HAWARDEN EWE FAIR

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27907, 2 March 1956, Page 16

HAWARDEN EWE FAIR

GOOD SOUND SALE FOR MOST SHEEP

DROUGHT REFLECTED IN PRICES

Although two-tooths were inclined to ease, the current decline in aged ewe prices was arrested at the Hawarden ewe fair .yesterday. It was. perhaps, difficult to determine values, but, over all, the two-tooths were most affected by the continuance of the extraordinarily dry conditions. Nevertheless, it was a sound sale, and if it had been preceded by a bountiful rainfall, prices would have soared, so pronounced was the general quality of the offerings. The entry was 16.705, of which 4595 were two-tooths (last year’s figure was 6943) and 12.105 were older ewes. In addition a sprinkling of ewe lambs was penned. The numbers were thus down by 2146 on last year, and two years ago the total was 21,734. In point of quality the yarding lost nothing by comparison with previous years. Hawarden again afforded ample evidence of providing the best offering of fine-woolled sheep yarded at any ewe fair in New Zealand, and Canterbury is the home of fine wools. Over the years the cream of New Zealand’s Corriedale flock ewes have been offered at this annual fixture and this year was no exception. Indeed, the general run of sheep, particularly the two-tooths, were penned in excellent condition, considering the dry conditions which have prevailed. Any easing in prices could not be attributed in the case of most standard lines, either to lack of quality or poor condition. The reason was wrapped up in the general hesitancy of buyers to acquire sheep in the face of a possible shortage of winter feed. The attendance of prospective buyers was considerably below that of normal years, and many of those who did attend seemingly dared not bid, because they lacked the feed and, in some cases, the water with which to freshen-up and sustain their breeding flock. The sale commenced with the twotooths, most of which were presented in amazingly good order. They met with sustained competition and although bidding was never very spirited it did not lag and passings were negligible. These features were maintained throughout the sale. Indeed, it was early apparent that vendors were out to meet the market. The average price realised for the first 30 pens auctioned was about 62s and this number did not include the top-priced pens which were reached a little later. Top price for two-tooths was 90s, compared with £6 at last year’s Hawarden fair and 97s at last wek’s fair at Amberley. Over all, however, the drop in two-tooth values by comparison with the Amberley fair was not very pronounced. The Older Ewes The older ewes showed more effects of the drought than the two-tooths, but the general run were well up to average ewe fair condition and the quality of the standard lines could not be denied. There was not a very big tail and all were saleable—at a price. Although everything sold, buyers displayed little interest in low-condi-tioned sheep. Disciplined by the timekeeper, the sale was never allowed to drag, and, although it must have been a disappointing sale to them, vendors invariably met the market without any haggling. Prices were appreciably below those of last year, when two-tooths sold up to £6, four-year-olds to 62s 6d, and five-year-olds to 545. Yesterday twotooths topped the sale at 90s. four-year-olds made up to 565, and five-year-olds to 40s. Top Prices

Top price for the sale and for twotooths was £os, and this was paid to F. K. Forrester (Heatherdale) for 69 ewes, and the same vendor secured the second top price of 87s 6d for a pen of 58. and his next best pen of 118 two-tooths sold for 85s. Last year the same vendor topped the market at £6. Other good sales included 83s to R. B. Kellock (Hawarden) for a pen of 127, and 81s to Matthews Bros. (Westmere) for 64 ewes, and 80s to the same vendors for a pen of 64. A. J. Blakejy (Clifton) sold 70 at 80s.

Top price in the four-year sheep was 56s to B. L. Blunden (Carvossa) for 200 sheep, and 55s was paid to H. M. and R. A. Carr (Glenallen) for 259. The Turner Estate (Arden) sold 291 four-year-olds at 46s to 50s, and sales on account of W. P. Neeve (Allandale) included 164 at 495. R. B. Kellock sold a line of 328 at 47s to 48s. The five-year-old market was topped at 40s by A. O. C. Rutherford (Waitohi Peaks) with a sale of 131, and M. B. Forrester (Karetu Downs) sold 389 at 38s. J. F. G. Blakely (Clifton) was paid 38s for 153 five-year sheep. H. Mander (Waikari) received 37s for 102 sheep. Best price for the handful of ewe lambs on offer was 54s to H. Reece (Hawarden) for 70s. Range of Prices The range of prices, with last year’s for comparison, was:—

