CLEARING SALE AT OPAWA STATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12026, 27 March 1903, Page 3

CLEARING SALE AT OPAWA STATION.

The clearing sale of stock and implements at Opawa IStatioa. which was sold to the Government by Mr John S. Rutherford, for the purposes of the Land for Settlements Act, and is now known on the maps of the Lands Departtn-nt as the " Chamberlain Settlement." was opened at noon yesterday. For the purposes, of the sale, which had been extensively advertised in the newspapers of the South Island, a special train was laid on from Tiniaru, and it left the" station at 8 o'clock yesterday morning. Counting double carriages there were in all

nine, and the number of passengers in tbem at the start was not so large as was expected. However, a good many persons were taken up at Washdyke, * Pleasant Point and the Cave, so that on arrival all the carriages but one first-class carriage were well tilled, one or two of the secondclass compartments uncomfortably 'so. And to Speak of this leads us to remark on the weather which was hot enough for midsummer. It continued to be exceptionally raim all day—" first-class- harvest weather." On arrival at Albury eleven conveyances (drags and expresses) were in waiting, and Mr A. Davidson having collected tickets, marshalled the procession, and at 9.40 a start was made for the woolshed, an uphill dead pull for seven miles, the journey being very exhausting on the horses which had to draw the heavily-laden vehicle-. The drive was cot without incident. Opposite the homestead there is a dangerous and nasty grip into and out of a creek, and at Mr Davidson's tequest passengers gnt out while vehicles were taken across, to save the smashing of springs or whipple-trs»s. The passengers enjoyed this ir.ter!u>-!e. reminded them, some said, of the old days when you paid for a coach lide and walked half" the war. The next inci-

dent m< of a graver kind, one of the polers in a drag getting a leg over the splinter bir. The drag had a complicated forecarrbge. and at first blush the accident Ic.-.fcej bad—for the animal. Expert horsemen were about, however, and a rope being handy a turn was taken ronnd the imprisoned leg. a smart hoist and the animal was free. The accident happened -within one h>.n.dted yards or so of destination. and p-sj-engers on the drag suffered but little inconvenience. It may be of some interest to note here that both the train and coach journey were greatly enjoyed. the country in the estimation of* the oldest settler never having looked better at this season of the year. The woolshed, the scene cf the day's labour, is situated in a picturesque spot, in the fork of a beautiful v:!ley. which stretches away to the corthwauN. wliilst on other side's pretty downs close i: frit in and are backed on the west by the nicotic Southern Alps. Ihe king of all. Moot.- Cook, was seen in all his spletidoy. "do.-u the valley," and the back-blockers did not fail to point him out to their town cousins. The train patty were among the earliest arrivals, at about 11 a.m.. and they we'* well pleased indeed to we'eeme a call to " warning tea." The refre-kment department was in the experienced ard capable bands of Mr A. Budd, and he and his many assistants were ejeite ready for their numerous visiters. Provision had been made to feed all day if they wished. 12G0 persons, but sr> far a* we cnnld learn in this ca.-e also esp3v-tati'>i!s were not leaiised. a good a'tthcrity patting the attendance down at "'■'-* !"''-""' 1 all told. This crowd was :>;>>nt n record for important sales in South Cintevprtrv. After refreshing themselves tfce visiters, whose ranks were bejng rapidly added to by settlers of the district in traps. <;rt horseback and on bicycles. ha<l«a look rcnud the sheepyatds and over the impVments. Printed catalogues were circulated, and a. plan of the sheepyards being attached to it. the mobs of sheep were easily picked r ,nt. The arrangement of the pens was admirable tin fact the whole of the arrangements-special train, conveyances !j"*t tn sea: all comfortably), the refreshment department. :ind the plan of | s-tle—were the best we have ever seen: there was no hitch of any kind, all worked J :f<s sain.-whly as machinery. An inspection ; nf the 'sheep ?h»wed that the nullity ranged frcm very prime down to the poor sta- | tioh cull: "but the majority were, owintr t.- recent mustering and close confinement for snme time in the yards, not looking their best. However, as this is a re-)f.:t of ;i r'e.-irinti sale, not n criticism of show riai exhibits, we n;ed not dwell oa such matters, and the prices given below indie:'*? that well-known flockowners deemed *":? 'ipe-.; thev secured well worthy the esee'lent prices they cave.for them. Tlte sr-'e was entrusted to the expert ; hands of Messrs Dalgety and Co. and the I Canterbury Farmers* Co-operative AssociaI ticn •<• 'tirry, through, and punctually at ' I noon Mr Hugh Lowty (auctioneer for Dal- [ getyi and Mr John Mundell (auctioneer for ithe Farmers' Association) entered the large pen into which Lot Xo. 1 had been drafted. Mr Lowry read the " Conditions of Sale" | (which, by the bye. were included in the official catalogue); they were brief and to • the point, each lot was as far as possible ! correctly described, and the terms of payI merit were '" net cash, or such terms as J may be i-rmnged." Mr Lowry reminded 5 them »t ths reason of their meeting together J that- day. the sale being consequent upon. IMr Rutherford having sold his estate for closer settlement. The sheep, as his listeners would see for themselves, were art lot, having been liberally culled r.nr.fally. They were not all looking their best in the pens, owing to the I ••rafting operations of the past fortnicbt: j brtt this was really no detriment to them. J Mr Lowry adder! that Mr Rutherford had , generously consented to afford paddocking ;>c.om;r.'K':iti..i: till the end of the month for lets that could not be taken delivery of at i:r.ce. He could not grant longer [save for gra7Jng. as he had to give np P'.s-es-i>,« of the estate to incoming tenants "a Ann!. Mr Mundell supplemented the remarks of his colleague. The sale was a gen'-JEt clearing sale: every lot would be- sn'.'! tr> the highest bidder, and '"those j wh" watted a nibble would have to be 1 ""'"■"' '" <■;.:, h the anctior.eer's eye." i'.v >:■.'•!. :.!.»->:s. (.'ttl? and implements were '[■"• '" ••"_ _sid'l without reserve. The s'»•".••. '!-_M , :rKell. added, were all from y. :».tr".* : f,i f ,i - s tegular flock, and having I b:ea br?' on " hiah country." they should J hj? espechlly suitable for the farmers on ("low ci.vtury"; they would at least net I sturdy stock. A start was then made on Lot 1. twu-tooth halfbred e-.ves. which started at 13s 6d. and from spirited bidding sill round the ring, sometimes the same figure in two places, as the auctioneer put it. ran up to 16s. 6d, Mr W. Quinn being the buyer. Mr Lowry sold this line, and he and Mr Mundell took turn about at selling for the rest of the day. The opening prt-.es were very gcod—" to••> g?od." said some people: "not a "bit." said others—and throughout the sale bidding wis spirited and prices generally excellent. iThe sales of fleck sheep (which averaged nearly 10s odeaeh) lasted from noon till 2 p.m. without a break, and the rams wete disposed of in half an hour. There

