RAM AND EWE FAIR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1196, 1 February 1895, Page 5

RAM AND EWE FAIR.

The annual Ram and Ewe Fair under the auspices of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on the Show Grounds, Petone, on Jan. 23. The entries numbered over 1200, or about equal to last year’s, and included consignments from the flocks of some of the most noted breeders in the North and South Islands, such as the Hon M. Holmes, of Oamaru; Messrs Menlove, Little and Reid, of South Canterbury; Messrs Stuckey, Eglington, Riddiford, Fitzherbert, C. Pharazyn, Elgar, H. Campbell, A. C. Lang and Jillett, of the Wellington district. The attendance was good, but buyers were not numerous, and consequently bidding was slow in the forenoon, but became brisker later on, when several lots that had been passed in earlier in the day were sold privately. About one half the sheep catalogued were disposed of.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency report of the sale as under : We held our annual Ram and Ewe Fair at the Show Grounds, Petone, when a catalogue comprising about 1200 rams and ewes was submitted, of which our proportion was about 900, and we quitted under the hammer and sold privately about oner-half of the entries. The attendance was fairly large, but from the first is was noticeable that buyers appeared to be in the minority, and this was borne out by the fact of large numbers of lots being passed in without eliciting a bid. In sympathy with everything else prices showed a decided drop since last year, and the demand for rams of undenoted breed was limited. A general opinion was expressed that it would possibly be more suitable if a later date was fixed upon, but this matter is entirely in tbe hands of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association, who doubtless have given the question of date every consideration. Best prices obtained were for one 4-tooth Romney Marsh on account of the Hon Matthew Holmes which fell to the nod of Mr A. Matthews, of Featherston, at 28 guineas; one stud 4-tooth Romney, on account of Mr John Reid, of Elderslie, at 12 guineas, purchased by Mr J. Martin. Two very £fine Romneys, the property of Mr A. C. Lang realised 10 guineas each.

Appended are the results of the sale— On account of Mr Charles Tringham, Pigeon Bush—B2 Romney Marsh (2-tooth), 1£ guineas. On account of Mr E. J. Riddiford, Lower Hutt —4 Romney Marsh rams, 3£ guineas ; 7 Romney Marsh rams, 3 guineas ; 4 Romney Marsh rams, 2£ guineas ; 1 Lincoln ram, 3 guineas. On account of Messrs Best Bros., Ohariu—s9 Romney Marsh rams, 1 guinea; 12 Romney Marsh rams, i guinea. On account of Hon M. Holmes, Oamaru—--1 6-tooth Romney Marsh ram, 15 guineas ; 1 4-tooth Romney Marsh ram, 28 guineas. On account of Mr Geo. C. Wheeler, Halcombe — 1 Romney Marsh, 6 guineas ; 7 Romney Marsh, 3 guineas; 4 Romney Marsh, 2£ guineas. On account of Mr John Reid—--1 Romney Marsh ram, 12 guineas ; 1 Romney Marsh, ram, 11 guineas ; 1 Lincoln ram, 10 guineas ; 1 Romney Marsh ram, 7 guineas ; 1 Romney Marsh ram, 6 guineas ; 1 Romney Marsh ram, 5| guineas ; 3 Romney Marsh rams, 5 guineas; 2 Lincoln rams, 4 guineas ; 10 Lincoln rams, 3f guineas ; 2 Romney Marsh rams, 3 guineas]; 9 Border Leicester rams, 3 guineas ; 17 Lincoln rams, 2£ guineas. On account of Mr Charles Elgar, Featherston —8 Border Leicester rams, 2$ guineas. On account of Mr James Stuckey—s Southdown rams, 2 guineas. On account of Mr Roderick Mcßae, Nelson—l2 Romney Marsh ram lambs, 1 guinea. On account of Mr Wm. Jillett, Borirua—3 Romney Marsh rams, 1£ guineas; 22 Romney Marsh rams, 1 guinea,

On account of Mr W. A. Fitzherbert, Lower Hutt On account of Mr Charles Pharazyn, Featherston —24 Romney Marsh, at 2 guineas. On account -of Mr Thomas Tanner, Havelock, Hawke’s Bay 1 Lincoln, 15 guineas; 4 Lincolns, 5 guineas; 5 Leicester-Lincolns, 2 guineas ; 20 Lincolns, 33s ; 15 Leicester-Lincolns, 30s. On account of Mr A. C. Lang, Oamaru—2 Romney Marsh, 10 guineas. On account of Messrs Scales and Mowbray—3 Southdowns, If gunieas. On account of MrF. \V. Smith —2 Romney-English Leicesters, 1 guinea. On account of Mr E. Menlove, Windsor Park, Oamaru—4 Lincolns, 3% guineas ; 4 Linc'olns, 555.' On account of Mr R. Cobb, Palmerston North—--2 Romney Marsh, 4 guineas ; 9 Romney Marsh, 2f guineas; 9 Romney Marsh, 2\ guineas.

A. Gr. TainTS - ”aki) Co', report of the Earn and Ewe Fair as under Owing to the late fall in wool and mutton, and the generally unsatisfactory state of the sheep market, a considerable reduction kadtobe-mado bysellers on last year’s values in order to induce any business. We catalogued over 300, and sold on account of Mr P. Mungavin, stud Eomney rams at 10 guineas and 4 guineas, and flock rams at 2\ guineas ; for Mr T P. Allan, Waiwetu, stud rams at 5£ guineas ; for Mr H. Eglinton, Romney rams at 2£ guineas ; for Mr Beach, Ohariu, Romney at 11 guineas ; for Mr W;-Bryant 'Ohariu, 25 Romney rams at 1 guinea, in a line ; for Messrs A. and C. Crawford, f.m. Southdown rams at 1| and 1| guineas ; and for others, a number of Romney rams at from 1 to 1£ guineas. There was a general feeling amongst both buyers and sellers that the sale early .

Mr Henry Eglington, Lower Hutt, sold a line of 100 pure-bred Romney Marsh rams to Mr Harrison, manager., for. . Messrs Joseph and Phillips, Dry River Stdti'oh,'a day'or two ago, at a satisfactory price. • •