INVERCARGILL WOOL SALES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3126, 24 January 1911, Page 2

INVERCARGILL WOOL SALES.

DECIDED DROP IN PRICES.

GROWERB DOWNCAST

LPER PEESS ASSOCIATION.]

INVERCARGILL, Jan 23. . The second' wool sale of the series was held to-day. The total bales offered were 13,738, of which 3196 were passed in. The greater part of the withdrawn lots were station clips, which the owners expressed their determination to consign to London rather that accept the reduced prices offered here. The usual buyers were present, with the exception that Americans wore not represented. Southland buyers entered largely into competition, and were actively concerned! in maintaining a better price than would have otherwise have been current.

Crossbreds wool formed the greater part of the catalogues, and with an average drop of a penny per lb., as compared with last month, growers had to bo contend with about 3d per lb. less than in January of last year. The lack of American competition had a decided bearing on these results, more particularly in regard to hogget wool. At no time was competition very animated, except for the.better lots. „ Bellies and pieces, which were a feature of last month's sales, dropped quite 2d per lb. Hogget wool averaged 83d 1 to 9£d, and extra good up to lid. Ewe wool averaged 7tjd to with a few lots up to 101(1, and inferior ranging down to sd. Inferior wools suffered the greatest drop. Of the finer grade wools, Murray Roberts and Co., purchased a fair quantity for Dominion manufacturers. As against the top price of I3sd last January, llld was the best price to-day. Although some drop was anticipated, growers are rather _ downcast at the result of the sale. The quality on the whole, was not so good as last year, fleeces being earthy, and station clips infested with biddy-bids, through the weed ■ having ripened earlier than in previous years.