STOCK SALE AT COLAO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1418, 25 January 1879, Page 4

STOCK SALE AT COLAO.

The sixth annual sale oi pure-bred shorthorned and Hereford cattle, bred by Messrs. Robertson Brothers, took place at the Hill station, near Oolac, on the 2nd January, and as is usually the case, there was a large attendance of gentlemen interested^ cattle breeding. A special train, which left Melbourne at twenty minutes past six o'clock in the morning, conveyed nearly 200 visitors, and there were altogether present at least 500 persons. Messrs Robertson Brothers' hospitality was unbounded, and Messrs Bennett and Son, of Geeiong, who provided the excellent luncheon which preceded the Bale, are to be complimented on the manner in which they executed their coma i'sion. The sale commenced about one o'clock, and Mr Charles Lynott, salesman to Messrs R. Gibson and Co,, officiated with the hammer. Before starting he 'announced that all lota offered would be disposed of without reserve, and that promise was not departed from. Amongsb the visitors were many of the leading breeders from New South Wales, Sout%Australia, Queensland and New Zealand, and one gentleman from the latter Colony (Mr O. Simpson) was an active bidder. It was evident from the first that prices would not be anj thing approaching those of former years, and the result of the sale went to show that that cot only is money scarce, but that the days of fancy prices for stud stock are practically over. The first lots offered were nine stud shorthorned bulls, which fetched a total of £1050, or an average of £116 I'M 4d. All these animals were of most at istocratie breeding. Last; year the same clits of animals were disposed of at an average of £792 15* a-piece. Seven shorthorned cows fetched £1391 ss, the average beiog lI9S 15a. Seventy-one Bhorbhorned bulls and thirty-three heifers of the same breed were then put up, and realised an average of £17 5a 3d for bulls, and £34 2a 7d for heifers, bidding being remarkably slack. A large draft of Hereford cows and hei f era was also disposed of at cheap rates, the average being £6 8s 6d per head, a price in many instances less than could be obtained in the market for butchering purposes ; in all 228 head of cattle were sold, the total receipts being £5481 10s 6d. Last year 401 head were quitted, and on that ocoasion the proceeds amounted to £25,611 23. The stud bulls were almost without exception splendid specimens of their kind, and their excellent condition and quiet demeanour spoke volumes for those who had been entrusted with the care of them. The highest price realised was paid by Mr W. J. Winter, of Stanhope, who gave 275 guineas for the 26th Puke of Perriraut;, a too aemijeable,

looking youog beast, by Oxford Cherry Duke, from the second Duchess of Derrimut. Mr W. J. Clarke, of Sunbury, secured a beautiful heifer, the 20th DuohefS of Derrimut, for 350 guineas, and two other animals of the ( same class fell to the bid of Mr A. E. Willis, j the secretary for agriculture, who bought j them for the Government Experimental j Farm at Dookie. Another fine heifer was sold for 300 guineas, the purchaser again j being Mr W. J. Clarke. Bidding throughout was exceedingly slack, several of the best , lots being; passed in without any offer beingmade. — Melbourne Age.