RAKAIA EWE FAIR

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 13

RAKAIA EWE FAIR

AN ERRATIC DEMAND TWO-TOOTHS SELL WELL The third ewe fair of the season was held at Kakaia yesterday The day cleared after a heavy fall of rain in the morning, and there was a good attendance of local farmers. The entry was smaller than that of last year, totalling betv/een 9500 and 10,000 head, compared with 12.000 odd last year.

The Rakaia fair does not draw a very representative lot of ewes as a rule. Most of the local lines are from the light country north of the Kakaia river, with some drafts from the foothills. There was also a big line yesterday of about 1650 from Marlborough, and a fair ber of dealers' lots. As a rule, there are reofferings from the earlier North Canterbury fairs, but this did not obtain to much extent yesterday. The two-tooths generally were small and in numerous cases carried only moderate condition [Some pens of older sheep came forward looking very well, but the travelled lines showed the effect of the road journeys. The sale was a most irregular one. in the earlier half-hour most of the pens were passed, buyers appearing very reluctant to bid. One or two good pens, however sold at more than 30s, and this established confidence, and thereafter there was quite a good sale of two-tooths. The small and most backward actually sold the best, pens making from 24s to fis which would not have made this price j at the North Canterbury fairs. However, the local sheep from the districts mentioned bear the reputation of doing well on the fattening farms, which may explain the demand for two-tooths in comparison with full and failing-mouthed sheep, one or two pens of well-grown even twotooths sold at full North Canterbury parity considering quality. One pen of 100 made 33s lOd, the top price of the day. and an improvement on northern rates, and several others sold at 30s to 31s 9d, whilst there was a fair number of sales at 25s to 275. The sale was erratic, however, and there were passings. The demand for the older sheep was not so steady as that for the two-tooths, and there were numerous passings of the better sorts. Most of those disposed of ranged at from 14s to 20s. A thousand of the Blenheim four-year ewes sold at 17s JO to 17s 6d, and a draft of 302 local fouryear made one of the best prices at 22s 3d to 22s lOd. Another pen of the same size from Bankside sold at 18s for five-year-olds, the best price of the day for ewes of this age. The Glenfalloch four, six. and eight-tooths, about 430 in number, made from 23s to 25s 6d. One pen of 430 fouryear was passed at 23s Gd, this being the fate of several of the better lines. This section of the market, even making allowance for the Inferior standard, did not maintain the earlier fair rates.

The Sales The following are representative sales: — The National Mortgage and Agency Company: L. M. Oliver (Rakaia), 47 two-tooth at Kingsbury Bros. (Dorie), 127 two-tooth at 25s Bd. , „„ . Clients, 157 five-year at 14s 6d. 85 twotooth. at 235, 55 two-tooth at 22s 6d. 70 four-tooth at 22s 9ci, 49 aged at Bs, 122 two-tooth at 25s lOd, 271 four-year at 17s 6d, 302 four-year at 22s 3d to 22s lOd, 218 first cross English Leicester ewe lambs at 17s, 152 two-tooth at 25s 6d. Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd.: H W. Robinson (Glazebrook), 136 twotooth at 21s, 366 two-tooth at 19s ad. D. E. Grigg (Bankside), 191 five-year at 14s 3d, 302 five-year at 18s, 208 four-year at ISs Cd. Mrs D. F. Grigg (Bankside), 250 f.m. at 12s 3d. G McLachlan (Methven), 200 five-year at 10s Id to 16s Od, 158 four and fiveyear at 16s Id. J. A. Kelso (Te Pirita), 133 two-tooth at 28s. E F. J. Grigg (Meadowbank). 300 fourycar at 17s Cd. 700 at 17s 3d, 305 at 16s 9d, 39 aged at 8s 9d, 119 two-tooth at 17s; client, 217 two-tooth at 26s 9d to 275. New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association: Glenfalloch Estate, 155 four-tooth at 255. 134 six-tooth at 25s 6d, 143 eight-tooth at 235, 152 two-tooth at 21s. A. N. Barber (Te Perita), 90 four-year at 16s Cd. Client, 105 two-tooth nt 33s lOd. R. B. Knight (Mitcham), 182 two-tooth at 31s 3d to 31s lOcl. Jno. Penny (Northbank), 120 two-tooth at 30s 6d, 56 two-tooth at 26s 6d. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd.: \V. Hood (Chertsey), 200 four and fiveyear at 16s 3d. Estate Thos. Lucas (Pendarves), 50 twotool hj at 28s. K. Wilson (Te Pirita), 110 four-year at 17s. Client, 80 two-tooth nt 20s fld, 76 twotooth at 295. Dalgoty and Company: J. T. Denton (Southbridge), 137 four, six, and eight-tooth at 18s, 73 two-tooth at 225. C. G. Robinson (Te Pirita), 251 merino aged at 4s. Client, 82 two-tooth at 20s 6d. SHOW DATES t Mayfield—March 12. Napier (Autumn) —March 17. Amuri, at Waiau—March. 22. Methven—March 26. Hawarden—March 29. Oxford—April 7. Temuka and Geraldine. at Winchester—April 9. Flaxbourne, at Ward—April 9. Mackenzie County (Fair-lie)— April 13. Malvern,.at Sheffield—April 21.