Strong interest in farm

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 53

Strong interest in farm

Interest was high at three recent auctions. Two of the properties were sold while negotiations continue on the third. The trend for farms to sell at around 30 per cent below Government valuation in the Ellesmere district continued when a 129.4513 hectare farm at Southbridge sold for $302,000.

Its 1983 valuation was $604,000. About 65 people attended the auction, which was held on Wednesday, August 26, said the auctioneer, Mr Rod Cameron, of Elders Pastoral. The auction was the first to be held in the firm’s Leeston office for some time, which no doubt contributed to the keen interest, Mr Cameron said.

Bidding began at $245,000 and rose in bids of $5OOO, then $2OOO,

$lOOO and finally $5OO. The land is described as having an excellent balance of Paparua and Eyre soils and is subdivided into 20 paddocks with good shelter and water.

The house on the property is a four bedroom older home with a mature garden setting. Included In the range of farm buildings is a fully enclosed silo shed, hay sheds, implement sheds, storage sheds, sheep and cattle yards. When a four bedroom luxury home in the Cracroft area of Cashmere was auctioned on Saturday, September 5 on site, it was passed in at $245,000, but sold immediately afterwards at an undisclosed higher price. The property has a 1984 Government valuation of $127,000. About 60 people attended the

auction. Bidding was described as brisk, beginning at $150,000, rising by bids of $lO,OOO, then $5OOO and $lOOO. Mr Kent Prier of Neumann Prier First National was the auctioneer.

The house was a builder’s own, and is described as having a feeling of warmth about it from the use of internal timber.

A good security system, big living areas ideal for family living, three bathrooms and a small easy-care section were the other features of the property. Despite keen interest, a Mairehau property was passed in at auction on Thursday, September 3. Besides the three bedroom Summerhill stone home with a tiled roof, and the five acres of land, a huge amount of engineer-

ing equipment was offered as well, totalling 260 lots. The 22-year-old house is described as being in good condition.

The vendor has a six car garage and workshop, where he had been carrying out his engineering work for 69 years. In his large collection of small and large engineering gadgetry were such items as mobile lawnmowers and bandsaws he had made himself.

The property has a 1984 Government valuation of $243,000. The bidding, which was “slow,” began at $130,000, and rose in $lO,OOO, then $5OOO blds.

The auctioneer was Mr A. W. McClelland of M. B. Cooke and Co.

Negotiations on the property are continuing.