CLUTHA FERRY.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 79, 12 October 1865, Page 7

CLUTHA FERRY.

{From a Correspondent.) October 9, 1865. The committee appointed to take the necessary steps for erecting a Presbyterian Church here have accepted the tender of Messrs Winchester and Clayton, of Dunedin, for the sum of £510. There were four tenders, the highest being £s*lo. A cattle sale was held on the sth inst, by Mr. E. Lockley, of Port Molyneux. There was but a limited number of horned cattle for sale ; Mr. Webb, of Tuapeka, was the, only purchaser. Immediately after the sale of horned cattle. Mr. J. Milner, of Dunedin, held a sale of horses. There were a number of hacks and good draught horses sold ; fair prices were realized. - Messrs. Power, Pantlin and Co., hold a sale on the 10th inst. 1 think the present arrangement of holding sales here, so soon after each other, a very bad one, and of little benefit either to buyers, sellers, or auctioneers. Farmers and others interested in the sales cannot afford the time to; attend three days in the month, nor does it give sufficient time- to allow owners to muster their stock and bring them to the market. There are now three — if not four— i auctioneers in the field, each advertising to hold monthly sales at the Ferry, and, I understand, on different days. It cannot be remunerative to all four, neither can it be beneficial to those who have stock to dispose of, as there cannot be a sufficient attendance of buyers on these occasions to create a good healthy competition, should there eve"n be .a sufficiency of stock to compete for. A sale of cattle every six weeks would be quite equal to the wants of . 'the district at present. Should 'such. a course be adopted, it would, in my opinion, prove a benefit to every one interested. I have noticed a gradual decrease in the attendance at the sales held lately, and should the present system be carried, on I fear they will die a natural death. If the auctioneers cannot agree among themselves, and should the settlers wish to make this a permanent place for the disposal of their stock periodically, they should take the matter into their own hands and agree to a time when it would be convenient to have sales,, and give liberal encouragement to some auctioneer, sufficient to induce him to make it his study to forward their interests and attend to the sales. Mr. William has erected large and substantial sale-yards on the land adjoining the Crown Hotel, two chains from the main road, which .will be a great convenience for settlers and others bringing stock, &c, to the. auction sales here. I wish, the proprietor every success.