FIRST SHEEP IN N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 8

FIRST SHEEP IN N.Z.

BAY OF ISLANDS FLOCKS.

A Bay of Islands correspondent, writing in a northern paper in answer to the (Illation, When did the lii>t sheep arrive in New Zealand r says:—The iii>t sheep were lauded in 1818 by the lfcv. Samuel Jlarnden. In l&'i 11 bags of wool were .-cut lo Sydney, and brought 2s. 6d. per lb. With the shwp the first two hoi>es were brought, but one sheep was drowned in landing. The Maoris braved the. risks connected wilk the strange animal, for they speedily ate it. The breed is not recorded, but uo doubt they came from New South Wales, and were merinos. Information, is not available ias to when longwool sheep were introduced, but the well-known English proclivities of the old missionary settlers would lead us to believe that they embraced the earliest opportunity. 'Anyway, we know of English Leicesters, Cotswolds, and others, many years ago. Among them a hardy lot called Wensleydales—relatives apparently of our Border Leicester*. About thirty years ago the Lincolns were introduced. The heavy, lustrous lleeees proved a great attraction. At that time the question of suitability of the animal to the food and surroundings had not been considered. It took some time to break down the constitution of the established Hocks. liy-and-by, however, the struggle against the lungworm and other troubles liecame severe. But for the serious character of the outcome some of the movements were amusing. One of the judges at the local show in November thought it wise to send .six big stud animals in. the following February for sale at the monthly auction. Old liands even then smiled at the iu'imirin;: remarks made by the le.-s experienced ones. When dipping time came; the ram of the Hock looked tall and gaunt, and the pjor little lambs could scarcely walk at all. Shropshire*, Border Leicesters, and other breeds were now introduced. Here, again, an amusing affair, took place in connection with one of the largest flocks. The owner—non-resident—sent on a number of rams—varied sure enough .including merinos, Shropshire*, and Lincoln*. but sufficient care was not taken, and the results could not be certified. But as soon as the ttomneys put in an appearance they took the lead, and now, as a breed, have practically all their own way. In this Inter move, Mr. .'las. Close, of Ngaheia, has taken the leading part. His Hock was founded in ISS.'> by the purchase of two stud rains from Mr. A. Matthews, of Wairarapa, and a line of ewes from the Mount Venion Estate, Hnwke's Bay. In the following year rams were secured from Messrs. Fulton, of Otago, and stud rams from other noted breeders have continually been added. Mr. H. S. Ludbrook, "of Ohacawai, an old Lincoln T>rcedpr, has not been far behind with the Uomneys, with Mr. J. B. Clarke, E. B. Clarke," and others, in company. Mr. Bull, of Kerikeri, with the largest, (lock in the county, has fine animals, but as ypt ho has not appeared much in Hie shows.

Tlio Lincoln* are practically extinct in the Bay of Island County. At the Wli.ingaroi Show in November there were several pens, but their appearance, as contrasted with Mr. A. T. Close's "Romneys, from the Bay of Hands, was such as to .settle the minds of any lingering doubters. SOLWAY SHOW. These travelling by train to the Masterton Show on' Tuesday ami Wednesday next may obtain tickets which will land them at" Purukiui. the very gate of the beiiiitiful Solwny showgrounds. Tor thoso who make a May in Mnsterloii, conveyances will be available at all hours of tlio day. The slio-v arrangements nro perfect in every detail, even to the supply of hot water (which, last year, was GOO gallons) for picnic parties. Jlusic will be supplied by the Mastcrton Brass Band, [i.ntl morning and afternoon tea (to say nothing of ii splendid luncheon) will be provided. Since the last show the grounds Have been further improved by the planting of ornamental shrubs. SHOW DATES. . REMAINING SUMMER FIXTURE?. -February 20 and 21.—Mastorton A. and P. Association, at "jjulvay," Musterton. February' 28.—Rangitikei A. and I\ Association, at Taihaoe.

