SYDNEY STUD SHEEP SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 6

SYDNEY STUD SHEEP SALES.

The Australian papers vie with each other in illustrating the sheep shown at the recent 3tud sheep show in Sydney, which is described on all hands as one of the most successful affairs of the kind ever hold iti the colonies. Following upon the show came the annual hales of stud rams and ewes, which were opened on the 3rd inst. by Messrs Weaver and Perry, at Harrison. Jones, and Devlin's premises, Circular Quay. The catalogue comprised 310 pens, and included animals from leading New^ South Wales breeder.*, as well as a special lot of imported German sheep from the celebrated Gadegast and Steiger flocks. The sales began exceedingly well, as breeders showed a decided inclination to purchase, with the result that at the close of the flay it was found that the aveffaee realised

for both rams and ewes -was higher than last year. In all 263 rams were sold, at an average of £20 9s 2d, and 63j_ewes, at an .average of £8 5s 9d per head." The total amount realised was £6009 13s' 6d, or nearly £1700 more than the total for last year's first day's sales. Nothing sensational occurred in the morning, the highest price paid before lunch being 94g5,. given by Mr G. H. Hebden for "a stud ram by The Count, two years old, submitted by Mr J. D. Cox, of Cullenbone, Mudgee. Other rams from the same estate realised 80, 70, and -50gs, paid respectively 'bjf Messrs BeaumoTit, -F. R. -White, and ,- Richardson.- ; Privately Mr J. P. Betting gave lOOgs for another stud ram, two years old, by The Count. The average obtained by Mr Cox for 14 rams was '£52 lSg.^^Che^enoQnt-ram^latchless HE. submitted by the Springfield Pastoral and Estates Company, brought 53gs. In the after* noon the bidding livened up directly -Mr H< C. White's Havilah rams were reached. Thirteen of these were sold at an average of £97 13s. The- leading prices Were : 300gs, paid by Messrs H. E. and A. White for the special stud ram General, four years old ; 195gs, paid by Mr C. M'Carthy for the special stud ram Young Nugget, 3| years old"; 240gs, paid by Mr D. Elder for the special stud ram Screwtail; and 130gs, paid by Mr N. Griffiths for the special stud ram Fitzsimmone. There* was also sharp competition for Mr Harold A. Wright's 11 stud rams, S7gs and 70gs being given respectively by v Mr H. Bloomfield for two and two and a-half year old rams. The pen of 11 rams averaged £33 53_l0di which was exactly the average secured for* 14 Gadegast merinos." The latter were a remarkably even lot, and each fetched between "30 and 35 i?uineas." Three ewes from the same flock bought 'by Messr3 Dalgety and Co. 'realised £40 ss. Among the" remaining lots offered Mr J. Dee, of Larras, obtained uOgs * and 53gs for a special stud ram two years old by Mr J. K. Mackray and Mr G. Lee, M.L.C., respectively. Mr J. Batten received 76ga for two rams, grass-fed, the buyer being Mr J. O'Connor; and Mr H. C. Sufton 50gs for a -special ram, bought by Mr r J. Glasson. Tho sales wore continued on the 4th, when I Messrs Hill, Clark, and Co., in conjunction j with Messrs Powers, Rutherford, and Co., ! submitted a catalogue of 350 merino rams and owes and 700 longwool rams and ewes. The attendance was again large, but the bidding was, if anything, a trifle les3 spirited than on the day previous, though in one or two instances prices then obtained- were topped. The chief sale of the flay was the btud ram Premier, offered on account of Clark Bros.. of Gestingthorpe, George's Plains, which, after soma spirited bidding, was knocked iown to Mr W. Keogh for 500gs. Premier wag Grand Champion at the late Sheepbreeders'- show, and much applause wa9 bestowed upon Mr Keogh for his determined bidding. Clark Bros, also obtained 65gs for Don Parmel, bought by Messrs Glasson and Glasson, and 50gs for their stud ram No. 401, bought by Mr ,T. Water. Tho average obtained for 25 Gestingthorpe merino rams was £39 2s 6d. The Collaroy Company, pi Merriwa, sent in a splendid lot of 12 rams, and three of them, were quickly sold at lOOgs each to Messrs W. H. Watt, S. Mallison, and M. Patrick. Mr A. Jones gave' 80g3 and Messrs J. P. Brodi© arid 'W. M. Keogh 65gs each for three more of the saiue collection. The average obtained for 12 animals was £64 (m 3d. The recently - imported Vermont merinos, offered on account of Messr3_ E: D. -Morrison and P. ■B« Norton, •• Wire 'also responsible for brisk bidding. In three. cases the century was topped. Grand Duke was purchased- by Mr Hodgson, while Mr J. 8. Horsfall gave 140gs for Mr J. L. Humblon's ram No. 565 and lOOgs for Dewey. The average obtained- for these sheop was £88 7s_ 6d. Ten ewes belonging to the same consignment also sold well, the lowest limit being 30gs, while several realised 40gs and 45gs. The principal purchasers ■were Messrs Finlay and Leitoh. A number of longwools were sold on account of various Tasmanian breeders. Mr J. H. Glasson gave 20gs for one of Mr B. S. Openheim's extra special stud rams, but few others of these sheep realised such high prices.