RAM FAIR.

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2679, 9 March 1874, Page 2

RAM FAIR.

The ram fair, held under the auspicea of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, came on Friday, and a fine day contributed to make it the success which it undoubtedly was. Considering the speciality of this description of show, where few but those directly interested in the matter are supposed to be present, the attendance was very good ; nearly all our well known sheep breeders putting in an appearance, as well as several visitors from other provinces : notably Mr Beetham, from Wellington, whom we beg to congratulate upon bis purchases. The subcommittee, consisting of Messrs J. T. Ford, H. B. Alport, J. T. Matson, H. F. Gray, E. Mitchell, W. Henderson, and B. Wilkin, to whom the arrangements were intrusted, deserve great credit for the manner in which their duties were performed. Among the minor details there is one point to which we may on the outset refer as susceptible of improvement. We allude to the manner in which the cards were affixed to the various pens. Aβ these were nailed bo as in many cases to appear above the top of the rail, they were frequently knocked off by those who wished to inspect the sheep. And if on future occasions the auctioneers took the precaution to supply themselves with raddle, they would.find it a great advantage. The number of sheep penned wae fax in advance of that of last year, the total being over 1200, and the following, 6O far as we could ascertain, is an approximate list of the different breeds : —Leicesters, 396 ; Romney Marsh, 170 ; Cotswold, 32 ; Lincoln Leicesters, 486; Shropshire Downs, 14 ; Southdowns, z3 ; Merino, 50 ; and Lincol ns, 81. These numbers must not be takea as by any means accurate, as not only were some of the sheep entered in the programme absent, but a great many were exhibited which were not catalogued. Taken as a whole the ebow of sheep in the long woolled classes was exceedingly creditable, while the • number of. merinos was small and not remarkable as a lot for quality. The bidding at the sales was scarcely so brisk as we anticipated, but it was a noticeable fact that there was no lack of spirit in the 1 competition for really good sheep, while for some indifferent lots the auctioneers had to discourse most eloquently to elicit a bid of a few shillings. While on this subject we tnay say that it is to us a matter of wonder that some few breeders should send rams to this fair, when they are so evidently conscious of their inferiority, as proved by their' being willing to take for them prices which they could usually obtain for good' fat wethers. It bad been arranged that; the auctioneers were to sell in half-hour spells, and having, drawn for turns Mr Newton, of MessrsJ.T. Ford and Co, opened the ball a * a few minutes past■ eleven. Were wb to follow the coarse unavoidably' pursued by the auctioneers we should lead our readers into some confusion, we prefer therefore to follow the catalogue as printed. Mr Mitchell in his V preliminary ,, etftted that he bad let and sold all Mr Every M'Lean's rams I and proceeded to, offer; 8 ; rame the property of Mx. Beece, and bred by Mr of Otago. Of these, 3 fell .to-Mjeseis F. Wright,- Thompson,; STjd at &i\ £5, and £5 lespectively, the rest of, t&e; lot-being passed ; as were also 30 Lincoln rams, bred by Mr Joseph Rhodes, of Hawkes Bay, and, some Komney