OPENING OF THE NEW SALEYARDS AT TINWALD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume L, Issue 5459, 21 August 1878, Page 1 (Supplement)

OPENING OF THE NEW SALEYARDS AT TINWALD.

Yesterday these yards were opened by a public luncheon, followed by a sale. About 200 parsons sat down to a substantial repast provided by Mr M. Scott, of the Tinwald Hotel, The yards, which are most commodious and well situated, are close to the railway station and Great South road, and in the centra Of a large and most important agricultural district in the County of Ashburton. They are also close to Mr Joseph Bos wick’s and Mr Clark’s grain stores. They cover half an acre of ground in extant, and are made large enough to hold between 600 and 800 head of cattle, and 3000 or 4000 sheep. Mr Thomas Bullock presided at the luncheon, and proposed the toast “ Success to the Tinwald Baleyards." Ho said that these yards would prove a very groat convenience to settlers on the south sine of the river, and wonld enable them to dispose ot their stock, Ac., without tho inconvenience ot having to drive them over tho railway bridge. He coupled with the ton'! the names of Messrs Clark and Keswick. The (oast was then drunk with cnthn-iasm.

Mr Clark »airi that if all tha good wishes he had heard that day exprr«*ed on nil side* were verified, tha success of ilie yards would be farbsyoud his expectations. When he came to Tinwald, only two years ago, the place was a comparative wilderness. There was no place where the farmer could deliver his grain, aud a few of them put their hand? in their pockets and erected a grain shed. That shed had made Tinwald what it now was. The majority of its stock went to Ashburton, and that was the reason they erected these yards. There was nothing in tho interests of the two places, Ashburton or Tinwald, that would clash together. Tinwald was to Ashburton what Addington was to Christchurch. In a few years they would find that people would come 15 and 20 miles to do business there. The ladies, of course, would go to Ashburton to spend their money, but the stock-breeders would stop at Tinwald to got rid of their stock, &c. There was no possibility of there being any opposition, for while one progressed the other must also advance. The yards were open to all auctioneers, on tho same terms of payment as the Canterbury saloyards. They were erected by a company, who only required a small percentage on their outlay, and they would be found eventually to answer the purposes of the district. Mr Beswick also replied. He did not think that, after what Mr Clark had said, there was much left for him to say. Ho saw sufficient evidence of the future success of the yards in the attendance on the present occasion. It had been his intention to commence auctioneering in the district, but he coincided with Mr Clark in' his opinion that refraining from opening such a business would tend to make the saleyards a success. Pour-fifths of the stock came from this side of the river. Where the saleyards were the stock would come, and be had no hesitation in saying that this was to be the district of the future. He would propose the “ Auctioneers,” and couple t he toast with the name of Mr Thomas Bullock as representing the whole of the auctioneers of the district.

Mr Bullock returned thanks, and said it was a fact that the farmers of the present day preferred selling their stock by auction. They used to growl at the expense, but now they did not grudge the auctioneer his commission. He was glad to see that the yards had been thrown open to the auctioneers in general. Mr Thomas, of Matson and Co., also spoke in the same strain, and the Company then proceeded to business.