The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-15 00:00:00

WOOL SALES.

WEDNESDAY.—The first of a series of wool sales took
place to-day at Garraway's Cotiee-house, and comprehended
abOnt 1,200 bales from Van Diemen's Land and New South
Wales. Although it was not by any means so extensive as
is usual at this period of the year, it was, however, con
sidered a fair criterion of the price from the variety of the
qualities. The superior kinds from Van Diemen's Land.,
marked jA and TA, which brought last year from 2s. 7d.
to 2s. 9d. per lb., only realized from Is. 7d. to Is, 9d., being
a reduction of forty per cent., and the inferior qualities
underwent a reduction of -about fifty per cent. As these
are ruinous prices to the importers, only .about two-fairds
were sold, and the remainder was withdrawn, the merchants
refusing to submit to such a depression in price. It must,
however, be observed, that as there was only a small quan-
tity advertised,.the buyers were not so numerous as usual ;
but it is, nevertheless, supposed that the two following ales
to take place this week will be put off until the next series.
The first sales from these colonies have hitherto been
considered to give a tone that has rarely been lost until the
conclusion ; but in the present instance an exception may
be admitted in consequence of the state of the money mar-
ket, which at present does not give a true representation of
the value of merchandise or colonial produce in the posses-
sion of a panic-struck or needy holder ; and should the ex-
pected arrivals from the colonies, about 20,000 bales, reach
this country at a more propitious moment, no doubt an im-
provement will take place, especially as this wool is held in
high estimation. It is supposed that the sales of English
wools, which commence shortly, will sympathise with the
present prices. Accounts have arrived today from Bres-
law, which state that at that fair 60,000 cwt. of wool was
brought upon the market, of which 35,0e0 cwt. was sold at
a .depression -of 25 per cent. upon the last sales ; and bad
not the Government, it is stated, unfairly stepped in and
purchased about one-sixth of the quantity diSposed of to
keep up the price, the reduction would have been at least
10 per cent. snore.

TRIAL OF THE NEW FLOATING FIRE ENGINES.
—Yesterday afternoon a trial took place on the river Thames,
between Southwark and London 13Adges, of the new floating
fire-engines, built, expressly for the London Fire Engine E;;-
tablishment, in the presence of several insurance directors and
merchants of the city of London. About one o'clock eighty
auxiliaries and twenty of the Fire Brigade (in all 100
men) under the direction of Mr. Braidwood, their superinten-
dent, took their stations at the engines, three in number,-and
the suction of each having been placed over the side of the
beat, forced the three supplies into one length of hose, at the
end of which a branch was placed,
vat-) ing from one inch and
a quarter to one inch and a half in diatneter. The quantity
of water thrown exceeded one tun each minute, and by means
of keys attached to each engine if one should he defective, and
unfit for use at a fire, tic other two can Lc made available.
These powerful machines will always be ready for use, and be
kept in the vicinity of the city wharfs, close to London-bridge,
moored to a Buoy, and a man stationed constantly on board.