THE SALE OF THE RUNS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2139, 31 May 1889, Page 2

THE SALE OF THE RUNS.

The "Timaru HeraTd^^Stet-thft^ following aeoount ofLtha a«J*> of runs yesterday:—

Mr Baker kept the ball rolling and tha proceedings were Interesting even to an "uninterested" onlooker. Many of tho present lessees were applauded on having their lots knookee down to them, and. this manifestation was not confined to those who had to bid high for their holdings. The runs first sold were those nearest the plains, beginning at Mount Peel and working southwards, then up the Hafcatersmea into the Mackenzie Oountry. All the country f aoing the plains- and the sunny side of the Mackenzie Country waa well oompeted for, except one or two runt which are held by persons able to Wd ageiuet all comers. Bun No 2, Mount Peel, found several bidders, and the Hon*' J, B. A. Aokland's representative, his sou," was run up a third higher than the upset before be secured it. Peel Forest Station' was also desired hy a number of pebble.' but they dropped Out of the bidding as it' ran rapidly up from £150 to £550 at which Mr W, Postlethwaite obtained it. The present lessees are Messrs Bmith and Dennistoun. Mr O. Q* Tripp was run up from ! £580 to £880 for one half of his Orari station, and the rent of the Four Peaks station, was raised from £330 to £610; Sherwood Downs was made' a shuttiebobk between the present holdeis and a neighbor, and run up by £10 bids till the upset of* £420 was made £IQOQ, when the nefghbot ceased to uod. One of the keenest competitions was that for Ashwiok Station, foe which the upset was £500. :, The pressnt holder and the bidder m the ease just mentioned nodded against ont another , for some time, and than *- third joined them for a while. Thi present holder was obliged to pay £1340 ' for it. A sensation was caused when tha" Otaio run, Mr T. Tesohemaker's, was dealt with. There were several bidders' for this at the outset, but the number was presently reduoed to two, and the shuttleoook flew sharply between them, The last bid was £670, and when It was announced : that the purohaser was Mr George Ruther-' ford, a storm of hisses and bo ohobs greeted ■ the news; and tbis was repeated when * Mr Rutherford rose from his seat to sign the; papers. "I want it to bury the bones of Prinoess Royal io t " he exolalmed. Our readers will remember that about. two years ago the pre sent holder of the run oooupied a prominent position In the South Canterbury Jockey Club when a mare belonging to Mr Ruther-" ford, named Prinoess Royal, formed, the subjeot of a long and somewhat bitter Inquiry, of whioh the oonoluilon was adverse to Mr Rutherford. Henoj, ac he admitted, his competing: for Mr* Tesohemaker's run ; hence tho signs of • indignation given vent to. The remains o&the old Waimate run, so long the property of the Studholme family, changed , hands, Mr A. Hayes being the buyer. ' Bun 61, part of Hakateramea station^" was very well oompeted for, the rent being raised from £480 to £1040, whioh figure " the present holdeis preferred to pay rather than lose it. The other half was not run s so high.' The Maokenzie runs, Black Forest, Haldon, Gray's Hills, Grampians; - and Whale's Baok were all run up considerably. A determined buyer fogone portion of Haldon Station appeared, and he, Mr Murray, beat down thepr sent holder at £900, the upset being £350 > The rougher and Qolder oountiy on the west side of the Mackenzie Oountry was all left to the present holders at the upset prioes. For ten of the mountainous runs on the wrong side of the Tasman rabbit fence, inoluding a few In Otago, there were no bids.