BEEF AND BUNTING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2487, 14 June 1915, Page 9

BEEF AND BUNTING

A PATRIOTIC MEAT AUCTION. Of all tlie many methods of raising money for tho Carnival, perhaps the most unusual was that of tlie patriotic meat auction hold at the Windsor Patriotic auction mart oil Saturday evening. The scene tliero was a- most unusual one. Pounds and pounds of boef and mutton and lamb Avero arranged (quite tastefully) round the mart against backgrounds of bunting. Three healthy and succulent sucking pigs reclined temptingly in front of a. Union Jack, while in another part of tlie mart a live lamb calmly awaited the bidder, and appeared not a trifle dismayed at tho host of dismembered companions surrounding him. Then, about 7.15 p.m., tlio public began to fill the shop, to eagerly and in somo cases amusedly, inspect Lluj meat. Somo, not content with ocular inspection, prodded the wares with their lingers, or heltfnip tho joints to Uio light, so that one the auctioneers had at length to advise <m<! of a small corps of aproned butchers standing at attention near D.v, "not to let tliem fool 'em 100 mnch.' : Punctually at 7.30 p.m. Mr. J. B. Moody, the auctioneer, took liis stand and called for attention. He reminded his audience that all tho money from the sales was for a good purpose—that tlie proceeds would help forward the candidature of the Trentham boys' Queen —and finally made tho usual requests that auctioneers generally make: "We have a good lot to get through tonight," he remarked smilingly, as he surveyed the rows of joints, sides, hindquarters. etc. Then Mr. Sykes, who was handy, hoisted up to view a tempting specimen of a sucking pig, and i-lie bidding commenced. "Five bob I" shouted someone, but the initial bid was soon left far behind, and the suckins pig eventually changed bands at something over a pound. Two more sucking pigs were displayed, bid for, and bought. Then followed mutton, lamb, beef, and hams, and the bidding was brisk, albeit satisfactory ~ for tho fund. Later on in the evening the only live specimen of meat, the lamb, was put up for auction. It was sold over and over again, and finally realised £15. It was handed back, and is to be sold again at .'the first opportunity. All the wares were disposed of some time after nine o'clock, and the net proceeds totalled over £40. As some of the butchers state tliat they were not asked to give, it is probable that there will be another big meat sale oil Saturday even- ' ing next.