EWE FAIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 121, 4 March 1939, Page 9

EWE FAIR

PRICES AT RAKAIA YESTERDAY. SOME IMPROVEMENT SHOWN. The Raknia owe fair was held yesterday. With the exception of a. few large station lines from a distance practically all tlie entries Avere from local farms. Occasionally lines boxight at the earlier fairs in North Canterbury are offered, but there were few of these yesterday. The entry Avas smaller than that of last year, comprising about 7000 head, as against 8500 last year. The sheep wore mixed in quality. Some good four-year sheep were - forward) but the best of the two-tooths were moderate, and for a considerable part consisted of small pens from local farmers. For the best of tho. oldei sheep there Avas a distinctly good demand and at prices 2s a head better than at Amberley, and up to Is better than at HaAvarden the preceding day. A proportion* of these better sheep Avas passed. There AVcve sheep passed in at round about 12s to 13s, which would scarcely have reached double figures at Amberiey. The tAvo-tootlis Avere Avell competed for where size was represented, but there Avere not many of this quality. One small line of tAA r o-tooths AA T as passed at 22s 3d, and another of 150 found a buyer at 21s 9d. Some pens Avere sold at from IQs 3d up to 17s, but most of this class Avas passed. Requirements of Buyers. The sale established the fact that buyers are little interested in poorconditioned sheep, Avhich require feed before mating. These Avere a drug, and prices were no better than at preAuous sales. Apart from the reason that it is better business to buy young ewes at tho relative prices, Ashburton County is very dry at the moment. The stock Avater-races have given out in some districts, an unusual .occurrence at this time of year, but the ranges have been bare of siioav since the spring, and the rivers are running loav. Wliat feed is available is required for better sheep. The best price for four-year sheep Avas 15s 6d, for a line of 132, sold on behalf of an unnamed client. An especially good line of Corriedale five-year-oids—s6o—from the NeAV Zealand and Australian Land Company (Hakataramea) made 10s 3d, a good price for aged eAves in this year’s market, but the line Avas a Avell-hred, even one. They Avere bought in one lot. The surplus eAves from E. F. J. Grigg (MeadoAVbank, Marlborough), which are generally offered at Rakaia, totalled, about 1100 head, and Avere consequently shoAVing the effect of the long travel. Eight hundred Avere sold in one line at 6s 6d. ■ Fully one-third of the total entry Avas passed at auction, and included AA’cre some big lines. Values Avere as under:— s. s. d. Medium tAvo-tooth 20 to 22 3 Ordinary two-tooth 16. to 19 0 Small and back Avar d ... 11 to 15 b Good four-year-old to 15 6 Medium four-year-old ... 12 to 14 0 Ordinary four-year-old ... Btolo 6 Loav conditioned 6 to 7 6 Extra, good five-year 1 — to 10 3 Average five-yeajr ..: to 6 0 The Principal Sales. The principal sales. AA r ere: — NeAV Zealand and Australian. Land Company (Hakataramea), 560 five-year Corriedale at 10s 3d. E. Duncan (Te Peritn), 304 fourtooth at 11s to 12s. Clients, 150 four-year at 14s 9d; 80 tAVO-tooths at 19s 3d; 82 tAvo-tooths at 19s; 80 two-tooths at 12s 3d; 90 four and six-toothy at 11s; 173 four-year at 7s 6d to 7s 7d; 70 four-year at 7s; 140 two-tooths at 9s 6d; 150 tAvo-tooths at21s 9d; 120 tAvo-tooths at 20s. ' Jno. Penny (Northbank), 464 fouryeair at 10s 3d tb 10s 6d, 70 two-tooths at 17s 6d, 130 two-tooths at 10s 3d. Clients, 293 four-year at 12s 9d to 13s. E. F. J. Grigg (MeadoAvbnnk, Marlborough), 800 four, six, and eigth-tooth at 6s 6d. Geo. Morris (Langley), 130 twotobths at 21s. Estate K. Wilson (Te Perita), 151 four-year at 8s 6d and 89 at Bs. Clients, 100 f.in. at 7s 6d, I*B2 fouryear at 15s 6d, 90 four-year at 11s 9d. Jos. Langley (Rakaia), 200 s.m. at 7s 3d.