was then a slight interval, and at a quarter to three o'clock a start was nvule on the implements. These took till 4.10 p.m. to eet thnnrgh. Mr Lowry selling the last lot. an 1 thinking hll present for their attendance. a::d for their support. At 4.30 p.m. the things weie again on the mad. and Albii-y was readied in plenty of time t<> caret., the special train which left the stiitln.t for Timani at 6 p.m. Tn uv m iv state as >-\ s.'ne interest that tli:.- sale was the first which lias ie:-n !ieM ::fter*'an estate has h?eit bi!lot*e * V r. and it was expected, fiom com plaints which had been made previously that successful applicants had not a chance t» ger stock when a clearing sale was held before the ballot, that many tenants would Live taken advantage of yesterday's sale. It was not so. however, I for from enquiries we made only one tenant I Mr Itoa'er) wis ;• buyer at the sheep sale. The follow!:;.: a:e particulars <•:" the SHEEP. Lots 1 to 25—723 2-tooth halfbred ewe? (Parting i-ri-f 15? 6tl>. 16s 6d. to Mr W. Qninn. 364 4 and 6-tooth balfbied ewes ("»4« 6d>. 200 at 16$ Bd. to Mr O. H. "Rhodes, and balance at 17s to Mr John Pallantvne. 262 4-vear-old bnlfbred ewes 113s 6d). 15s. to Mr Thomas Askin. 636 li t'fbr»d Inmbs-'Ts 3d). 7s 7d. to Mr .Tames Cimpbe'l. 662 2-tooth halibred wethers (10* 6dh lis 4d to Mr R. Brookland. 856 fr»t 4 - tooth wethers (13s 9J}, SCO at 15s to Mr James Shepherd,

