WARRAH SUBDIVISION SALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 20

WARRAH SUBDIVISION SALE.

STRONG DEMAND .FOR LAND IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Tho public auction sale of the Warrah subdivision of 38,0CX) acres of fattening, wheatgrowing, mixed farming, and dairying land,, which took place at Quirindi the other day, attracted extraordinary interest. The inspection of the various blocks, especially during the last week, foreshadowed a Dig attendance. Land-seekers were there from all parts of the State. Mr Robert M. Pitt, of Pitt, Son, and Badgery, Ltd. (Sydney), and Mr William Cadell (Quirindi) were the auctioneers. The Liveroool Plains country was taken first, and when block 6, of 5069 acres, one of these seven seven grazing and fattening - areas, promptly went down at £5 2s per acre, as promptly followed by block 5, of 3755 acres, which realised £5 8s per acre, the round of applause demonstrated the satisfaction of the people that a new standard of pastoral values had been set in the d strict, and that buyers were not afraid of the future. The whole seven Plains blocks soon found eager buyers at an average of over £5 2s 5d per acre. The four wheat blocks were next submitted, and the whole 1600 acres so cut up found ready buyers at £7 13s per acre, and in one case £7 14s. A block of 543 acres suitable for a stud farm realised £7 14s, and the old Warrah block of 1931 acres, first-class grazing and breeding land, went for £6 10s per acre. A very fine dairying block of 574 acres brought £6. In all some 27,116 acres of the estate were disposed of, in less than half an hour of actual bidding, realising no less a sum than £141,055 Bs, averaging nearly £5 4s per acre. Naturally, the representatives of the Australian Agricultural Company—the vendors—were highly gratified at the marked success of the sale, which justified their courage in going straight on in the face of apparent handicaps. And the buoyant market the subdivision met, the spirited bidding from so many local land-seekers until the prices got beyond their reach, and the actual figures realised, all went to prove that in reality land values have so far suffered no slump, nor does the demand for blocks of the right kind evidence any diminution. Amongst the successful bidders, Mr W. A. Duncomb, of Mosman, Sydney, bought for members of his family, L. A., D. A., H. A., E. A., L,, E., E. A. Duncomb, and Mabel Allan, blocks 4,5, 6,, and 7, grazing blocks, 4773 acres, £4 17s; 3753 acres, £5 8s; 5069 acres, £5 2s; 3435 acres, £4 17s; and for himself old Warrah block, 1931 acres, £5 10s. Block I, of 1904 acres, was secured by Mr B, Perkins (Quirindi) at £4 Is; Mr G. A. Sevil (Burron Junction), block 2, of 2055 acres, at £4 Is ; lot 3, of 1548 acres, went to Mr T. L. Higgins (Barrington) at £5 Is; block 8, of 574 acres, wont to Mr John Daley (of Manly, Sydney), at £6. Mr H. M. Higgins (Gloucester) took lot 27, of 294 acres, at £7 15s; block 28, of 436 acres, wont to Mrs B. J, Cavenagh (of Willow Tree) at £7 He; block 29, 420 acres, to Mrs Sarah Jane Deane (Windsor) for £7 13s; and the same buyer took block 30, of 434 acres, at £7 14s; whilst block 36, of 543 acres, was knocked, down to Mr A. Mallon (of Willow Tree) at £7 14s per aero.