The principal sales were:— TWO-TOOTHS H. Matson and Company sold on account of:— W. R. Lilley (Valleyfield); 140 at 625. M. B. Forrester (Karetu Downs): 156 at 565. R. B. Kellock (Hawarden): 127 at 83s. F. K. Forrester (Heatherdale): 118 at 85s, 58 at 87s 6d, 69 at 90s. M. A. Forrester (Karaka): 75 at 625, 82 at 765. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— L. H. Hassall (The Glen): 122 at 725. W. P. Neeve (Allandale): 156 at 555, 74 at 665. C. G. Brooker (Hawarden): 70 at 765. C. H. Bethell (Timpendean): 76 at 695. Quigley Bros. (Kingsmoor): 68 at 535, 70 at 695. 74 at 775. A. D. F. Neill: 49 at 71s. L. C. Threlkeld (Stonyroyd): 72 at 675, 73 at 61s. R. W. Dalzell (Hawarden): 72 at 645. G. Mathias (Dairy): 72 at 725. K. Costello and Son (Hawarden): 70 at 725. G. T. Newton (Mount Greta): 64 at 555, 68 at. 555. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— J. L. White; 65 at 625. Lawrence Bros. (Mount Hilton): 69 at 78s, 74 at 71s. J. and .G. Blakely (Clifton): 75 at 725. M. Mander: 90 at 645. New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association sold on account of:— A. J. Blakely (Clifton): 70 at 80s, 151 at 645, 70 at 78s. J. K. Fincham (Ti Kouka): 81 at 695. Matthews Bros. (Westmere): 64 at 80s, 64 at 81s, 50 at 70s. H. M. and P. A. Carr (Glenallan): 146 at 57s to 60s. A. H. Black: 70 at 68s. C. G. Brooker: 74 at 695.

New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— R. H. W. Horsman (Bfedwardine): 52 at 665, 60 at 70s, 55 at 695. National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of: J. M. Gardiner (Colenso): 70 at 50s. OLDER EWES Dalety and Company, Ltd., sold on account o': R. L. Rutherford (Haydon Downs): 498 four-year at 3Ss. O. T. and O. G. Evans (Taruna): 392 five-year at 80s. A. O. C. Rutherford (Waitohi Peaks): 71 s.m. ewes at 30s, 131 five-year at 40s. L. H. Hassall (The Glen): 240 fouryear at 40s. J. F. Cracroft-Wilson (Kanuku): 73 four and five-year at 365. C. H. Bethell (Timpendean): 120 fiveyear at 345. W. P. Neeve (Allandale): 147 four and five-j’ear at 40s. 164 four-year at 495. 0 R. B. Kellock (Hawarden): 328 fouryear at 47s to 48s. J. J. Pawsey (Mount Lance): 269 fouryear at 30s. Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of: H. Mander (Waikari): 102 five-year at 375, 36 four, six, and eight-tooth at 30s. Mt. Mason Estate (Hawarden): 238 fiveyear at 325, 160 four-year at 345. Turner Estate (Arden): 291 four-year at 46s to 50s. B. L. Blunden (Carvossa): 200 fouryear at 565. New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association sold, on account of: H. M. and R. A. Carr (Glenallan): 259 four-year at 555, 116 five-year at 355. E. O. Carr (Bonjedward): 72 four-year at 335. 216 five-year at 35s 6d. J. F. G. Blakely (Clifton): 153 fiveyear at 38s. Estate W. A. Forrester (Karaka Downs): 180 five-year at 355. Matthews Bros. (Westmere): 210 fouryear at 435. H. Matson and Company sold, on account of: W. R. Lilley (Valleyfield): 121 fiveyear at 30s. M. B. Forrester (Karetu Downs): 389 five-year at 38s. National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of: J. L. Clark-Hall (Mt. Macdonald): 355 four and five-year at 355. New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Ltd. (Macdonald Downs): 230 four and five-year at 325, 144 four-year at 365.

Two-tooths— Extra good 1955. 1956. s. s. 80 to 90 s. 101 to 120 Good 84 to 96 68 to 79 Medium 65 to 83 48'to 66 Others 31 to 57 24 to 44 Four-year-olds— Extra good 55 to 62 J 50 to 56 Good 44 to 52 42 to 49 Ordinary 30 to 36 23 to 36 Five-year-olds— Extra good to 54 30 to 40 Good 28 to 37 23 to 28 Others 16 to 20 18 to 22