AMBERLEY EWE FAIR

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27910, 6 March 1956, Page 17

AMBERLEY EWE FAIR

Drought Still Rules Market BIG DROP IN ENTRIES The persistence of the drought was again the determining factor of values at the Amberley ewe fair (northern section) which was held yesterday in fine and humid weather. It was a better sale for older ewes than for two-tooths. Generally, the drop in the case of older sheep was not very pronounced by comparison with earlier sales on the North Canterbury circuit, and, taking quality into consideration, in some cases values might be described as being reasonably firm. Good two-tooths, however, were generally slightly easier, and inferior and poor-con-ditioned sorts were down by several shillings. The entry was 18,150, including 7518 two-tooths (7553 last year), against 23.279 in 1955 —an overall drop of 5129. The quality of the offering did not bear favourable comparison with recent years. Even allowing for the incidence of the drought, the sheep generally, particularly the two-tooths, lost caste by comparison. Many a pen which was hanging fire would have sold to greater advantage if more discrimination had been exercised in the drafting pens. Thus, too many pens were of mixed wool types. What they gained in condition at a sale when condition played such an important part was more than lost because of carelessness in selection for uniformity of wool. There was no suggestion of current credit restraints affecting values; it

was purely a question of the impact of the drought. The attendance of buyers was meagre—the poorest for J The sale began on a run of adult ewes, bidding for which was somewhat restrained at the outset as buyers tested the market. Presently, however, bidding picked up and the remainder of the sale for this class of sheep had a reasonably sound tone. Generally the sale followed a familiar pattern with its predecessors, in that condition and quality weighted heavily with buyers, and in this respect it lost appreciably by comparison both with last Monday’s sale' at Amberley and the Hawarden sale on Thursday. Flockmasters themselves were to blame in a number of instances for the relatively poor values received. One fairly large pen of ewes from a fairly wellknown breeder in North Canterbury was ruled out of the sale because of pronounced lice infection. This defection spoiled a clean record at Amberley of several years’ standing, and. too, was the first case this season that the vigilant stock inspectors of the Department of Agriculture have been required to exercise their veto. The tendency of farmers to buy in small lots was again very noticeable. The destinations of the sheep sold were mostly south of Amberley. Districts tributary to Lake Ellesmere took a goodly number, and many others went to Rangiora, Oxford, Hororata, and lower Mid-Canterbury.

Top price of the sale was 80s for a pen a 66 two-tooths from F. N. Jackman (Punawai). The top price for four-year-old ewes. 625, was paid to R. I. J. Murray (Te Rapa) for a line of 174. The five-year-old market was topped by W. N. Masefield (Eiffelton). who sold 69 at 41s.

A pleasing feature of the sale was that practically a 100 per cent, clearance was effected. .Dealers dealt very sparingly, probably because those who bought at earlier sales this season on a “weather gamble” have yet to realise a profit. Based on condition and quality by comparison with earlier sales, the following range of sales might be said to apply. All the sheep yarded were Corriedales and halfbreds:— 1955. 1956.

Principal sales were:— TWO-TOOTHS Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold: on account of:— Estate G. W. Forbes (Crystal Brook): 139 at 60s. N. R. Wilkinson and Son (Dalkeith): 70 at 60s, 146 at 575, 133 at 51s, 73 at 48s. A. C. Middleton (Waipapa): 162 at 665, 72 at 70s. 72 at 555, 71 at 455. J. G. Murray (Matariki): 66 at 545, 71 at 525. Estate A. Gillanders (Mt. Seddon): 141 at 565. W. H. Robinson (Dalegarth): 64 at 635. 60 at 465. J. Fitzsimmons (Riverview): 150 at 635, 60 at 475. J. R. Moore (Valhalla): 72 at 51s, 104 at 465. H. M. Good (Waiwera): 71 at 70s, 148 at 595. P. W. Moore (Valhalla): 165 at 57s to 60s, 65 at 465; G. C. Hiatt (Clonmel): 70 at 70s, 140 at 595, 137 at 46s to 48s. T. G. Morris and Son (Overshiels): 78 at 60s, 148 at 575, 64 at 495. F. N. Jackman (Punawai): 66 at 80s,* 66 at 655. E. J. D. Good (Matiawa): 74 at 60s, 71 at 525. J. D. Jackman (Ridgethorpe): 80 at 755. I S. Douglas (Te Ngapari): 67 at 50s. Estate J. J. Fitzpatrick (Glentanner): 118 at 50s. P. Shand (Seaward Valley): 100 at

