SALE OF RUNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1427, 29 March 1879, Page 5

SALE OF RUNS.

On the 20th at the Waste Lands Board Office, Mr R. B. Martin, Government auctioneer, offered the leases for 10 years of a number of runs by auction. There was an attendance of about 30 gentlemen, mainly iunholders and gtock and station agents. Before the sale was begun, Mr Martin stated that present improvemen's on tbe runs to be offered would be valued one month before posietsion to the incoming tenant was given, wbich -would be on the Ist April, 1880. Tbe conditions of sale were read, and the auction proceeded with the following results : — Bun 421 a, Obau district ; approximate acreage, 14,000 acres ; upset rental. LIOO. — Hon. Robert Campbell, at upset, without competition. Kun 421, Ohau district, 14,600 acres ; upsf t, Lloo.— Hon. Kobert Campbell at upset,without competition. Eun 424, Waikaia, 11,650 acres; upset, Ll2o.— The bidding fa* this run advanced from the upset principally by L 5 bids (LI bids being allowed) tiJl L 255 was reached, being conducted between Mr Henry Driver (for Mr J. Mackellar) and Mr D. H. Mervyn. Mr Driver stopped at L 250, and Mr Mervyn having bid L 255, and apparently, after a pause, j imagining tbat such bid was against him, advanced bis offer to L 260. Mr Martin knocked I the run down at this price, but Mr Mervyn disputed thb bid, and would not acknowledge it. Some little discussion arose, a numbtr of ' gentlemen testifying that Mr Mervyn's bid was L 260, and the affair result el in Mr Marcin putting the run up afresh, and refusing to accept Mr Mervyn's bid "for the run ia question," in accordance with the option left in his hands by the terms of sale. Mr Driver again offered the upset price. Mr Mervyo : "If you will take my bid Iwi 1 give you L 200." Auctioneer : " No, I wi 1 not take your bid f< r this run." It was then km eked down lo Mr Driver, for Mr John Mackellar, at Ll2O, the upset. Run 424 a, Waikaia, 6150 acres ; upsft, L6O. —Henry Driver, for JosephCUrke, LlO2. Mr Meivyu was the opposing bidder. Run 425b, Waikaia, 16,800 acres ; upset, Lloo.— Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, L 205. Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder. In regard to both the last-mentioned runs, Mr Driver objected to the bid of Mr Mervyn being taken, alleging that he was a defaulter, with whom the auctioneer might deal according to the condition which stated " it wi 1 be optional with the auctioneer to refu«e to accept the bid of such defaulter for tbe run in question." He said it was very hard that a bonafide bidder should be at the mercy of one who came on purr, O3e to run up the bidding, and who, when a lot was knocked down to him at a big price, ra fused to take it. — Mr Mervyn challenged Mr Driver to allow one of the lots to be knocked dowrfto him.— Mr Martin decided that he had no power to refuse Mr Mervyn's bid, except for I the run over which the dispute had arisen. Run 426, Manipori Lake, 3000 acres ; upset, Lso.— Passed. Run 427, Waiau River, 3000 acres ; upset, L4O. — F. Daniels, upset. Ruu 428, Waikaia, 10,000 acres ; upset, L7O. —Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, L 220. Mr Mervyn was the opposing; bidder. Run 429 a, Obau, 24,000 acres ; upset, Ll2O, —Donald Reid, for T. C. Hill, upset. Run 429aa, Ohau, 15,500 acres ; upset L9O. —Donald Reid, for T. C, Hill, upset. ■ Run 429b, Ohau, 9300 acres ; upbet, L6o.— Hon. Robert Campbell, upset. Run 430 a, Hawea, 8400 acres j upset, L6O. — Heory Driver, for D. M'Gregor, up&efc. Run 430b, Hawea, 5300 acres ; upset, L 35. — E Spence, for C. Colquhomi, upset. Run 431, Greenstone, 15,000 acres } upset, LSO — Paßsed. Run 433, Hawea, 7500 acres ; upset, L 55. — William Fraser, upset. Run 437, Earnscleugh, 12,000 acres ; up«t, L6o.— Strode and Fraser, L 235. Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder. Run 416, Wakatip, 74,000 acres ; upset, Ll3o.— Passed. Run 423b, Nokomai, 10,000 acres; up<et, LSO. — James Gall, up3tt. Run 423 a, Noli omai, 6000 acres ; upset, LSO. — Passec*. Run 436, Waikaia, 34,500 acres ; upset, Llßo.— Papsed. Run 436 a, Waikaia, 28,500 acres; up3et, Llso.— Pasted. Run 418, Greenstone, 30,000 acres ; upset, L6o.— Passed.