THE CENTRAL RAM FAIR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7387, 13 February 1902, Page 2

THE CENTRAL RAM FAIR.

The annual ram fair, conducted by Messrs F. R. Jackson and Co., was commenced on Wednesday at St. Hill street yards, in the presence of a large attendance of buyers from all parts of the colony, though we have seen more in previous years. Bidding (the Herald reports) was not brisk at the outset, and She prices realised showed a decline. This is due in a large measure to the low pricos our staple product is at present bringing on the London market, settlers not being so flush of money, and loth to give anything in the nature of fancy prices for rams, however pressing their requirements for a change of stock. In all, 1313 rams were cata. logued, as against 1499 last: year, and 1343 4he year previous. N.Z. and A. Land Coy., 15 1-shear Lincolns ; all passed. Mr E. Maxwell, Opunake, 15 2 and 3shear Romneys; one sold; price, 2$ guineas.

Messrs lon Bros., Waverley, 15 1-shear Lincolns ; all passed. Mr G. F. Bremer, Patea, 10 1-shear Lincolns; all passed. Mr G. Mitchell, Westmere, 10 1-shear Lincolns ; all sold at 1 guinea. Mr R. B. Hamilton, Manutabi, 20 1-shear Lincolns ; all passed. Mr A. Southey-Baker, Urenui, 14 1-shear Lincolns; all sold; price 1 guinea.

Mr B, B. Pearce, Kakaramea, 10 Ishear Lincolns ; all passed. J. B. Sutton, Thornbury, 14 1-shear Liucolns ; 12 sold ; average, £3 0s 9d ; highest price 5£ guineas. Mr W. Boag, Christchurcb, 15 1-shear Border Lincolns ; all sold : average, £4 15s lOd : highest price 6£ guineas. N.Z. and A. Land Co., Dunedin, 15 1-shear Border Lincolns ; all sold ; average £5 10a 7d j highest price, 7£ guineas.

Mr W. Gadsby, Patea, 10 1-shear Lincolns ; 1 sold, 2\ guineas. Mr James Riddell, Waverley, 15 Ishear Lincolns-; all passed.

In reference to the ram fair, the Chronicle adds : Farmers were evidently of the opinion that wool sheep were of no value, and that mutton was more profitable. In the Border and English Leicesters the N.Z. and Australian Land Cinpany's rams averaged from £5 10s 7d, W. Boag £4 15s 6d, G. G. Russell £3 9s 3d, A. Martin £5 19s, J. S. Holmes £5 10s 3d, Threlkeld £5 2s 4d. Romneys were neglected, makonly £2 4s 6d. In studs Perry Bros.' English Leicesters made jglO, J. S. Holmes' £11 11s. In Lincoln flocks J. B. Sutton made the highest average, viz., £8 0s 9d ; others averaged £2 8s 3d, £1 11s 6d, and down to £1 16s.