THE WAIKAKAHI SALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 7

THE WAIKAKAHI SALE.

Th« tented opulence of a gold-rush township or of a country fair springing to life, like a mushroom, in a single night, is the nearest appreciable simile one can get (says the Oam aru Mail) for the unique appearance presented by the Waikakahi station homestead and its precincts on Wednesday. The catering was in the hands of Mr W Bee, and one can say at once that this department, under Mr Keys's management, had been thoroughly and methodically organised. His army comprised 20 waiters, 4 cooks, 8 washersup, and 4 barmen. To feed the multitude* as a first instalment, there hacl been provided 30001b of meat, 500 loaves of bread, uncountable potatoes and apple pies, an alarming pyramid of tins of biscuits, sundries innumerable, 10 hogsheads of beer, 40 gallons of whisky, and 20 dozen each of lemonade and ginger beer, in quarts — not forgetting the insidious soda, and supplies of other wines and spirits. Everything, one may here mention, was free, Mr M'Lean having spared no expense to provide for the comfort of visitors, whom he wished to consider as his personal guests. The principle of free drinks was one which met with universal approval, and it was, on all hands, considered so successful as to merit its general adoption. The barmen were a little uncomfortable at first, feeling, from unconscious habit, that there was something left undone when no money was forthcoming, and having an uneasy conviction that the house was " making itself popular " far too freely. However, with the übiquitous Mr Keys at the helm, the privilege wm not in any way abused, and, indeed, the bar was treatod with a moderation which showed that the majority of those present had come, not for a free picnic, but on bupiness bent. The one or two inevitable hangers-on whose mission was purely "beer"' were promptly singled out and " blocked."

All the sheep sold well, especially good prime owes and wethers. The four-year-old ewes went cheap, but they fetched a fair oveiage, sustained throughout the lot. The Lincoln rams sold cheaply, there being a largo range in the price. The half-bred rams elicited the keennst competition, but here also tho price ranged from 55s for the first pick of 20 down to 6s 6d. The lambs sold splendidly, tho bulk of the fat going to the dealers for freezing purposes. The aheeD realised a total of about £35.000. The following are the results of tho sale : — FAT BHESP. Two-tooth crossbred wethers.— 672B, W. Grant, 13b 6d ; 1500. J. Meehan, 12s 8d; £03, John Hopkinu, 12s Sd. Two-tooth crossbred gwgs. — 7874, JV. Grant, 13s 4d ; 500, Bruce Bros., 11s 7d; 1900, S. Mackenzie, 13 b 2d; 525, A. Orbell, 11s. FAT LAMBS. ?.000, A. M 'Ritchie, 10s 8d; 1000, T. Mitchell, 10s 6d : 7200, J. Randall, 10s 6d ; 1000, M'Hardie, 10<i 6d; 2000, S. Mackenzie, 10s 6d : 500, A. M 'Ritchie, 10s 7d. SrOHE LAMBS. 6183, W. Grant, 7s lOd; 500, W. Noyle, 6s Id; 800, D. Scott, 6s; 2200, J. Drennan, 6s Id. FLOCK EWES. Four-tooth crossbred ewes. — 400, H. M'Gregor, 11s 7d ; 1000, H. Corbett 11s 7d ; 100, T. L. Hart, lls 6d; 500. S. Wilson, 11s 4d ; 600, Horslcy, lls 4d ; 300, John Hanley, lls ; 200, P. Crow, 10s 9d ; 700, W. Gardiner, 10s 8d ; 100, J. Hanley, 10s Sd ; 1000, Blackley, 10s 7d; 300, Ryan, 10s 3d;- 500, H. Corbett, 10s 3d ;' 200, H. M'Gregor, 10s 3d ; 200, P. Burke, 10s 3d; 200, Stoddart, 10s 2d; 1250, W. Hay, 10s 3d; 3909, A. W Bennett, 10s 3d. Six-tooth crossbred ewes — 300, T. Cochrane, 10s Id ; 500, J. Mnlholland. 9s lOd ; 500, D. Caird, 9b 6d ; 400. J. M'Neil, 9s 6d ; 500, G. Talbot, 9» 4d : 100, R. and J. Dalziel, 9s 4d ; 400, M. C. Orbell, 9s 6d ; 500, A. Orr, 9s 3d ; 100, A. Judge, 9s Id; 200, H. M'Gregor, 9s 3d; 700, E. Menlove, 9s; 400, R. C. Gillies, 9s , 100, T. L. Hart, 9s ; 200, A. W Bennett, 9s; 600, Maddocks, 9s Id; 400, J. Fiddes, 9s Id ; 1000, C. D. Fleming, 9s ; 2506, J Copeland, 9s Id. Eight-tooth crossbred ewes— 2oo, J. Wilkie, 8f 3d ; 800, W. Meek, 8s ; 100, J. Mulvaney, 8s ; 1000, Blacklaw, 8s ; 600, J. Copeland, 8s ; 300, W. Nieh, 8s ; 500, J. Drennan, 8s ; 500, J. Allan, 8s ; 500, C. Studholme, 8s ; 1000, T. Mitchell, 8s; 1000, R. M'Donald, 8s; 966, Chamberlain, Bb. STtTD LINCOLN EWES. 160 2-tooth Lincoln ewes, J. F. Douglas, £2. Four-tooth Lincoln ewes — 50, A. M'Kerrpw, 19s; 53, A. M'Kerrow, 17s 6d. Eight-tooth Lincoln ewes— l2B, W. P. Waring, 13b 6d ; 165, W. P. Waring, 14s 6d. Ewe lamb&— 110, A. M'Kerrow, 12s 6d. Lincoln ram lambs — 50, Dennison, 12s ; 61, D. Grant, 10s. Lincoln ram? — 3, R. Campbell and Sons, ligs ; 6, A; M'Neil, lg ; 6, T. Smith, ig. j FLOCK LINCOLN BAMS. Two-tooth rams— 2l, A, Orr, 21s; 40, T. Smith, 8s ; 10, N. Quinn, 7s 6d ; 10, J. Hanley, 7s : 61, J. Rudd, 6s. •Four and six-tooth Lincoln rams — 10, 0. Studholme. 8s ; 7, A. Watt, 7s ; 5, H. Corbett, 6s 6d ; 4, A. M'Naughton, 6s 6d ; 4, J. Ryan, 5s 6d ; 188, J. Randall, 5s 6d. Eight-tooth Lincoln rams — 70, J. Randall, 63 lOd. FLOCK HALFBBED LAMBS. Six and eight-tooth halfbred ramF — 30, H. R. Parker, 35s ; 12, H. M'Gregor, 29s ; 20, C. D. Fleming, 12h 6d : 25, J. E. Mathieson, lls; 8, J. M'Neil, 12s 6d ; 20, W. Gardiner, lls 6d ; 6, W. Nish, 8s ; 20, J. Robinson, 7s 6d ; 5, J. E. Mathieson, 7s 6d; 7, T. Henson, 6s 6d. MISCELUNEOPS. 264 two-tooth wethers, A. Taylor, 12» 3d. 212 two-tooth ewes, J. Mulholland, lls lOd. 34 crossbred Lincoln ewes, A. M'Neil, 8s 3d. The sale of stock at Waikakahi, South Canterbury, was continued on Thursday, when there was a very large attendance, some 1500 j being present. The horses,- both light and heavy, wore in the best condition, and from start to finish competition was keen, and high prices ruled for all sorts. The sale started (says the Lyttelton Times) with the' working draft hordes and brood mare 3, Mr Pyne occupying the improvised rostrum, a station waggon, for the firat hour. Many of tho animals offered were aged, but notwithstanding this, they made from JB7 to £53, averaging over £30 each. The young draughts, unbroken, mostly yearlings, were then submitted, Mr Fleming and Mr Boyle selling. These made from £14 to £75 12s, or an average of £24 each. The foals brought almost £12. An average of over £26 was obtained for draughts, which must be considered very satisfactory for the vendor, considering the number of horses offered, and the fact that many of them were either too young or past their prime for work. Th« light horses consisted of some useful station horses, but there were also a great many aged and weedy sorts, and light, young unbroken animals amongst them. They sold well, at from £6 to £20. The sale of horses