A. S. Westland (Glenmuick): 70 at 455. Estate T. S. Davies (Ngaio Downs): 154 at 445. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— M. C. Hyde and Son (Cathill): 59 at 41s, 72 at 575, 131 at 495. W. R. Archbold (Lowry Hills), 60 at 50s, 71 at 61s. S. R. Barnes (Ngaio Cliffs), 72 at 575. R. S. Latter (Blytheburn): 56 at 625, 137 at 70s. J. S. Murray (Matariki): 66 at 51s, 69 at 51s. P. F. Childs (Fernhill): 78 at 495. W. Dampier-Crossley (Glenalbyn): 72 at 665, 68 at 71s, 66 at 71s. C. Denton (Milburn): 75 at 655, 75 at 745. W. A. Douglas (Jedburgh): 60 at 48s, 63 at 455. C. N. Souter (Argyll): 175 at 50s. A. C. Hyde (Benmore): 101 at 40s. at 47 ason (Kekerangu): 75 The National Mortgage and Agency Company. Ltd., sold on account of:— D. W. Smith (Stratholme): 160 at 425. P- L ; Le Cren (One Tree Hill): 78 at 490, 75 at 565. R. D. Parsons (Nga Motu): 63 at 625. T. E. Edridge (Tormore): 70 at 425. lona Partnership (Iona): 214 at 495. I. Hollobon (Hidden Hills): 76 at 50s 80 at 455, 55 at 40s. Estate J. K. Macfarlane (The Sisters): 70 at 425. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— R. W. Burnett (Lyndon Lea): 73 at 445. The New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., sold on account of:— I. M. Foster (Glenrue): 75 at 555. R. C. Webb (Winchenden): 108 at 58s. OLDER EWES Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold on account of:— J. J. Fitzpatrick (Glentanner): 329 fouryea r at 32s to 335. T. G. Morris and Son (Overshiels): 349 four-year at 41s to 435, 211 five-year at 30s. R. G. Murray (Te Rapa): 174 four-year at 625. 60 at 555. 180 four-year at 575. H. C. Acton-Adams (Clarence Reserve): 335 four-year at 365. N. G. Fagan (Koromiko): 210 four-year at 325. E. Fitzpatrick (Mount Ellen): 320 fouryear at 345. I. S. Douglas (Te Ngapari): 208 fouryear at 38s, 189 five-year at 365. N. R. Wilkinson and Son (Dalkeith): 211

four-year at 30s. D. Giles (Edgecombe): 200 four-year at 365. A. C. Middleton (Waipapa): 70 fouryear at 365, 70 four-tooth at 475, 160 fiveyear at 325. H. M. Good (Waiwera): 192 four-year at 31s. Estate F. G. de Lambert (Glenoya): 95 four-tooth at 28s 6d. A. S. Westland (Glenmuick): 283 fouryear at 275. T. S. Davies (Ngaio Downs): 180 fiveyear at 28s. C. A. Mowat (Glengower): 139 fourW. H. Robinson (Dalegarth): 233 fouryear at 37s to 38s. J. D. Calder (Ben Lomond): 300 fouryear at 355. Dalgety and Company Ltd., sold on account of:— Mrs A. R. Macfarlane (Lanercost): 110 five-year at 30s, 190 four-year at 50s. W. N. Masefield (Ellerton): 134 fouryear at 42s to 465, 69 five-year at 41s. Mrs V. M. Cooper and Son (Huyton): 201 at 375. C. M. Souter (Argyle): 200 * four-year at 465. M. C. Hyde and Son (Cathill): 347 fouryear at 365, 70 four and five-year at 255, 65 five-year at 17s. E. J. D. Good (Matiawa): 192 four and five-year at 325. N. C. Hyde (Ngaroma): 77 five-year at 20s, 156 four and five-year at 26s to 28s 6d. R. S. Latter (Blytheburn): 71 four and five-year at 435, 142 four-year at 50s. J. D. F. Fleming (Mount Scobie): 210 four-year at 45s to 48s. W. R. Archbold (Lowry Hills): 287 fouryear at 30s. A. C. Hyde (Benmore): 246 four-year P. F. Childs (Fernhill): 204 four-year at 555. W. N. Maxwell (Mount Sanford): 323 four-year at 58s to 60s. W. A. Douglas (Jedburgh): 271 fouryear at 535, 90 four-year at 495. Estate J. L. Rollason .(Kekerangu): 219 four-year at 42s to 445, 69 four-year at 30s. The National Mortgage and Agency Company. Ltd., sold on account of:— P. L. Le Cren (One Tree Hill): 241 fiveyear at 325, 118 four-year at 355. R. D. Parsons (Nga-Motu): 260 fouryear at 425, 65 five-year at 355. D. W. Smith (Stratholme): 356 fouryear at 555, 66 four-year at 30s. Estate J. K. Macfarlane (The Sisters): 135 four-year at 245. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., sold on account of:— R. W. Burnett (Lindon Lea): 191 fouryear at 31s. The New Zealand Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association, Ltd., sold on account of:— I. M. Foster (Glenrue): 70 four, six and eight-tooth at 395.

