ASHBURTON RAM AND EWE FAIR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11227, 26 March 1897, Page 6

ASHBURTON RAM AND EWE FAIR.

The ram and ewe fair at Tinwald yesterday, although well attended, was very far from being successful, and it was made evident that a largo entry and a good attendance do not ensure a satisfactory sale. If farmers come only to look on and do not want sheep, uo amount of eloquence on the part of the seller or temptingly low prices will induce them to buy. Although some twenty thousand ewes of all kinds and a good assortment of rams were offered, and sellers were prepared to accept low prices, very little business could bo done, and a great part of the entry was passed. The best price obtained was for a pen of really fine three-quarter-brod four-tooth ewes, which sold at 9s (id, young cross-breds. sound and good, made from (is to Ks ; and anything at all failing was almost unsaleable. The Auama merino owes made 3s, 3s 4d and 4s 3d; Clenfc Hill owes 3s 4(1; a line of Mount Hutt merino ewes, four and six-tooth, 5s 2d. The Hawkswood ewes were withdrawn at 3s; and a grand line of Mr E. G. Y/right's merino ewes, in capital condition, were passed at os Id. At auction there seemed to be hardly any demand for rams of any breed, any business that was done being transacted privately, and pen after pen was passed, or sold at boil-ing-down prices. Mr John Grigg’a English Leicester’s, two-tooth, were passed at lig; Chatmoss Estate sold a pen at ; a P ell bred by Messrs Mawson Bros, sold at 1-1 g and l.Vg. Mr Bonifaut’s were passed, as were most of Mr M. Eriedlander's and Mr Joseph Hayden's. The only Border - Leicester's sold were at boiling-down prices. In Lincolns, the LowcliD; rams were passed at lg; _Mr M. Fricdlander’s at Jg; Mr J. B. Sutton's at lg ; Mr Lloyd sold a four-tooth at Ig. All the Shropshire Downs were withdrawn,