ACTION SHEEP SALE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2095, 23 March 1889, Page 2

ACTION SHEEP SALE

Yesterday a sale of about 15,000 sheep t was held on the Aoton Station, about four miles below Rakaia. Aa the management purposed cletrlng off the estate all the merino sheep, to make room for longwools, m view, it is presumed, of tho improved outlook of the fnzeu meat trade, and the epeoi&i excellence of the Aoton property for raieing fat cheep, there was a fine opening for buyers of morinoß. Me VV. L. Allan, Man&ger of the Estate, Is to be complimented on the fine condition, aotwuhatunding the adverse season, m whioh the sheep offered were turned out, <md this no doubt hid a good deal to do with the large atteudauce of buyers from all over the county, as Mr Allan's reputation as a sheep farmer Is widely known. Mr O. F. Soott'i ooaoh and four was specially retained to convey buyers to and frond the sale. Mr Staveley, zur tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Uompany, was auctioneer, aud m his opening speech be took occasion to compliment Mr Allan on the excellent oondl • tlon of the sheep offered. The sale beg^n at shortly after one o'clock, and In n hoot and a half the whole were disposed of, either at aotual auction or privately. An abundant luncheon wai provided In the woolshed, dispensed by the cite/ de cuitine of the station, and the com tun generally of the visitors was carefully aoen to. The following are the leading lines sold at auotlon :— 2500 fnll-mouthed merino ewes, m one line to Me Andrew Grant, at 3s lOd ; 400 orossbred lambs, a fine line, at 6j 4d ; 500 four- toot a merino ewea at 5* 9 4 ; 800 merino lambs at 4i Id ; 700 two-tooth mixed sexes at 5j j 1500 merino full-mouth ewes at 33 ; 200 fat oroasbred two-tootba at 10a j 300 four, six, and eight tooth ewe otossbreds at 6j 8d ; and a few of tne inferior lines for boilers at 2j to 3a, Several Hues of crossbred lambs and ewes for other owners were also offered, but were either sold privately or withdrawn, and a few pigs belonging to the estate were oleared at fair p. ices. (" Lyttelton Timea ' )