March two-tooths bred by Mr Rickman. Six sheep of a doubtful breed failed to elicit a bid, and Mr Mitchell concluded by selling a Southdown ram at 255. Mr G.C. Aikman officiated on behalf o£ Mr Wilkin, and.offered first a very fine Leicester ram bred by Mr Hugh, of Yorkshire, and recently imported per ship Soukar. He, was passed in at £30. Lots 66-69 were 5 i fine Leicester rams, bred by the Hon. M. Holmes, and prize-takers at Oamaru. The pick b< the pen was purchased tor £57 10s by Mr Wi|kin, on behalf' of Messrs Bethune and■ Hunter from the North. The second ram I fell to Mr Marsden for £30, and 2 to! Mr. Grigg for £26 each, the other being passed in at £25. ; Lot 60, one Leicester ram, bred by the Messrs M'Lean, passed at £14. 61 and two pure Leicesters, full mouthed, bred by the HouM; Holmes; passed at £10 each. 63 to 82, twenty Leicester rams, two-toothed, bred by the Hon Mr Holmes, elicited a bid of £4 10s each, but wfere'paSstjcTini 83; a Leicester ram, two-tooth, bred by Mr Tolmie,: followed ■ suit, as did lot 81 to 89j six Leicester rams, two-toothed, bred by the Southland .Lot* 90 to 104 consisted of 16 Leicester ram lambs, by border Leicester ram, bred by- the' Hon M. HolmesV Of these 6 brought £3 10s each, and the other half- ' score £3 5s each, the purchaser being Mr Macgregor. Lot 105 to 143,39 Leicester raffia, bred by Messrs Justice GresßOo,Mr Boag and'dtbers, were alii Of lot '144> to l&H 'iff. Leicester ram latnbs, bred by Mr Pearson, of Burnt Hills, Mr Pawsey purchased a pen-of 6 at £2 ss' a head ; and the other pen of 5 fell to Laino at the same figure. : Lot 184 to 172, was composed of 19 ram'lambs, by Uncle Tom, from Mr Wilkin's stud flock ; of these Mr Macbeth secured 8 at £6 10s each and Mr Torrence, 2 at £5 ss; the rest were passed. Lot 177 to 179, comprised 3 imported Lincoln rame, bred by Mr Thomas Wilkin, imported per ship Soukar, and shorn 23rd December, 1873 ; they were passed a> £30 each, Lot 180 to 188, 9 Lincoln rams, bred by the Hon, M. Holmes; passed at £6 each. Lot 189 and 190, 2 Lidcolq rams, bred by the Messrs, Button, of Southland, passed at £9 eaoh. Lot 191----197, 7 Lincoln rams, two-tooth, bred by the Hon. M. Holme?, and first and second prize takers, attracted a great deal of attention, and were disposed of in the following order i—No. 1, to Di Webster at £85 ; No. 2 passed at £35 ; No. 3 passed at £30 ; Nos. 4,' 5, and. 6, to Mr Beetham. at £32 10s each ; No'.Ttp Mr White at £12 iqg. , Lo(; 208, one Lincplri; rain, bred by Mr Whincop. was passed in at £3. In 209, a fine' Lincoln ram, bred by Mrs Hair, of Wangahui, Mr Gamm got rather a bargain at £6 lOe. In lots 210-239,30 Cotswold rams, bred by Mr Withers, of Nehon, Mr T. Aclaad obtained 20 at £4 each ; Mr French 5 at £2 10s: and the remaining 5; were passed. Lots 240-241 comprised two Romney Marsh rams bred by Dr Webster, and were passed at £20. 242-246, 5 Romney March rams, bred by Mr Tolmie by Webster raioa, out of Webster ewes, were passed at £10 each.". For lots 247-250, 4 Shropshire Dpwri rams, bred by Dγ Ben wick, Nelson ; and lots 251-268, 18 Southdown rame, bred by Mr D. Max, Nelson, there were no bids., Mr Aikman further succeeded in disposing of Wo , Merino rams, prize takers in 1871, to Mepsrs Rhodes and Wilkin for £5 each, sod alao two Leicester rams, bred by Mr Tolmie, for £6 eaoh- Mr Matsori commenced by Belling lots 320-331, 1$ fourtooth Leicester Tame, the property of Mr Gray, by imported rams Jock and Old Scotland, which, were i all twnght by MesSre Walker and Clogstoun for £7. each. Of Mr. BoagV lot, Mr Andrews i secured one; twp -tooth, Leicester at \ £6 10s, and another at £5 10s; Mi Westenra, 2 at £6 10e ; Mr Duke, 1 at £6; Mr Mao* beth, 1 at £5; Mr Hayden, 1 at £6; Mr Wilkin, 2 at £5 eaoh ; and Mr Haesall jbook the balance at *5 each, Of Mi Boag'e

