GREENFIELD ESTATE SHEEP SALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 23

GREENFIELD ESTATE SHEEP SALE.

One of the most important sheep sales ever held in Otago province took place at Greenfield on the 21st inst., when Messrs J. A. Duthie and Co. a-nd the National Mortgage and Agency Company (Limited) o£fer«& the entire flock of 30,000 young crossbred sheep for absolute sale. The fact that the estate has been acquired by the Government for close settlement, and that the sheep were for unreserved sale to the highest bidder, attracted buyers from all parts of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and a very large concourse of people were present. The day was beautifully fine, and it presented a most interesting sight to see buggies and horsemen in the distance making their way to the homestead from all points of the compass. The arrangements for penning the large number of sheep were very complete, everything possible being done to facilitate the convenience of buyers as regards inspection of the sheep and also delivery after the saie. It m\ist have been with a tinge of regret that Messrs John and James Smith, along with their trusted sheep manager for the last 35 years (Mr Wm. Smith), took part in the final act of the passing of the estate into other hands. A special word of praise is due to the energetic young farm overseer (Mr C. Hadfield) for the completeness of details and for the prompt and amiable way in which deliveries were effected. The prices realised were highly satisfactory, as the sub-jomed-particulars show. The sale commenced with the offering of the two-tooth ewes, and in exactly one hour and 10 minutes the whole of the flock had found buyers, as follows: — 500 two-tooth ewes at 20s 6d, 3651 two-tooth ewes at 20s 6d, 495 four and six-tooth ewes at '235-Bd, 1000 do at 245, 100 do at 245, 3995 do a", 23s 7d, 500 full-mouthed ewes at 20s, 2149 do at 20s, 250 do at 20s, 700 two-tooths (mixed sexes) at 17s, 464 do at 16s, 485 four-tooth wethers at 17s lOd, 2300 forward wethers at 19s 2d, 3440 two-tooth wethers at 17s 4d, 281 Leicester ewes at 22s 6d, 100 two-looth do at 25:=, 153 four and six-tooth ewes at 21s 6d, 368 broken-mouth ewes at 13s Id, 400 lambs at IF-s 9d, 500 do at 15s sd, 300 do at 15s 4d, 1000 dj at 15s 2d, 3872 do at 15s 2d, 1032 fat wethers at 21s 2d, 825 cull lambs at 12s, 101 Leicester ewi lambs at 15s 9d. 109 Leicester ram lambs at 20s, and 414 Border and English Leicester anil Corriedale rams up to 3gs. The cattle belonging to the estate will be sold at Ba-1-clutha on the 7th April ; and, in order to give the successful applicants for the sections on the estate an opportunity to supply themselves with horses and implements, the sale of these has been fixed for the 25th, 26th, and 27th April — a week later than the ballot.