was quite as satisfactory as the sheep sale orl the first day. The large number of visitors who stayed at Waikakahi for the night had a really good time. A capital -concert- was held in the evening in a large marquee erected for the occasion. Good sleeping accommodation was found in the many buildings and tents, and with plenty of good food provided, everybody was made as happy and comfortable as could be. The following was the result of the ballot for the remaining sections in this settlement on Friday: — Lot n, block V, Waitaki, 462 a Or 30p.-* James Breen.' Lot 9, block VI, 541 a lr.— Thomas Dyer. Lot 13, block VI, 345a.— W. Bell and J, O Hara. Lot 14, block VI, 492 a 2r.— George Duke. Lot 10, block XIII, 417a.— Hugh Wallace. Lot 1, block XIV, 421 a 2r.— M. Henstidge'. Lot 4,- block XV, 581 a 3r.— W. Harrison. Lot 5, block XI, 480a.— R. Fraser. Lot 10, block V, 667 a 26p.— James Scott.Lot 4, block VIII, 795 a 2r.— W. Cain. Block V, Elephant Hill.— Unselected. The whole of the 47,320 acres comprised in the settlement have thus been disposed of with the exception-of the small block referred to above. The sale was continued on Friday morning. During the day the weather was misty and raining, making matters very uncomfortable lor those intent upon business, who steadfastly remained until the last. Messrs Pyne, Boyle, Flf ming, and Cook were the auctioneers. The implements brought tho following prices : —Cultivators £9 to £12, drills £6 to £13, Cambridge rollers £13, strippei £7, spring drays £13, farm drays £10, tip dray £8, six-horse waggons £19 to £31, chain hrftrows £2 to £6, tripods £2 to £5, discs £5l» £8, grass seeders £5 to £12 ss, double-furrow ploughs up to £15, Bingle-iurrows to £2 10s, hand mowers to £10. Cattle.— Shorthorn bull £6 10s. cows £3 to £7, heifers £4 JLOs, three-year-old steers £5 17s 6d, eighteen-month-old steers £3 15s, heifer calves £'2. Carriages. — Phaeton £13, double buggy £29, tilbury £29, gig £19, brake £18. Sundries, such as sheep feeders, troughs, wire netting, and tools all brought good prices. At the conclusion of the sale Mt Boyle thankod the buyers for their support, and mentioned that everyone had been treated by the owner of the estate in a most liberal manner. Three hearty cheers were given for Mr M'Lean, and this brought to a conclusion the largest and one of th - most successful sales ever held in the colony.