68 ram lambe, by Duke of Buccleuuh Tint pf Earn, Blenslee, Uuclo Tom, aud Mr H» • imported ram Polworth, two fell to Mr ML," VettTfctt £13 10s each ; 3 to Mr £8 %&; 5 to Mr Mclntyre for £7 each- and Mr Gordon Holmes took the balance of 62 JJ £5 each. Lots 422-423, two two-tooth Lei cestere, the property of Messrs Hay Bros bred from the Southland sh»n i' fetched £10 to Mr Minchen, and thp othi £710*8 to Mr R, Wright, In a pen of threetwo tooth Leicesters, also the property of Messrs Hay Bros, one brought £30 at Mr Giw! bid, the second, £12 10s ; and the third £in 10s ; the purchasers being Messrs Drurv and C. Fairwenthcr, respectively. Mr J k Brown's ten Leicester rams were purchased by Mr Johus, at the modest sum of lOe a-head and the next pen of 1 Leicester ram, the Drnl perty of Mr-Amos, and bred in Taemanil fell t<y the eamo gentleman for lse Lots 588 to 689, 2 two-tooth Lincoln, rams! from the Southland Company's sheep be longing to Messrs Hay Bros, went one to Mr Beetham at £32 10s, and the other to Mr Gammaok at £22 10s. Mr Laury'e lots, co Q . sisting of 2 two-tooth Lincolns ; 20 Lincoln Leicester ram lambs out of Mr Gould'e ewee. by Mr Every TttcLean's prize ram; 20 ram lambs out of Mr R. Wright's ewes, by Jj r Every McLean's prize ram ; and 4 two-tooth rame out of Mr Gould's ewee, by Mr McLean's ram.'were all passed in or withdrawn. Lota 636-652, 17 ram lambs out of Mr Waehbourne's ewes, by Mr Grigg's rame, wewj purchased by Mr Boag at 22s 6d <»*f 653-654, 2 two-tooth rams, bred byTtfr Patcbett out of Mr Gould's ewee, by Jf» Grigg's ram, were knocked down to Mr Johns for 10s each. Mr Patchett's lota, 655. 705, viz, 35 ram lambe out of Mr Gould'e ewes, by Mr Grigg's rams; 12 two-tooth ditto and 4 two-tooth ditto, all Lincoln-Leicestew were bought in, but we understand they were subsequently let at very remunerative priccj before leaving the ground. Mr A. 0. GraVe lot Nos 706 to 730, namely 25, four to ci*. tooth Lincoln and Leicester rams, bred by Mr H. F. Gray, were passed in at £37e6d Mr M'lntyre's lots 731 to 745, 15 two-tooth Lincoln and Leicester rams, bred by Mr Johu Mateon, were knocked down to Mr O'Callaghan, for £2 each. The Romney Marsh rams and ram lambs, the property of Mr Boys, and numbering in the programme 746 to 812, among which were some prisetakcre, were disposed of on tho followipg terms, vie • —1 to the Hon K. W. Stafford, at £12 10e'; 1 to Mr Stowe, at £12 10« ; 1 to Mr Dudley at £10 ; 2 to Mr Curry, at £6 ; the rest were passed in, but were afterwards sold to Mr Stafford at an average of 30s. ' Of Mr Rickman'B Romrieys, lots 813 to 832, Mr Manna, duke Dixon, secured two pene, at £3 Bβ and £2 a head respectively ; and Mr Barker took another pen of 13, at £2 IDs per head. Lot 833, also Mr Rickman'e, four-tooth Romney Marsh ram, was bought for 20s, by Mr Barr • while 834 to 840, were sold to Mr Ourry for £2 each., We now come to Mr A. 0, Gray's Romney Marsh ; of these in lots 841 to 852, 12 two-tooth rams, bred by Mr Bealey, MrO. T. Dudley took 3, at £15 each;, Ms Staf. ford, 5, at £7 each, In 85,3. to 862, 10 two-tooth bred by Mr Rickman, Mr Gunn took the pick of the pen at £4, the remainder falling to Mr Stafford's uod at £2 10s. The remainder of the Bonyaeye, tho properties of Messrs W A H. Strange, A. 0. Gray, and M'Alpme fetched prices varying from 6s 3d to £2 6s. .T,he bidding in the Romriey-Marsh class 'throughout was the reverse of lively. Mr A. 0. Gray, two Cotswold rams, were passed'at £2 7s (>d each. Lots 905-914, -Mr Jphn Grjgg's,. l(jj Shrop. shire Down rams,; bred .by Mr Williame, out of imported ewes imported rame were passed in at £2. ; Mr Bluett became the purchaser of 5 Soathdowti rams, the property of Mr J. P. Barr at 3s a head; and : Mf r M'Al> pine's lots, incltiding, merinos fetched prices from 4s 6d to 10s. Mr Mateon also disposed of a very well-bred two-tooth Leicester ratu, bred by Mr Maydwoll for £4, and another; , full-mouth Leicester ram from his own flock to Mr J, O'Callaghan for £,4 IPs; and a,B«mney prf^-takfer , , bfed t>y ftg JSoyij fetched A\. ' Mr Newton disposed of; 70 Leicester ratne, bred by 7 l?he'Bbtlthlana Oompaby, at' the 1 following figures ;—5 to Mr White at 57e 6d ; 10 to. Oolbkiei Brett at 465; 5. to Mr MUobeth at 42s Cd; 0-to Mr Barker at 47s 6d - > 5.t0 Mr Pannet at 455; 10 to Mr Mathiae at 45s ; 5 to Mr Macbeth at 47s 6d ; 5 to Mr Reede: at 46s ; 22 to Mr O'Callaghan ftt, 42s Cd, Lgts 1070-1081 wero oomposea of 12 »teicestere, hred bjl Mr Every M'Lean ; the first pen were passed in at £3, the second pen falling tqj Colonel Brett at £3 each. Lote were 20 Leicester rams, bred by M. Robinsoa, and fetched £8 10s each, the purchaser being Mr Winter. - Lote 1101-1140, ram lambs; by prise ramaof Mr Marcroft's, out of Mr Justice Greseonlewee, were knocked down to Mr. J O'Calloghan at24i each. . Lota 1141-1150,10 two-tooth Lincoln rams, were bred 5 by Mr Pears and 6 by Messrs Needham Bros, end—to quote the tcatalogoa "the above ten sheep were,selected by Mr J. R» Lyeaghtfor bisownuße, and imported by him the Orusader," and were certainly a most magnificent lot. The first fetched 100 guineas, the purchaser being Mr Bee* tham. Mr Mateon, acting for-Mr J.. Grigg, bought 8 at 70 guineas'each. Mr Bpetham bought another at 70 guineas, and Mr bluett abother at 68 guineas r' the rernsinder wero withdrawn at Mr Lyeaght's desire, as when it came to Mr Newton's turn to sell again, the attendance waa not co nUtnercras Rβ earlier in the day. Lots 1151-1172 were 22 L.L.-rame from the flock of Mr Juetico Greeson, and realised prices ranging froni £2 64 to £7. Lots 1173 to the end'of the caU* logue were the property of Mr Marcroft, and comprised some of his well-known Leicester and Lincoln itook, but for some reasons or other passed in failing tb j elicit any bide. Wβ learnt, however, that he sigce let a considerable number for the' weason at satisfactory rate^.' Mi Newton also sold two pens of two-ttftftti 'IJeicesters, bred by Mr Boag, to Mr G. Potts for £S a KJnd. ft will be seen from the above detailed aecoant that a very Veirgef riiimber/of'raniev'dn eion were either ''sola or' let; but it was a noticeable fact that throughout the proceedings Lincoln* Beemed fcd'be deoidedly in fashion. -• -••

f'; Wβ Tmay oonolude "Uy mentioning.that tho commissariat was under the char£&JS>f Mr Gaxlijpf,; the; Empire Hotel, wh6%that capacity ' fully maintained ■TM ■tfaonner celebrity, i *: ! f : r ' /J!