Taranaki Herald Office,

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1108, 22 July 1871, Page 2

Taranaki Herald Office,

Friday, July 21, 18/1. Mn. F. U. Gledhill, at, the solicitation of several farmers at Oakura, held the first of a series of quarterly auction sales of live stock at that place on Wednesday last. The weather was rather unfavourable early in the morning, but cleared off a little toward noon. At one o'clock, between thirty to forty animals were collected, consisting of cows, heifers, steers, aud cnlves, many of them well adapted for the butcher, and all of them in such condition as would have compared favourably with those of t-be best districts of this Province, but, strange to say, not oue animal wns sold under the hammer. A few private sales were afterwards effected at very fair prices, steers at £8, and fat cows in calf at £7.

We have had it brought to our notice that a practice exists amongst the farmers of getting auctioneers to advertise and attend cattle sales, and then of buying in all the stock offered. Bids are offered during the sale, but seldom any purchases are made. Afterwards, however, the owners dispose of their stock privately, ac the same rates, to the persons who bid for them during the auction. We think this is not dealing iairly with auctioneers, and, if continued, will tend ro prevent them from attending sales for the futnre.