OPENING OF THE SALE-YARDS AT FEATHERSTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 96, 28 February 1879, Page 2

OPENING OF THE SALE-YARDS AT FEATHERSTON.

A good deal of stir was noticed early on Wednesday morning, that being the day appointed by the company for the opening of their sale-yards, and up to 11 o'clock a great number of stock were to be seen passing through the township en route for the market. And by 11 o'clock the yards were all closed, but the number of stock was not as large as was generally anticipated, no doubt some parties were a little frightened to risk sending their stock from a distance on the chance of their selling.

Of sheep about 1500 were penned comprising wethers, ewe 3, and lambs, also a few rams.. The sheep were not as a rule prime mutton, the only fat sheep being some ewes the property of Messrs Bcetham, from the Camp, Of cattle the number yarded was very small, there being about 50 head in all, of which about 25 were beef the balance being made up with stores, cows, and calves. No pigs were penned, in fact none were on the ground at all, which I should say was rather an oversight for I am quite persuaded had any been offered they would have commanded good figures, as the Wellington butchers were in good attendance. Of horseflesh, rather too many were yarded, considering horses are rather a drug at present; and, moreover, they were not of the most saleablo kind, being mostly unbroken young things, with a sprinkling of heavy draught horses and mares.

At twelve o'clock sharp it was intimated the auction part of the affair would commence, and the two auctioneers present being Messrs lorns & Fergusson, of Masterton, and Messrs.]?, H. Wood & Co., ol

Groytoivn, tossed tip to decide who should open the-ball. The toss being won by the latter firm, Mr Wood mounted the rostruui, and commenced operations with a pen of lambs, which went at 4s 3d. The next sheep in order were from Mr' Martin's flock, and loms and Fergusson were' the auctioneers in this case, These, five pens in all, were mostly passed in at Gs. A few Lincoln rams sold from £3 to £5 each. A splendid lot of lambs were passed in at 6s. The next lot were Messr3 Beotham's ewes, and the saino firm auctioned them off, the whole lot bringing from 7s Gd to 7s 9d. A number of full-mouthed ewes were withdrawn, the amount offered being considered too small. This completed the sheep, about.soo only being sold. The cattlo were next submitted,

and for thorn some considerable excitement was evinced. A yard of fat heifers were passed in at £9, but sold shortly afterwards at the samo figure. A lot of fat bullocks were next submitted. They, too, were withdrawn at LlO, but were sold privately at the same figure shortly afterwards. Bullocks brought LBl2s Gd; cows, LG upwards; and calves, L2 each. Lastly, camo the horseflesh; but before many of them were sold an adjournment was made to lunch, provided by Host Wilson, of the Empire Hotel, where somo seventy sat down; audit was quite evident from the rapid disappearance of the good things provided that any bad sales that may have been made did not affect the appetites of the company. Mr Wardell, occupied the chair, and during wine 'proposed the health of oho butchering interests of Wellington, coupling the names of Messrs Barber and Gear, who were present ;Mr Barber responding. The time for the departure of the train being at hand prevented any further speechmaking, and the company returned to the yards for the horse sales. A number of young stock with very good strains of blood fetched from L 8 to Lll; a few hacks brought to Lls. Draught horses went very low, but the right stamp of draught horses were not brought to the sale. The buyers of cattlo and sheep were principally from Wellington, being the firms of Messrs Gear and Barber. No doubt a larger catalogue will be submitted next sale, but tho private sale business ought to be stopped, .or the whole tiling will dogenerate. Stock should be brought for absolute sale, and not as some lines were done on Wednesday, viz,, they wero put up with big reserves and sold afterwards for less money .privately,