MASTERTON RAM FAIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7056, 18 February 1910, Page 10

MASTERTON RAM FAIR

QUALITY ENSURES GOOD VALUE. FICTITIOUS PRICE FOR FLOCK BAMS. EXCITING SALE 01? GIFT RAM. from ouit BrECiAL kefokteh. MVSTEKTON, February. 17. The Masterton A. and P. Association commenced its ram lair to-day. and tho Iji" Wairaraia sheep auction was conducted under the most favourable ausnices. There was a large entry by representative breeders; the attendance was large, many of those present navm.; come trom tar afield; there i\Sbu rains under offer, and the atmospheric, conditions were ideal. 'Hie excellent arrangements went without a hitch. A MODEL FAIB. It is not too much to say that /lie strilciug success of the -Masterton fair—it is probably the most popular in this island—is in large measure due to the splendid method of management, though the fact that it is held immediately after Wairarapa's fine autumn show is a contributing factor in its success. It was remarked to the writer by a man who lias attended the principal ram fairs of the Dominion that at no other fair are the arrangements so complete. The great bulk of the sheep, flocks as well as studs, are offered, singly; each sheep is numbered with a round tin ticket attached to its back wool; as each sheep enters the 'ring its number is chalked up on a board facing the auctioneers, and at the back of the ring; and the buyers! are seated on. raised seats around the ring in which the animal or animals being sold are shown. In fact, everything is done to facilitate the sale, and to study tho convenience of vendors and purchasers. The Masterton Society intends to make its ram sale pavilion on its new Solway grounds superior to anything of the kind m the Dominion. A special building is,to be constructed, which it is expected will be the last word in tlJe design of such a structure. Then the new showgrounds being alongside the railway and large holding paddocks being available, the tale rams will be able to reach the fair without risk to loss of bloom or condition. Prior to commencement of io-<S;\y» proceedings Mr R. Cooper, of Messrs Abraham and Williams, remarked that the fair would be the last to be held on the present grounds. The Masterton A. and P. Society was not a wealthy body, and it was being called upon to spend a tremendous amount of money on its new grounds in the shape 01 buildings. Though not an affluent or ganisation a member of the committee had very well described its strength when he said that what, it lacked in funds it made up by the' spUncnw asset it possessed in the enthusiasm of its members. Many friends of thxj society had given stock to be sold at the forthcoming fair in order to raise some of the money needed by the society, and now Mr VV". li. Allen had presented the society with a stud ltomuey ram to be so.d that day. • EXCITING GIFT SALE.

The sale of Mr Allen's gift ram pro. videil an exciting scene. It took p.ace during the sale of Roinney studs in the afternoon. It is a four-tooth by a ram imported by Mr Allen, and described by him as having a pedigree nearly a hundred years old. It is a nice i«mgood frame, fine wool, very fair head and good cars. Its pedigree was athann for tiie purchaser. In offering the ram, Mr Cooper announced that ii the purchaser desired the ram could be put up again. This hint was at once availed of.. The bids rapidly rose to twenty guineas, the purchaser, Mr J. Strang, announcing, amidst applause, that tile sheep was for offer again. Then tile -excitement commenced. It was knocked down in rapid succession to the' following:—!;. J. Riddiford, lOgs; A. J: StoneWigg, lOgs, Q. Donald, lCgs; G. Allen, lOgs; D. McKenzie, lOgs; \W Beetbani, lOgs; McLaren, lOgs; John Bid will, lOgs; Dagg,' sgs; S. McLeod, sgs; McGregor Bros., sgs; and J. McLeay, sgs. Tins made .fillG donated to the society by the purchasers. The "last purchaser, Mr Percy, secured the ram at sgns, which brought the addition to the society's Solway fund, by means of Mr Allen's gift, up to .£l2l ss. DEAR FLOCK RAMS.