RAKAIA EWE FAIR

TWO TOOTHS SELL UP TO 76/-

There was a fair attendance of buyers at the Rakaia ewe fair. The yarding totalled 6500, of which 2000 were twotooths, and this represented a drop of about 1600 on last year’s total entries. Two-tooths sold at up to 765, and the best of the older sheep made 445. There was a good clearance, and considering the persistence of the phenomenally dry Spell of weather, the sale was well calculated to please most vendors. The range of prices, with last year's for comparison, was:— Two-tooths—

The principal sales were:— Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., sold: on account of:— W. A. Smith and Son (Northbank): 100 two-tooth ewes at 40s, 212 four-year ewes at 38s to 40s. John Irwin (Aldersyde): 69 two-tooths at 76s (top price of sale), 60 two-tooths at 72, 62 two-tooths at 665. Mrs F. R. Hood (Leafmore): 63 twotooths (Corriedale) at 725. Owen R. McLachlan (Rakaia): 100 twotooths at 70s, 70 at 70s. R. H. Magson (Sornertdn): 62 two-tooths (halfbred) at 655. C. G. Robinson (Te Pirita): 60 twotooths (Corriedale) at 725. F. B. Magson (Somerton): 62 two-tooths at 735. A. Nimmo (Oakleigh): 70 two-tooths at 60s. 72 at 675. J. G. McLachlan (Rakaia): 60 five-year (Corriedale) at 325. Estate W. J. Halliday (Langley): 66 fiveyear (Corriedale) at 28s. 61 four and fiveyear (Corriedale) at 295. Dalgety and Company. Ltd., sold: on account of:— A. Hayes (Hakatarr.mea): 162 two-tooths at 68s. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., sold: on account of:— Copland Bros. (Chcrtsey): 120 five-year at 20s. Estate A. L. Craigie (Te Pirita): 58 four and six-tooth at 38s, 78 four and five-year at 335. New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Ltd., sold: on account of:— G. King (Pendarvcs): 35 two-tooth at 48s, 58 five-year at 31s, 40 five-year at 31s. A. Amos (Ashburton): 73 six and eighttooth at 345. S. Letham (Lauriston): 74 two-tooth at 675. L. Law (Pendarves): 80 four and fiveyear at 31s. The National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., sold: on account of:— Campbell and Hart (Rokeby): 60 twotooths at 68s. E. W. Buckingham (Dorie): 68 twotooths at 61s, 73 two-tooths at 595. E. W. Hood (Hatfield): 65 two-tooths at 60s. J. Matheson and Son (Hakataramea): 460 four-year at 41s (top price for four-year-olds ). One-shear Southdown rams sold at up to 29gns. while Southdown-Border Leicester cross made up to 26jgns. There was an entry of 35 rami.

s. s. s s. Two-tooth Ewes— Good .. 80 to 90 70 to 80 Medium .. 67 to 78 63 to 69 Others . .. 41 to 65 30 to 55 Four-year-olds— Good .. 53J to 80 55 to 62 Medium .. 41 to 56 .32 to 38 Others .. 23 to 40 20 to 28 Five-year-olds— Good .. 37 to 47 36 to 41 Medium .. 31 to 34 271 to 35 Others .. 21 to 29 down to 16s

1955. 1956. Good .. 82 to 92 68 to 76 Medium .. 63 to 81 56 to 67 Others .. 38 to 53 46 to 55 Four-year-olds— 1955. 1956. s. s. s. s. Good .. 45 to 59 38 to 44 Medium .. 33 to 42 30 to 36 Others .. 25 to 31 22J to 30