RAKAIA EWE FAIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 125, 8 March 1941, Page 2

RAKAIA EWE FAIR

SMALL ENTRY OFFERED. PRICES FURTHER IMPROVE. Tlie improving tone at the Hawarden ewe fair on Thursday was continued yesterday at Rakaia. Taking into consideration the class of sheep, Rakaia prices were better than for comparable sheep at Hawarden by Is 6d a head, or at all events a good margin to cover transport costs ito the users’ districts. The two-tooths, with the exception of a few pens, were £euorally small and backward-conditioned, the district having passed through a much more serious dry spell than North Canterbury. A few pens were passed, but most of these found buyers subsequently. The usual small entry at the Rakaia fair was further reduced yesterday by the absence of dealers’ sheep, and as a few of the local advertised lines did not come forward the entry was smaller than usual. The Meadowbank ewes of Mr E. F. J. Grigg, from Marlborough, were again forward this draft generally comprising close on 2000 head, being one of the features of the fair. .Their lbng travel of more than 260 miles iii the dry conditions prevailing this year affected their appearance, and tlife older sheep generally made disappointing prices. The better pens of mixed ages sold at 8s 3d to 10s 6d. The older sheep sold at down to 5s 9d. This class about maintained Hawarden values, not sharing in the improvement for the few four-year-olds. A few pens of the latter offered on behalf of clients sold at up to 13s 3d. There was brisk competition for the Meadowbank two-tooths, the line of 200 odd commencing at 8s and eventually making 14s. The corresponding. line last year made 16s. Top two-tooth price yesterday was 25s and last year 275. The entry totalled about 6000 head, compared with approximately 8000 last year. Representative sales were: E. F. J. Grigg (Meadowbank, Marlborough), 201 4-6-8-tooth at 9s 6d, 326 4-6-8-tooth at 5s 9d, 150 4-6-8-tooth at 5s 9d, 1.63 4-6-8-tooth at 5s 3d, 200 4-6-8-tooth at 8s 3d to Bs. 6d, 300 4-6-8-tooth at 10s to 10s 6d, 206 2-tooth at 14s. W. Waddell. ,Chertsey), 150 4-yC-ar at Bs. . . .... / D. E. Grigg (Bankside), 140 4,-year at 7s 9d. Clients, 60 2-tooth crossbred at 24s 9d, 70 2-tootli crossbred at 225, 74 .2tooth at 13s 6d, 150 4-year at 8s 9d, 100 s. and f.m. at 7s 6d, 69 f.m. at 4s 3d. • C. G. Robertson (Te Pirita), 158 lambs at 14s 7d; clients, 118 4-tooth at 23s 6d. ■ , ~ A. Watts (Te Pirita), ISB4 4-tooth' : at 255. ..... W. Hood (Rakaia), 26 2-tooth, at 24s 6d. ‘ - - Clients, 106 2-tooth at 23s 9d ;*64 6-8-tooth at 13s 3d, 146 2-tooth at 23s 6tl; 71 2-tooth at 16s 3d. ; E. Duncan, 64 6-8-tooth at 13s 3d, 146 2-tooth at 23s 6d. ....