At the Hastings ram fair, the first of the season, the prices given for Roiuney flocks reached a remarkably high level. Thoy went up to 18gs. Of course these prices were realised for flocks bred by stud breeders, but not by leading studniasters. The men who obtained these extreme values had been prepared to accept 2gs or 3gs for the sheep. ' It is obvious that anything much above Ggs for a flock rum is largely fictitious, as the return isTnot always.there, even supposing wool maintains its present level of value. '.The unsatisfactory position .of .murton and lamb and tlic satisfactory position of cross-bred wool i 9 no doubt responsible for the appreciation ill value of the hardy, long-wool breed, but on tile Hawke's hay flock ram values it would appear as though the purchasers had been lamb fattening, and desiring to go in more for wool production were ready to pay anything for the necessary rams, without considering their economic value.

It was anticipated that prices for Romney flocks at Masterton to-day rrould follow the Hawke's Bay lead, out the prophets had reckoned without consideration of the fact_that buyers at Masterton know the noinney and the true value of the flock ram. ' True, high prices were occasionally given to-day for Hock,rams, and in some cases the purchasers will never get. value for cueir money, but the sheep were from the leading breeders, and were> of a good type. Generally purchasers' were keenly discriminating-, pen after pen being passed without eliciting a bid. In the case of the Riddiford flocks 20}gs was actually paid, the lowest price being 7gs. A flock ram bred by G. E. Sykes (the show secretary) went to 91gs, and one by W,' Gibson to lOgs. the average of the' rest was about sgs. Several were sold at 2Jgs. WHERE FEED COMES IN. It was noticeable throughout the sale that ranis which were in prime condition—fed something more than grass—- ■ Mid brought out in attractive style, captured the fancy of the most critical <u«l often realised values above their intrinsic worth. THE SALE. . The flocks were taken first,.

