Untitled

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2337, 27 January 1913, Page 5

MrCeorge A uderson, of Stirling. lost a valuable bullock in a peculiar way last week (says the “ Ciiitha Leader.”)

A few bags of Malden Islands guano were standing in the open, and the bullock coming up to them ripped the corner of one bag open with its horn. It had licked up about a cupful of the manure when Mr Anderson noticed it and had it driven away, hut the bullock only walked a few yards before lying d >.' ii an 1 commenced to breathe heavily. A purgative was given without avail,

ami in a short space of time the beast died. When opened up it was seen that the coating of the stomach was burnt away, through action of (lie manure, it was presumed. It is the lirst time we have heard of cattle taking guano, but (his should he a warning to fanners not to leave such manure lying about where cattle can come in contact with it, (Messrs Park, Reynolds’ auction rooms were crowded on Tuesday evening (says (he “Star") on (lie occasion of the auction of over L.OOA acres of land at Speargrass Flat suitable for Iruit farms. There seemed every prospect of a good sale, but after (he offer ol the lirst allotment of It acres, which was pushed quickly from C 5 to £lO per aero, buyers grew timid and silent, and though Mr Reynolds I aimed the expiring llame vigorously, bidders were loath to go beyond Irom ,tL'7 to L'tt lor land which was declared to he worth at least C2O an acre. This was (he more puzzling in that it was promised that if 50 per cent, of the purchasers signed the agreement with the Oovernmeiit the irrigation scheme would be proceeded with, while if the s<) per cent did not sign, every purchaser was entitled to receive his money back. The terms, toy were ens^ —a deposit of C2 per acre, and the balance in instalments extending over a period of three years. There was (lie further inducement in connection with several allotments that houses, stables, and outbuildings were already on the land. On allotment 15, for example, which contains to acres, there are buildings which Mr (Reynolds announced to have cost IE 1,200, and yet the highest offer was £S per acre, at which it was passed in. The auctioneer instanced eases in which unimproved land adjacent to this estate (which is six miles from Alexandra) was valued up to DM per acre, but lie could not awaken enthusiasm. The result was (bat only nine of the :!(! allotments were put up, and live of these were passed in at bids ranging from £7 to D.) 10 s. Allotment 1 (11 acres 2 roods) was disposed of at £lO to Mr F. Drake (as agent), and Mr T. W. Whitson secured allotments (i and 7 totalling 23 acres 2 roods 8 poles) at £9 per acre. After tiic sale there was a good deal of private negotiation. Two allotments w ere sold at once for £lO per acre and nine of the remaining allotments are under older to a firm of nurserymen.