vrooL ixnrsTRr. 



69 



The foregoing figures afford a striking illustration of the growth of 

 the Sydney wool market, an increase in the sales since season 1888-89 

 of 100 per cent, being shown. For many years past Sydney has ranked 

 as the principal wool emporium in Australia, and if there'is one thing 

 more clearly demonstrated than another in connection with the wool 

 trade here, it is the independence in the long run of this interest of 

 anything like artificial encouragement. 'J'hat a locality so naturally 

 favoured by its geographical position and splendid shipping facilities 

 as Sydney should year by year accentuate a prominence gradually 

 gained by the possession of these advantages, is perhaps not so very 

 surprising; but it must be borne in mind that a very laro-e proportion 

 — nearly one-third — of all the wool grown in New South Wales still 

 finds an outlet via the border, and is either sold or shipped from Mel- 

 bourne or Adelaide. Large quantities of the sta])le are also owing to 

 the financial arrangements of growers forced past Sydney every year 

 to other and less important markets, where higher selling charges are, 

 moreover, in vogue. Complaints are constantly being made that many 

 station properties cannot now be worked so as- to enable the owners 

 to properly fulfil financial obligations entered into some years ago, and 

 pay interest on mortgages ; and there can bo no question that so long 

 as the produce of such properties is hauled unnecessary long distances, 

 and saddled with unnecessary intercolonial freightage, the capital 

 employed will naturally be robbed of no insignificant proportion of 

 its legitimate due. A cursory glance round the magnificent wool stores 

 to be found in Sydney will at once show that the commercial princi])les, 

 energy, and enterprise, which have already built up a colossal trade in 

 wool here, such as has no parallel in any other colony, may be relied 

 upon to accomplish even larger successes in the future than any achieved 

 in the past. 



The relative importance of the Sydney market at the present time will 

 be most clearly seen by the following returns, which show the quantities 

 of wool sold in all the Australian markets between 1st Julv, 1891, and 

 30th June, 1895 :— 



Australian Wool Sales. 



The distribution of the foregoing quantities of wool is approximately 

 estimated as follows : — 



