OPENING OF THE HAWARDEN SALEYARDS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10238, 6 January 1899, Page 3

OPENING OF THE HAWARDEN SALEYARDS.

The Hawarden Saleyards Company opened their new sa.eyards yesterday with a highly successful sale. ' Between 6000 and 7000 sheep, and a number of cattle, were entered, and all but a few head were sold. The attendance was very large, and besides those present from the surrounding districts, there were several farmers from the Plains who were on the look-out-for store shesp. The Company have purchased 55 acres of land from Mr G. H. Moore as a site for the saleyards and accommodation paddocks, and it is situated half a mile from the Hawarden Railway Station, and adjoins the Allandale Estate and Mr A. E. Tutton's property. The ground is ve/y dry, and suitable for the purpose, and a permanent stream of water runs through it. The Company have erected pens capable of holding between 5000 and 6000 sheep, and small paddocks will be fenced in to accommodate large lines. The yards are substantially built of birch procured from Alford Forest, and tho gates are of bluegum. The yards, being situated in the centre of a large and prosperous district, where sheep raising is the chief industry, there is evidently a successful future before j them. Prior to the commencement of the j sale Mr J. Cowie, Chairman of Directors, J expressed pleasure at seeing so many present, and said that the Company had done a large amount of work during the six months it had been in existence, and he hoped to see as much more done in the ensuing half-year. The fat lamb trade made local saleyards a necessity, and he hoped therefore they would be well supported. Mr Leicester Matson, on behalf of the stock agents, congratulated the farmers of the district on starting the yards, which were much required. There was one thing necessary, however, to make them successful, and t&at • was that there must be a fair catalogue of stock on each sale day. #He therefore advised them to hold monthly sales in the busy season, to fix the dates and stick to them. " The farmers, auctioneers, and dealers would then support the yards. Mr Matson then opened the sale. The entry was composed chiefly of two and four-tooths in store condition, and good store lambs. About 2000 of the two and fourtooths were wethers brought down from Marlborough, and though some of them were in backward condition, and all showed the effects of the journey, they were a fair, even lot of sheep. All classes of stores offered sold well, and fully up to Addington rates, fine woolkd sheep being most in demand. The Ismbs were in good straight lines and of nice quality, and sold well. JSie few fat sheep offered also brought their value. The following were results:—Fat lambs 10s 9d to lis 3d, 166 store lambs 9s lOd, 100 do 9s 7d, 525 do 8s 9d, 104 do 8s 3d. smaller lots 8s lOd to 10s 3d, fat wethers 12s 6d to 13s 7d, do wethers and maiden ewes 13s 4d to ; 13s Bd, do ewes 8s lOd to 9s lOd, 550 twoI tooth stare wethers and ewes 9s, 420 twotooth wethers 10s sd. 780 four-icoth do 9s 7d, 290 two-tooth do 10s, 1068 do do 83 (these three fines being from Marlborough), other two and four-tooth wethers lis 9d, 400 aged merino ewes Is, 100 aged crossbred ewes 4s Id, yearling cattle 255, two-year-old £2 10s, 20 two and a half year steers £3 17. 6d.