SALE OF RUNS

Tuapeka Times, Volume XII, Issue 512, 22 March 1879, Page 3

SALE OF RUNS

{From the "Otago Daily Times.")

On Thursday at the Waste Lands Board Office, Mr R. B. Martin, Government auctioneer, offered, the leases for 10 years of a number of runs by auction. There was an attendance of about 30 gentlemen, mainly runholders and stock and station agents.

Run 424, Waikaia, 11,650 acres ; upset Ll2O. — The bidding for this run advanced from the upset principally by L 5 bids (LI bids being allowed) till L 255 was reached, being conducted between Mr Henry Driver (for Mr J. Mackellar) and Mr D. Er. Mervyn. Mr Driver stopped atL2SO, and Mr Mervyn having bid L 255, and apparently, after a pause, imagining that such bid was against him, advanced his offer to L 260. Mr Martin knocked the run down at this price, but Mr Mervyn disputed the bid, and would not acknowledge it. Some little discussion arose, a number of gentlemen testifying that Mr Mervyn's bid was L 260, and the affair resulted in Mr Martin putting the run up afresh, and refusing to accept Mr Mervyn's bid " for the run in question," in accordance with the option left in his hands by the terms of sale. Mr Driver again offered the upset price. Mr Mervyn : "If you will take my bid I will give you L 200." Auctioneer: "No, 1 wib not take your bid for this run." It was then knocked down to Mr Driver, for Mr J. Mackellar, at Ll2O, the upset. J Run 424 a, Waikaia, 6150 acres ; upset, L6o.— Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, LlO2. Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder.

Run 525 b, Waikaia, 16,800 acres ; upset, LIOO. — Henry Driver, for Joseph Clarke, , L 205: Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder. In regard to both the last mentioned runs, Mr Driver objected to the bid of Mr Mervyn being taken, alleging that he was a defaulter, with whom the auctioneer might deal according to the condition which stated "it will be optional with the auctioneer to refuse the bid of such defaulter for the run in question." He said it was very hard that a bona fide bidder should be at the mercy of one who came on purpose to run up the bidding, and who, when a lot wasknocked 1 down to him at a big price, refused to take it. — Mr Mervyn challenged Mr Driver to allow one of the lots to be knocked down to him. — Mr Martin decided that he had no power to refuse Mr Mervyn's bid, except for the run over which the dispute had arisen.

Run 428, Waikaia, 10,000 acres ; upset, L7o.— Henry Driver, for Joseph, Clarke, L 220. Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder.

Run, 437, Ear'nscleugli, 12,000 acres ; upset, L6o.— Strode and Fraser, £235. —Mr Mervyn was the opposing bidder.