LIVE STOCK SALES. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report as follow:-We held a clearing sale at Pahautaimi on Monday last, on account of Mr. James Millcn, who has leased his farm. There was a record attendance of buyers, who were present from Shannon, Otaki, Levin, Waikanae, Hiitt, and ths surrounding districts, and the result was a very successful sale. Th: sale opened on the phecn and no doubt the strike at the freezing works had the effect of making buyers a little cautious. However, as the auction progressed, bidding came more freely, and all agreed that the sale was one of the best held in Ul3 district. The following are a few of the prices realised:—27o four and six-tooth ckcs. Ms. 9d.; 190 full-mouth ewes, 12s. 2d.; 170 two and four-tooth wethers, 12s. 2d.; 170 ewe lambs (shorn), Bs. ICd.; 160 wether lambs (shorn), 7s. 10d.; 106 two-tooth owes, 13s. 6d.; cull ewes, 4=. 6d.; cull lambs (shorn), 3s. lid.; 53 tiirce-year-old bullock?, £6 Us. 6d.; 12 two-year-old steers, £4 55.; 11 18-month steers, £3 135.; springing cow, £10 15j.; cow in milk. £7 155.; trap marc. 9 year* £1S 10s. ■ gelding (hack), 7 years, £11. Pigs, porkers, 235. Dog-cart, £20; light dray, £7. The implements, sundries, and furniture, which w?re numerous, brought full market value.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report as follows.—We held our weekly sale at Sohvay yards on February 13, when we offered a goad yarding of sheep to the usual attendance of those interested. Wα made the following sales:—Slicep: Two-tooth wethers, small, 10s.; two-tooth ewes, small 12s. 5d.: two-tooth owes, culls. 75.; f.m' ewes, culls, is. 6d.; shorn lambs. 6s. 3d • shorn lambs, cull. Is. lid. to 35.; woolly lambs. 6s. 4d.; woolly lambs, small. 4s. 3d.;, two-shear Lincoln rams. 2 guineas; aged rams, 7s. 6d. Cattle: Calves (mixed sexes), 28s.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. report:—At our Levin sheep fair, on Wednesday last, w; offered a fair entry. The attendance was small, and bidding throughout was dull, and the bulk of our entry was passed in, as owners' reserve? were' not reached. We, however, managed to quit a fair number privately after the sale. Two-tooth wethers, to 12s. fid.-, four-tooths, to 12s. 9d.; full-month ewee lo Us. 9d.; full and failing-mouth swes! to 7s. 8(1. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report:—At Palmcrston Xorth yesterday, at our annual sheep fair, we had « good yarding of sheep to offer to a* representative attendance of buyers. We hav.3 to report a good clearance at satisfactory prices, although buyers were inclined to art with a considerable amount of caution, this being owing, no doubt, to the uncertainty in connection with the freezing companies' strike. Included in our sales w?rc a very nice line of 1000 four-year Romncy ewes, on account of Mr. Hugh Akers. These were bought by Mr. Nichol! at Usa Bd.; on account of Mr. M. Voss. two-tooth Homney ewes, 20s. 6d., and mixed-age ewes, 16s. 3d.; on account of Mr. D. Rowland, stud two-tooth liomney ewes, 3gns.; on account of Mr. F. H Thornlcy, two-tooth Komncy-Kyeland cross ewes, 16?. 6d. Other prices were — Cull 'lambs. 4s. 2d.; store lambs, 6s. 9d.' woolly lambs, 6s. 9d.; cull ewes, 35.; aged ewes, 6s. 9d. to 7s. Id.; s.m. ew.2s, 8?. 5d to 9.5. 3d.; four and five-year ewes. Its.

Jfcsr=. Dalgety and Company report (per Press Association) on their sheep fair held at Palnwrstoii 10-dny (February 15) as follows:—A very Rood entry of sheep hut, in some eases, price? failed to reach vendor?' reserves. Quolations:-F.M. owes 7?., 7s. 3d., 7s. 5d., Bs. M.; Tour and m'c' year cwss, ll.«. to lls. 5d.. (o lls. 9(1. to 12<. Id.: two-tooth ewes, 12?. 9d. to Us 3d • Lull lambs. ss. ' "

AI'CKLAXn SALES. (By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Auckland, February 15. Messrs. Dalpety and Co.. Ltd.. 'report hiiving bold their usual weekly fat stockpile at We-tlield on Wednetday. February \H. a? under:— IVjnf: An nvorflßc .vnrdlne. l'i-!cc= vnm much thQ same as last wook, Choice pons

of extra prime ox .-old at equal to 245.; "ood ox -it 22-. lo 255.; vow and heifer, at from 18s. In 225, according to quality; rough beer sold aI. very full rates. Veal: An "average yarding, which sold at late !•!■'.•'«. Ifciivy sold from 30.*. U> £2 8-.; "ood sucker?, 28*. to 355.; small. 3s. to 15s. Mutton: A rairiy large yarding. There was a slight improvement in price, for ewes, hut wethers were iignin low. and did at equal to last week's rates. Extra heavy prime wethers fetched 17s. to 195.; medium-weight wethers, 15s. lo 16s. 6d.: iinlinished ditto, 13s. 6d. to 14s. 9d.; heavy eves, 13s. to 155.; srood. 11s. 6d. to 12s. ill; inferior. If. 9d. to Bs. Lamb: A large number yarded, but the majority were only iStorcs. Heavy prim.: lambs sold at 12;. to I'!?. 6d.: good. 9s. 6(1. to lls. 6d.; inferior, 3s. 6(1. lo fls. Pork: An average yarding, keen demand at late rates. ISnconers fetched £2 12?. to £i 25.; porkers. 235. to £2 65.; weancrs, 7s. 9d. to 10s. 9d.

