SALE OF STUD SHEEP AT WINDSOR PARK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 6

SALE OF STUD SHEEP AT WINDSOR PARK.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. report as follows : —The great sale of purebred stud sheep—Lincolns, Border and English Leices-, ters, and Shropshire Downs —the property of the noted breeder, Mr E. Menlove, of Windsor Park estate, Oamaru, took place last week, and it is with much regret that we have to say that it proved an almost complete failure, very little business being done, notwithstanding that everything that it was possible to do to make it a success had been done. The sale was amply announced by advertisements in all the leading papers in Australia and New Zealand and otherwise, and it was fully anticipated, in view of the enthusiastic manner in which our Australian neighbours have at length set their hearts upon obtaining a largor share of the frozen meat trade, that many flocfcowners on that continent would have come across to obtain a supply of the various breeds of stud sheep which are grown in this colony to such perfection and at such a moderate cost to them —stud sheep of these classes having been a main factor in the production of mutton which, for quality, is not equalled by any country outside of Britain itself. That buyers from Australia and the North Island did not put in an appearance can only be attributed to the pressure of the times, the low values of all colonial and the stringency of the market. That our Australian friends will require New Zealand bred sheep to improve their flocks was evidenced by the fact that representatives of several large firms on “the other side” were present at Mr Menlove’s sale soliciting consignments for the Sydney sales ; and taking all the circumstances into account, it must have been extremely dishear boning to our client, Mr Menlove, to find that the excellent arrangements he had made for his sale, and considering his high reputation as a breeder of stud sheep, had been made to little purpose. Coming to the sale itself, the day was beautifully fine, and everything was ready for the transaction of business at the time appointed; in fact, the penning arrangements and the facilities for inspection were better than we have seen even at any of the organised fairs ; but, although from 400 to 500 persons wore present, the most of them could not have had other business than to partalco of Mr Monlove’s hospitality, and to soo for thomsolvos the Windsor Parle stock. Tho shoop woro all in superb condition, excepting tho ono-shbar Lincoln ilock rams, which,, although in good working order, woro not so “pinlc” as tho othor sheep submitted on tho occasion. As regards tho bidding, little remains to bo said, for although tho auctioneer intimated that Mr Monlovo was determined to sell at prices in keeping with tho times, only an occasional bid was forthcoming, and then, with one solitary exception, at values little moro than one-half of those current a year ago. The sheep unsold remain for private sale. Tho fow horses offered realised ourront values. The following is a list of the shoop salos: —

2400 purobred sheep wore offered, consisting of: Lincolns, 1240 (700 owes and 540 rams); Border Loioosiors, 350 (150 owes and 200 rams); English Loioosters, 200 (100 owes and 100 rams); Shropshire Downs, 610 (400 ewes and 210 rains): grand total, 2400. The following aro the sales :- — I.TNCOLNB. One one-shear stud ram, 45gs, to Mr A. H. Storey, Auckland. One one-shoar stud ram, 7i'gs, to Mr A. 11. Storey, Auckland. One ono-sliear stud ram, 7-lga, to Mr A. 11. Storey, Auckland. Twenty one-shear flock rams, 2gs, Mr Mostyn Jones. Five one-shoar flock rams, 2gs, to Mr Thomas Stonhouso. Ten one-shear owes, 3ga, to Mr E. Wallace. Ten one-shear ewes, 23gs, to Mr H. Evans. Twenty two-shear owes, 2.jgs, to M. A. C. Lang. BORDER LEICKSTERS. Five one-shoar rams, 2gs, to Mr W. Seth Smith. ENGLISH LEICEBTERS. Twenty one-shear stud ewes, 2£gs, to Mr John Martin. Thirty one-shoar stud ewes, 2;]rgs, to Mr John Martin. SHROPSHIRE DOWNS. Five one-shear rams, to Mr W. Seth Smith.

Mr J. W. Taverner, Victorian Minister of Agriculture, told a deputation of dairymen that the colony would bo best served by the abolition of the office of AgentGeneral and the substitution of a staff of experts to supervise the Victorian produce on the London market. He further said that he intended to consult the other colonies with the View of inducing them to devote some of the money paid for mail contracts to providing better accommodation for the export of produce. The present rates, he said, were absurdly high.