charges in respect of the consolidated rate in the warehousing of wool. Their example has caused the private warehousekeepers gravely to consider the propriety of following suit ; but the basis upon which such reduction will be made by them has not been finally determined upon. The matter will be carefully investigated by those interested in the importation of the article, and, before departure of the next, mail we trust that a basis of calculation, satisfac- ' tory to all concerned, may be agreed upon. TAI.LOW. For ten days after departure of last mail, the market remained very quiet, and the weekly public •ales passed off heavily. Towards the beginning of the present month, however, a better feeling was engendered, and an advance of 6d in the rates ruling during the previous week was maintained for the better qualities of mutton. The public sales during the past four weeks have consisted of 5098 casks Australian, and the "range of prices is, for mutton, 36s to 49s ; beef, 42s to 47s 3d. The arrivals from New Zealand between 17th ult.. and 7th inst. show 2782 casks, and the stock of all kinds on 4th idem was 31,618 casks. The weekly deliveries continue up to the average standard. That the rates for the article recently ruling in this market are attracting supplies both from North and South America must not be lost sight of; and as these are likely during the coming spring to continue they will enter into com petition with Australasian shipments. P.Y.C. is to-day firm at 49s on the spot and for this month, but there is an absence of speculative demand. Closing quotations for Australian are — Mutton, good to fine, 48s to 49s ; beef, good to fine, 45s to 46b 3d. NEW ZEALAND HEMP. At the two public gales of this article held