balance at 14s 8d to Mr Alex Dinnie. :- 1034 2-tooth three-quarter bred ewes (13s), 400 at 15s to Mr M. Boaler (Chamberlain settler), 100 at 15s Id, Mr T. Askin, balance at 14s lid, Mr A. Cowan. 1028 4 and 6-tooth three-quarter bred ewes (14s 9d), 600 at 16s 2d to Mr J. Wilson. 350 at 16s 5d to Mr J. McAulev. and balance at 16s to Mr J. Siegert. "404 4-vear-old three-quarter bred ewes (12s), 13s' 6d, to Mr Owen Kirk. 1319 three-quarter bred I™ (6s 6dl ' 8s 2d > to Mr E- Schlaepfer. 7-B? 2 -* ooth three-quarter bred wethers (10s), 12s 6d. to Mr Hugh Corbett. 650 4,6 and 8-tooth three-quarter bred wethers (los), 14s lOd, to Mr N. Quinn. 893 t, ?!Jk merino «"* (7s 9d), lis sd, to lin a Tn °mson (Moant Peel estate). Ut>l 4 and 6-tooth merino ewes (lOsi, los Id to Mr 0. Scott Thomson. 1984 4-year-old 4-year-old merino ewes (10s), 500 at ICs to Mr J. H. Davidson, 500 at ?'r i? J° Edgar Jo nes, 900 at 8s to Mr P. h. Goulter (Mavfield). 1063 5-vear-old menco ewes (2s), 4s, Mr W. S. Muslin. 1840 merino lambs (4s 6d), 500 at 6s 6d to Mr Edgar Joces, 300 at 6s 4d to Baxter Bros., balance at 6s 5d to Mr W. Grant. 858 2-tooth merino wethers (ss), tn-7 1 a i r Han " sh McLean (Mount Hutt). 2' A '\ nd 8 - tooth merin ° -"-ethers (7s 6d) 8s 6d, Mr H. McLean. (Some amusement was caused over this line, it bein<r knocked down at 8s to one who declined to close the sale, put up again and sold at the advance earned.) 1000 fat merino wethers (8s 6d), 300 at 9s 5d to Mr W Qumn, 400 at 8s 9d to Mr Jas. Wil-con and tlie balance at 8s 6d to Mr W P S. Elmslie. 581 merino wethers (2s Id) „ , *? the Christchurch Meat Co. 153 cull lambs (2s). 2s, to Mr A. Smith. 273. cull ewes (5s 6d), 7s 8d to Mr W. S Maslm. 117 woollies (ther were true to name, all canying very heavy fleeces), 14s, to Mr D. Stewart. Rams—Three-shear English Leicesiers, 7 ! \ of g " *? Mr J - McAulev, lat 1* and 4 at 4| to Mr A. Mcpherson, 1 at 1 to Mr J. McVey. and 5 at 1| to Mr B. Fraser. One-shear Bomneys. 15 at ljgn to Mr B Guthrie. Two and three-shear Romnevs. 6 at to Mr F. H. Smith. 7 at lgn to Mr McVey, 7 at 3gn to Mr B. Guthrie Four-year-old Bomnevs, 9 at ign and 1 jjt ign to Mr J. Siegert. 2 Kt £gn to Mr J. Hart, 3 at ign to Mr J. Hall. Five-year-old Bomneys, 26 at jgn to Christchnrch Meat Company. Merino rams (full mouth). 87 at ljgn to Mr J. Wither (Queenstownh THE IMPLEMENTS. The implements were of various kinds, from two-horsetrees to reapers and binders. They were all in good order, having been specially repaired and painted for the sale. Bidding was spirited and a complete clearance was made. A wool press sold at £9 10s, a sledge at 12s. grubber £2 ss, harrows (chain, tine and disc) from 9s. £2 ss, £2 10s, £3 ss, £4 5s to £9. sets of_ chains 9s and trees and chains 33s to So. grubbers (twitch and Svracuse) 12s to £3 12s 6d. ploughs (iidgrrar. hillside, double, three and four furrow) £1 15s £2 ss, £3, £3 ss. £3 7s 6.1. £4 ss' t<. £ll 10s. Cambridge roller £7 15s. McCormick bidders £5 to £l2 10s. grass mower £4. turnip and other drills £5. £6. £7 2s 6d. £2O to £22. dravs (tip and farm). £3 10s. £5 ss. £6 10s to £lO 10s, wool waggons £lB 10s to £23 10s, travelling huts. £lO, £ll to £l3. The sale will be resumed thi- mnrmng. when cattle and hor?es will come under the hammer. A special train wiH le>ve Timaru at 8 o'clock this mornicjr. cjid similar arrangements to those of vos-erdnv will prevail at the Alburv end.