LONDON WOOL REPORT.—Dec. 17, 1859.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 245, 24 February 1860, Page 3

LONDON WOOL REPORT.—Dec. 17, 1859.

The fourth and concluding series of colonial sales commenced on the 1 Oth of November and closed on the 3rd of December. The quantities comprised in catalogues consisted of 10,985 bales Australian ; 7161 bales Port Philip; 2561 bales Van Diemen'sLand; 1680 bales Adelaide; 4635 bales New Zealand; and 20,096 bales Cape; total, i 47,118 bales. The anticipations generally entertained prior to the sales that an advance would be established at the opening of about Id. to £d. failed of realisation; the absence of foreign buyers in any number and their inactivity caused our own buyers to act wtth caution. Even under these eircumstauces, however, prices ranged on the average about £d. to Id advance. As soon as immediate requirements were supplied a slight tendency lor lower prices became apparent; holders however, met the market freely. As the sales progressed the advance was losf, and indeed during some part of the sales—about the middle —faulty and uneven parcels sold at a shade lower than last sales. Our market may now be quoted clear of first-hand parcels, and it is a gratifyiug feature that the stocks held by London dealers are very small, so that if trade continues on an average, stocks will be exhausted ere the forthcoming sales in February-March, at'which a large exhibition of new wool is anticipated. The following names appear in tha obituary of the month.— The Hon. MountstnartElphinstone—Professor Spalding (of St. Andrews) —Professor Lawrie (of Glasgow)— Mr. Justice Growder—Colonel B. W. Bray—Lieut.Colonel R. D. Campbell—Lord William Robert Keith Douglas—Mr. Thomas de Quincey—-Colonel Hon. John Walpole— Washington Irving-^QQWtess (Dowager)