SALE OF CANTERBURY RUNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9379, 31 May 1889, Page 5

SALE OF CANTERBURY RUNS.

[BY TKLEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION , .] TuiARU, Thursday. The sale of runs in South Cnnterbury, held here to-day, drew together everyone closely connected with the pastoral interest in the district, and not a few from a distance. Except by the present lessees, who were forced to oft'er high rents in order to retain their holdings, the results of the sale seem satisfactory. All the country consists of high or lower mountain ranges, and minor hills ranging from the precipitous spurs of the Southern Alps to rounded downs at the bases of the foothills, with the shingly Mackenzie Plain and patches of shingly land. All were competed for, except one or two runs, the present holders of which are well known to be very well-to-do, and not likely to yield their holdings for the sake of a few hundreds a-year. The runs on the sunny side of the Mackenzie County were also well competed for, but one on the plain and all the rougher and colder ones on the west side were knocked down to the present holders at the upset price. Ten found no bidders at all. These lie on the wrong side of the Tasman rabbit fence, and further south in the Vincent County and Lake County. The aggregate upset of these unsold runs was £197. The aggregate of 54 sold was £20,755. Of these 24 were competed for, and their aggregate upset of £9060 raised to £16,930, an increase of £7870. Only three of the present holdings, and fi portion of a fourth, change tenants as a result of the sale, these being No. 4, Peel Forest station ; 47, Otoai station ; 48, 49, 50, Waimate ; and 69, part of Holdon. The sale passed off well, very good feeling being shown, the old settlers being warmly applauded us they went up to sign the sale list. To this there was, however, one exception. George Rutherford, a North Canterbury settler, outbid the present holder of No. 47, Otaro, 15,000 acres, at £670, the upset being £485. A few questions were asked of Mr. Baker, the Chief Commissioner of Lande, who conducted the sale, and among the replies he stated the public have no right-of-way over pastoral holdings. They must keep to the roads laid out on the Government maps, or to tracks defined on the ground, and recognised and generally used as thoroughfares. Miners, however, have a right-of-way.