The Xc«- Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. report:—At YVcstfleld yards on Thursday last we held our usual sale of dairy aiid store cattle. There was a good yarding, and prices were well maintained. IVst dairy cows and heifers sold at from £8 7s. 6d.'to £10 15*.; others. £5 to £7 10s.; a"Cd cows, £3 to £4 2s. 6d.; Jersey heifers, to £11 each; empty rows. £2 12s. 6d. to £4 25.; bulls, £3 10s. to £5 55.; calves, 3Cs. to £2.

At the Albert yards (New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co., Ltd.), on Friday last, horses came forward in usual numbers, and sold at late rates. Heavy draught horses sold at from £25 to £33; medium draught, £18 to £24: light harness horses and backs. £5 to £14; ponies, £2 to £5. At Westheld, on Friday, we (New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. Ltd.) held our first sheep and ram fair of the season, whin we yarded 14,760 sheep, lambs, and rams. The attendance was large, and althongli in some cases the sellers' expectations, were not realised, we had a most successful sale. Wethers sold at:Four two-tooth, 10-. 6d. to 155.; four-tooth and upwards, in forward condition, 13s. 6:1. to 16s. 9d.; two-tooth ewes, 10s. 3d. to 16s. 9d.; four and six-tooths, 10s. Bd. to 155.; fresh full-mouth, Bs. 6d., 12s. 9d.; old and broken-mouthed 3s. to 6s. 9d.; Lincoln ewes, two-tooth, from the flock of Mr. J. H. M'Elwain, Waiuku, realised 2J gns.; 3lr. C. T. Barriball's—Two-tooth Lincoln ewes, l!?iU.; Mr. \V. Sharp's do.. 15 gns. Lambs (2400 penued) sold at, for first quality, Bs. 3d. to 9s. 9d.; others, 3s. 6d. to 7s. 9d. Hams: Lincoln-Mr. .T. B. M'Klwain's sold at from Sgns. to 6gns.; Mr. C. T. Barriball's, do., 3gns. to 4Jgns.; Mrs. Murphy's, 32sns. to 53gns.; Konincy rams, 2}K!is.. lo ogns.: English Leicesters, lgn. lo 3gns.; Shropshire rams, dull of sale, sold at from lgn. to 3igns.

At the I'ukcliohe monthly sale, on Tuesday last, there was a full yarding of cattle, which met with a ready sale throughout at late ouotations. Best dairy cows and heifers, close to profit or inst coked, sold at from £8 15s. to fi 10s.: others. £5 to £7 17s. 6d.; old cows, £3 to £4 7s. 6(1.; empty cows, £2 lOs. to £4 Is.; two to three-year-old'steers, £4 6s. to £5 155.: yearling steers. £2 10s. to £3 165.; good steer cnlves, 325. to Ms.; others (mixed sixes). 15s. to 285.: yearling to 18-month-old loiters, 38s. 6(1. to £3 10s.: heifers, suitable for dairy purposes, £3 10s. to £5; bulls (65 virded) sold at from £3 10s. to £7 10s.: beef (126 head penned) sold at fully Westfield rates. At Wcstfield yards fat cattle were yarded in full numbers, and sold at stoidy competition at )-">st week's rates. Prime oxen selling , at 275. per 1001b.: others, 245. to 255.; rows and heifers. 19s. to 25=.; stcors sold .it from £7 to £10 16s. 6d. ; cows and hnjfprs. « 10s. to £7 155.; r-nkes showed no improvement in values. Tleaw T e.i!»r9 sold at from £2 2s. t<l £2 155.; medium do.. 30«. to 375.: of'.M's, 15s. to 2<s.; smaller sorts, 3.-. to 10s. Sheep were panned in verv In rue numbers, the marlmt si'O'vinn a. firmer tone. Prime w'hers sold at from 15s. to 19=.; others, lls. 3d. to 145.; l',-5t ewes, 12s. 6d. to 145.; others. Bg. to Us. 6d.; cull ewes, 3*. to ss. Lambs were y-rded in good numbers, and sold at latn mtos. Best lambs sold at from l's. to 12s. M.; others. Bs. to 10s.; ?to'-es, 3s. to '■■'. Tic;s wcr« brought forward in average P"mher«. and sold at Into « 15s. to *3: norkors, £2 to £2 Bs.; slips, Si ss. to £1 16s.