Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-01 00:00:00

WOOL.

It was thought, when the new year openal„
that the Low Wool Trade was in such a smut
position, as to warrant hopes of a speedy recoveg
from the prostration under which it was suffering. s
common with other branches of commerce : these hopes
were not realised, the distress was too widely spread, 04
the losses sustained were too serious, to admit of an earl'
re-action. It is true, that in January and Fehruws,
better feeling prevailed, and that the market reezdtate
some support from Speculators, but the improvement was
not lasting, and was followed by months of deprestimx..
The very dull state of the Carpet trade, which has only
latterly begun to show signs of improvement, and ttur
limited Foreign Export demand, tended very muck =
prolong this state of affairs. As the Summer and Aularalt
advanced, Low Combing Wools began to attract 2.t07-
tion, in consequence of the scarcity and high price& of
English, and Irish Fleeces, and the continued ups-m-1
tendency of Home-Grown Wools, was followed )4r :La
Foreign sorts that could be used in any way assabstiiuten,
particularly Oporto fleece, Iceland, Egyptian, B(.e : the ad-
vance was for the time confined to such kinds, other dm-rig-
tions remaining neglected, prices in some instances rilizg
even lower than during the crisis in 1857. In the csaii..2c
months of the year there has been an increasing ensstry
both for home use and export, and a gradual improxemt d.
has taken place in most descriptions. The first pu'oraz
sales of colonial wools, in the month of February, operia
at an advance of Id. to 1-I,d. on the rates ruling at thee
close of 1857, and staplers and manufacturers being lent
in stock, the demand was brisk, and the market pretty
well cleared, not only of new wools, but a tonsiderali
pnrtinn of old stock, and returns from the tuittd
States, and other parts. This advance was not lung
maintained, and, with the continued absence al
demand in most of the manufacturing districts, pilaw
continued to droop all through the spring, and es
summer, until a partial revival of Continental .damizat
gave a turn to the market. The fine autumn we2t.ker;
and the very excellent condition in which a most bonitife
harvest was secured—with the improving charachT etr
the political accounts from India—caused a further forum,-
able reaction, and gave a stimulus to trade, resulting int
a considerable demand for goods, both for home midi
foreign markets. Prices in August, after some sEght
fluctuations, began steadily to advance, and the upward
tendency has continued to the close of the year--
leaving our quotations considerably above the °paring;
rates. These remarks do not apply to vasty vu
ill-conditioned Wools, of which an unusually large
proportion have found their way to market da .
the present season, and which have, at all times,
very irregularly. No doubt the high quotations ier
1857 led to large operations. in the colonies, willont
regard being had to price or quality on the pt..7t,
buyers, and which must have resulted in very "hea-ry
losses to those concerned. The importations of 117/14
into this port for the year 1858 show a great defirimey
as compared with 1857, but are in excess of thou of
1856. The falling off during the present season tow
been principally in shipments from Portugal, the lEttS-
terranean, and the West Coast of South America. From
the River Plate and from the East Indies, our sawriex
show an increase. The future prospects of the Vrooß
trade are encouraging —the consumption going forimil
in all branches is heavy, and as the demand for twcw.
continues unabated, we look forward to an extextive
business in the present year. PERKINS & ROBINSON-