RIVERSDALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 20

RIVERSDALE.

May 9.-One of the largest and most important sales of land that has taken place i m Southland for many years was held at the J3nll Hall Riversdale, on Tuesday last. When on behalf of the School Commissioners of Otago Mr A. J, Pease offered the leases of some 11,000 acres in 'lots varying from sto 3a3 acres. The agn cultur #Jf ß °? were for 21 years, and the grazing sections, of wMch there were five totalling B<sb a .cres, were leases for 14 years. There was a very large^attendance of farmers and others interested, probably about 400, and the greatest interest was taken in the sale of the riverside sections. The bidding throughout ; was spirited, and the auctioneer ■ in a remarkably short time had placed tf Mb, 13 sections being passed without eliciting bids, in

reference to this it mny be explained that these 13 sections are on terrace land, or plains -Ou which there is no water. Aiwater race is shown on the plan, but the Commissioners make no promise, to bring in water. They unsuccessfully endeavoured to get the County Council tolirrigate these plains. The commissioners have b.een slow to move in opening up these lands, professing not to see or know of a demand for the land. The sale under review should convince them that land for settlement in this district is in good demand. Prior to commencing the sale the auctioneer remarked that as a rule he took it to be the duty of an auctioneer to obtain from bidders the last fractionbut there certain exceptions to this rule, and this was one. In days gone by they had all seen the folly of paying to. much for the land. What he wished to see that Jday, , and what the Commissioners wished to see, was the 'sections leased at a fair. value,, so that those seeking farms might make homes for themselves antM amilies. He would ! specially urge upon them hot to run away with the idea that the land was worth more than a certain price. He would like to strongly impress upon them not to loss their heads, but simply to 'give what was fair 'and honest value for the land ■and notacent.iinore. It was not his intention or desire to .draw bids from them by any artifice or by too highly speaking of the capabilities of the land. He wished ,to ccc it settled by sturdy yeomen, who would not only work it with satisfaction to themselves, but would also be a credit to the district and the colony at large. Before giving the particulars of the sale it may be mentioned that the upsets were evenly and fairly fixed, but free and unfavourable comments were made at theso^Tiot being made public until the day of the sale. The result of the sale was as follows :— ■ Block IV.— Wbndonside District. RealSection. Purchaser. TJpset. ised. a. r. p. s, d. s. d. 1 N258 322 W. Hall 13 16 2 2952 3 Passed 1 3 3 300 0 0 do. 13 4 255 322 do. 16 5 '298 0 0 Hall Brothers 16 2 6 6 294 3 9 do. 2 0 3 7 722500 do. 1616 8 225 0 0 Passed 1 3 ,9 295 0 0 do. 1 0 10 286 213 do. 0 9 a 9 11 260 2 0 do. 0 9 12 260 3 0 do. 0 9 13 2830 29 do. 0 9 . 14 299 2 0 do. 0 9 . 15 180 0 0 do. 0 9 16 176 3 5 D. Baldwin 0 9 0 9 17 222 024 Passed 0 9 1 18 267 0 0 do. 10 19 314 024 W. Henderson 13 3 2 I 20 233 314 F. Gerkin 10 3 7 21 240 233 J. Gerkin 0 9 2 7 22 203 1 36 P. Barrett 10 10 Block V. Wendonside. 1 139 3 0 W.Mortimer 30> 9 2 2 160 3 0 do. 3 0 8 0 3 150 0 0 W. Hall 2 0 610 4 217 032 do. 3 0 4 3 5 134 227 W. M' Allan 2 6 301 6 164 0 0 G.H. Horrell 2 6 6 1 7 192 2 0 W. Hall 2 6 6 6 8 173 121 W. Simpson 2 6 3 8 9 160 1 9 do. 2 6 3 3 10 70 127 S. Clark 2 0 3 4 11 19(5 3 8 J. Smith 16 2 4 12 212 216 do. - 2 6 2 8 13 182 318 S. Butler 2 6 2 7 14 264 219 J. Ferris 2 6 2 6 15 261 230 W. Fremain 2 6 210 1« 149 I' 9R. Miller 10 10 17 158 313 J. Keith 10 10 Wendon District. i Real5.,81k. Area.. Purchaser. Upset, ised. a. r. pi s. d. s. d. 2IV 333 120 J. Keith 13 17 3IV 85 035 D. Gillanders 10 10 Part of •- - 20, IX 50 -0 G. Evans 100 0 100 0 ' Wendonside. 24 ; — 18 022 do. 1 0 Hokonui District. Parts of ' 444 — S2OBO 0 R. Yardley 10 10 145 — J ■ do. 158 2 0 P. Elstori 2 0 3 0 103 0 0 G.Marshall 3 0 3 0 1310 0 W.Sinclair 3 0 3 2 Part of 220— 230 0 0 J. Shuttleworth 2 6 2 6 871 Q S- Jones 2 0 411 i Waikaia Coal Area. Pad; of 10 111 7 2 0 A. Daplyn 40 0 40 0