lialf a. minute being allowed for bidding lor flock and two minutes fox stud rains. No initial bid und'ar 5 guineas was taken iu the case of studs, a rule laid down by the sociaty, Mr Cooper remarking that a sheep which was not worth t> guineas had no right to fee classed a u stud. The first ]iac of flocks wore, all passed at 23gs to sgs. Nothing Letter than, 23gs was offered in the next line, and several of them were parted with at -igs. The next collection did better. They were the rams of A. and J. Gray. Several wene passed,at 3igs, but from Iga to flgs were realised for the bulk. The next line did not appeal to the farmer. Two vault at lg ami l|gs. The first decani; values ware made by G. E. Sykes, who secured 5-igs for one to Guy Williams, and so/til tlie otlver four to Jlr Bectham at SJ.gs, Cgs, 7gs, and Tigs. Two more lines i'&ivd badlv. Home sold up to 32gs, but the others went out. \V. Gibson's rams found mere favour. One went at a reserve of 10 ;s to J. I.'-. Lowes, and others to the tame buyer at 6sgs, Gg 5 , anil iJss. Three more realised -tigs, sjgs, and s!gs.. J. P. Lowes gave rhe good prices of ilgs and s}gs for two pens of five. The next lot. ottered were passed in, offers up to ljgs being refused. \V. B. Alien received no otters for threa rams and sold one at -iJgs to J.P. Lowes. J"- G. Oates so'.d -some very well ivoollcd t/aeep at from ijgs to digs, refusing 3{f;s to 3'es for the remainder. Of ten rams of J. MuLeod two were passed nt offers, of sgs to sJgs. the others being >old at fi'om sgs to Gigs. Tho following line wa.'s passed at oii'ers of 25gs, good values, AA . C. Dorset sold 9 single rams lit from. 4-Jgs to Gigs, a pen of five goiug at 3gs. AV. 11. Buick sold live at from 3jgs to 4Jgs, one being jia-'.-ed in at 3jgs. McGregor secured good prices, five rams selling at Gigs, Gjgs, s}gs, Gigs, and Tigs, and lihree pen;- of five at Gigs, G}gs and Tgs. .'Four rams of AV. H. Buick went a l . *"*• f'igSi Gfcs. and Sigs, and n pen if five a-t r,gs. G. E. Sykes made sgs. Gigs, Gigs Gigs and 95gs. Some AY. H. Buick rams realised from Igs to 4|gs. Earns of C. B. Pharazyn sold at from 2-lgs to 2jgs, and a. number were passed. The majority of a line of AV. C. Dorset's were passed, several going at 2gs to 3gs. A :rani of B. 11. Slack was sold at 33gs, tlw; others being passed. This breeder made up to 9gs for his flocks at Hastings. Easily the best eale of flocks was that of" E. J- Eiddiford's, and they were good wheep, well made and covered with an excellent dense iteece, the principal dffeot being a want of Eonmcy character in the head. They sold: Tgs to Nitz Bros., lljgs to Eglington, TJgs to Beetham, Sigs to Beetham, Tgs to Wall. 13gs to W. Ferry, 20Jgs to Mitchell I (Marten),' 9igs to Mitchell, 13Jgs to E. Eagle, digs to AVall, T3gs to McLeod, 9Jgs to Eglington, Tigs to Wall, and 7jgs to Dalgleish for a very nice pen of five. Perhaps the beat sheep was that secured by Eglinigtoji at lljgs. , The studs produced nothing sensational in, the way of prices, and though good values wore secured for several, a number of E. 3. Eiddiford's were the cheapest rams sold during the day. The finest ram offered was one of W. L. Ro,yner's, wlaioh was passed at 19gs. One of E. R. Sykes' went to an Auckland buyer at' 12gs. A ram of G. Wheeler's was passed at 15gs. W. H. Buick sold ..two at Tgs and Tigs. Three of G. E. Allen's were passed at 7gs, 15gs being, wanted. One offered for W. Rayner, which was one of a first} prize pair at Palmerston, wias passed ac 9gs, and another at 'Bigs. The first good sale was! that of W. Perry's, 40gs for the v.h.c, oaie>-shoar ram at tho show to J.Tathani. W. Reid, Makino, gave 21gs for on© of the first prize pen of two. The third vent at lligs to Russell and Swanson., SHverstreain. W. B. Allen sold one at lOgs. Gray Bros, made 13gs fox one. to W. Mitchell aind 9igs for another to Mr Fraaer, three being passed. Two of. T. P. Allew's want at slgs. Six good rams of W. C. Dorset made from sgs to Bgs, one at 7jgs being a cheap animal. McGregor Bros, i-eeoivod an offer of 15ss for a ram they wanted lOgs for. Holmes Warren received Gigs, 6Jgs, GSgs, Gigs auid Tgs, one being third prize tal.-er.' at the show. AV. Gibson, Kiwitea, ]'.«ceived the excelleinit price of 29gs for it good framed sheep with a rather plain long head. McGregor Bros, secured another at 17gs, a better type—low sot, good build and better head. Four others sold at from Ggs to Bgs. 3. H. McKemjio paid ITgs for a ram of G. E. Altan'/s. Two others wore - passed in. AV. B. A)Jen sold a ram bred by E. AV. Alkin, at.r lugs, a cheap sheep. Five of Gray ;3rothers' ra<uis weTe passed a,t sgs. Tlte eleven Uiddiford studs sold: McGregor Bros., two at Gigs, one at Ggs, two at s|gs, and one at sgs. E. AA T . Reid paid 35gs for an exoelleht rani for which...' there was keen competition. A'cheap one went at Tgs, and A. McKay got a 1 >argain for 6gs. Halliburton paid 9gs a.».<f R. E.'.gle sfgs. These rams were womck rfully wellwoolled, being particulairiy fjood oil the back.','.AA'. Rayner nold a, rain at 18gs, and two others at Ggs and' 7gs. Not a bid was forthcoming for five of Holmes AVarrem's. For liis first pn' ze-taker as a two-tooth at last year's M? .eterton Show W Perrv obtained 26gs f rom Mitchell, of Marttan. Two of AV. H. _ Buick's were passed, as were two*' of AA r . B. Allen's, though Sigs and Wgt\ were offered. For two one-shear of W; I'ea-ry's Wigs and 1 lHgs were paid, thij former price being given by E. J. Ri'ldiford.