HORSE FAIR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18969, 6 April 1927, Page 12

HORSE FAIR.

LEESTON ANNUAL FIXTURE. That the draught horse still a place, and an important one, too, in the scheme oi things, was exemplified at Leeston on Monday, when the annual Ellesmcre horse tail took place. Although the entry was by no means as large as in the days before the tractor came into general use on farms, there was a sufficient number to afford convincing proof of the fact that breeding not bcin,; neglected by any means, whito :he oup.'.iiy of the animals brought under the hammer did not show any marked falling off. As a matter of fact, a good deal of breeding has been done in the last year or so, and the stamp of sire doing duty in the district lust season was, in the opinion of competent judges, quite as good as breeders have had the opportunity of using for a number of years. A good type of working draught can still be disposed of at a payable price, most farmers finding it necessary to keep two or three good sorts, even though the bulk of the heavy work is done by tractors. - The sale on Monday attracted qui;e a attendance of district farmers, besides a considerable number of buyers from other districts. The percentage oi sales made was probably as good as in any previous year. The top price for a broken draught was secured by Messrs H. Matson and Co. for a five-year mare, sold for 1. ilcGill, which realised £55 10s, while a four-year gelding sold for the same owner brought £54. Mr J. Reese obtained £4B for a three-year golding. Following is a list of the principal sales made:— H. Matson and Co.—For Arch. McLachlan (Doyleston), four-year gelding £26, Dixor Bros. (Christchurch) ; gelding, four years, £45, W. F. McArthur (Harewood); 8-year mare £36, J. Pannctt (Christchurch); S. J. Graham (Leeston), eight-year gelding £l9, J. McYinnie (Springston); George Gordon (Southbridge), five-year gelding £34, W. J. Gamble (Sheffield); five-year filly £32 10s, S. Breading (Southbridg») ; Winters Bros. (Brookside), seven-year gelding £3O, Dixon Bros.; I. Mc-Gill (Sedgemcre), four-year gelding £54, M. Murphy; five-year mare £55 10s, F. Coles (Lincoln); nine-year mare £37, Winter Bros. (Brookside); Winter Bros. (Brookside), eight-year gelding £l2 10s, L. Cant (Sedgemere); W. Johnston (Leeston), eightyear mare £3O, Gordon Barnett (Lakeside) ; J. Reese (Southbridge), threeyear, gelding £4B, Bruce Bros. (Hororata); John Legg (Leeston), four-year mare £3B, J. B. Anderson (Leeston); nine-year maro £3O, Winter Bros. (Brookside); Davidson Millar (Leeston), seven-year mare £35, W. J. Hamilton (Lakeside); A. Carroll (Southbridge), aged mare £2O 10a, P. Carroll (Southbridge); aged gelding £2O, D. Patterson (Southbridge); W. H. Abbott (South - bridge), four-year mare £34,. W. McLaughlin (Irwell); A. E. Rathgen (Killinchy), eightyear mare £34, Dixon Bros. (Christchurch); F. Coles (Lincoln), aged gelding £l7, J. Pearce (Brookside). Unbroken: Wylie's Estate (Southbridge), four-year gelding £42, G. Hampton (Leeston); three-year gelding £43, B; R. C. Rolls (Leeston); two-year gelding £2O, B. R. C. Rolls; J. H. Hampton, gelding £l7, W. C. Lowery (Southbridge); one at £ls, J. Reese (Southbridge). The N.Z. Farmers' Co-op, Association, Ltd. —Broken: For B. R. C. Rolls (Leeston), aged mare £ls, T. G. Brown (Sedgemere); R. Gemmell (Barr Hill), seven-year mare £4O 10s, Gordon Barnett (Lakeside); G. H. Barnett (Leeston), five-year filly £42, C. Tod (Doyleston); aged maro £25 10s, W. H. Xeale (Brookside); W. Patterson (Lakeside), aged mare £9 10s, 3. Williams (Doyleston) ; T. Millar (Doyleston), mare and foal £23 10s, G. Gartrey (Kimberley); F. C. Lewis (Doyleston), aged mare £22, Mrs A. E. IfoMahon (Lakeside); T. V. Harris (Hororata), seven-year gelding £2O, A. L. Pearce (Hororata); F. G. Andrew (Te Pirita), eightyear gelding.£2o XOs, W. Mackie (Dunsandel), seven-year mare £26 10s, F. N. O'Boyle (Loeston); three-year-filly £24 10s, S. G. Hurford (Doyleston); five-year gelding £44, M. Murphy (Lincoln road); J. B. Marshall (Leeston), gelding eight years £25 10s, F. Alexander (Lakeside); seven-year mare £26 10s, H. Hurst (Rakaia); W. J. Nairn (Lakeside), mare and foal £l2 10s, T. J. Gilbert (Leeston). Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd. —Broken: For E. R. V. Winter (Brookside), five-year mare £3B, Breading Bros. (Southbridge); G. McBean (Springston) seven-year gelding £32, J. 11. Pannett (Cashmere); eight-year gelding £22 10s, 11. Jarden (Hillsborough); W. Thwaites (Hororata), nine-year mare £ll, Gordon Barnett (Lakeside); R. Jackson (Leeston), six-year mare £lO, J. A. Flesher; J. A. Benny (Springston), four-year gelding £4O, N. G. Dalzell (Southbridge); Captain 'Tahu, Rhodes (Ellesmere), nine-year mare £2O, A. H. Duff (Brookside) ; R. Jackson (Leeston), two-year pony £lO, R. Gebbie (Teddington).

BRITISH INDIAN NAVIGATION. The British Indian Steam Navigation Company, Ltd., early last year issued 5 per cent, preference stock for £700,000, allotment being made to debenture stock-holders in the company and to stockholders in the P, and O. Company, which holds the controlling interest. At the beginning of this year the Board was authorised to'issue 20,000 5J per cent, cumulative preference shares of £IOO each, thereby raising its capital to £3,700,000. The new shares rank equally, as regards .dividend and capital, with similarly-based, shares issued in August, 1924," aiid with £700,000 worth of 5 per cent, cumulative preference stock- issued in 1900—notwithstanding the difference in rates of interest—and in priority to ordinary shares, without right to further participation. Approval 0£ the scheme having been given, by shareholders, the directors. have decided to issue the 20,000 cum. pref. shares at par, payments to extend to May 24th next. Last year tfie company carried 1,243,000 passengers and 5,453,200 tons of cargo on its fleet, which numbers 131 highclass vessels, valued last October at £17,081,000, but entered on the company's books at £7,100,500. In 67 years the company has never paid less, than 71 per cent., free of j tax, on its ordinary capital, the whole of which is now owned by the P. and O. Company.