OPENING OF THE NEW CATTLE YARDS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 145, 19 November 1874, Page 3

OPENING OF THE NEW CATTLE YARDS.

Yesterday, the new yards erected by the Canterbury Sale Yards Company, were formally opened by his Honor the Superintendent, in the presence of a very large attendance of buyers, dealers, and others interested in the cattle trade. For some time past it has been felt that the Carlton yards, from their situation on a thronged public road and also distance from the railway, were inadequate for the rapidly increasing wants of the trade, which has recently grown to a very large extent, and therefore, the present Company, the opening of whose yards we this day note, was projected, and shares were taken up with fair rapidity, enough at any rate to warrant the projectors in advertising for offers for sites. Several were sent in, and ultimately, the .present one was selected, being a section of land belonging to Mr Ticknnr, with a frontage close to the railway on one side, and to the nnd leading round Hagley Park on the other. The park fronting the whole extent of the road precludes the possibility of any houses being erected, so that no nuisance is likely to accrue from the driving of stock to and fro, whilst the proximity to the Adding ton Junction, whence stock can be delivered arriving from the north and south, both with expedition and without a great deal of driving. For these reasons the site is one which could not be equalled, besides its proximity to Christchurch and also to the home paddocks of many of the butchers, is an additional point in its favour. Being so thoroughly central, and easily accessible both to the north and south, the probability of a second yard being established for the north has been obviated ; as, if this were done, the interest would be so much divided that the sales at neither would be remunerative, besides entailing upon buyers the necessity of attending two sale yards instead of one central one.

The important question of the site haring been settled, the plans of Mr J. S. M. Jacobsen, architect, were accepted, which comprise, in addition to the pens for cattle and sheep, a sale pavilion, into which cattle or sheep can be driven and sold when bad weather or special circumstances demand it. For a little time some delay occurred in the pushing forward of the work with that activity the company desired, owing to the difficulty experienced by the contractor in obtaining timber of the special character required, but this delay was more than counterbalanced by the very excellent and substantial timber and work which has been put into the yards; indeed, when complete, the yards will bear favorable comparison, alike for arrangement and solidity of construction, with any in the colony. The pens are finished, but in the pavilion there yet remains some work to be done, principally in the interior, which, when complete, will afford a great degree of accommodation to the auctioneers selling and their clients. Of course, yesterday being the opening day, and therefore a large concourse of buyers expected, the number of entries both of cattle and sheep were very large, and the show of fat cattle especially was most creditable. The sheep pens, too, exhibited some really -splendid animals, and buyers were rather embarrassed at the extent of choice afforded them of obtaining fat stock. From an early hour yesterday morning the road to the yards was crowded with mobs of sheep and cattle, and it was only by dint of great exertion that the pens were completed prior to the hour appointed for opening. However, it was got through, and a perfect stream of buyers and dealers set in until the yards were thronged to excess—giving earnest of a capital day’s sale. The yards, as we have said, front on the road from Riccarton to Addington, running down a long frontage to the railway line. The northern half is devoted to cattle, and the southern to sheep, the division being made by the entrance road leading to the pavilion, which fronts the main entrance gates. The lanes to each set of pens are furnished with substantial gates fitted with fastenings, so that the work of drafting is rendered comparatively easy, and any beasts required to be placed in a special pen can be driven from the main pens without any difficulty. The cattle pens are exceedingly substantial, being three rail, with a capping, and the gates to the pens are also well and strongly made, and furnished with slip bolts for fastening. One great point about these pens is their commodious nature, plenty of room being afforded for a fair number of beasts to be yarded, so as to be easily seen by all, and this too without crowding or jostling each other, a great desideratum, particularly with fat stock. The sheep pens also are large and roomy, and like the cattle peas, are very substantially built. The position which is 63ft x 63ft, has a centre dome or arch with side annexes. The height in the centre is 26ft, that of the annexes being 12ft. The northern side of the building is fitted for auctioneers’ offices, where business can be transacted by the auctioneers selling at the yards. On the southern side is a raised platform running along the building and overlooking the centre of the building into which the stock will be driven, buyers being accommodated on the platform from which the sales will take place, This building, when finished,

will be a very great convenience alike to the auctioneers and those having business at the yards, as all arrangements have been made for the speedy and effective carrying on of the work of selling. The various pens having been arranged, business was commenced with the drawing of lots for the order of sale, and this fell upon Mr Mitchell, who thus had the honor of opening the new yards with the first sale.

After a short inspection of the yards, &c,, by those present, a move was made to the first pen for offer, a very pretty pen of lambs belonging to Mr llossiter, which took the prize at the last metropolitan show. Mr Petherick, mine host of the Riccarton Hotel, being on hand with a supply of champagne, Sir Cracroft Wilson, chairman of the directors, stepped forward, and said they had met there that day to celebrate the completion of an enterprise the want of which had been very much felt. He congratulated those present and the company on the spacious yards they saw around them, and also on the fact that his Honor the Superintendent had kindly consented to attend that day for the purpose of opening them. (Cheers.) He would now ask his Honor to say a few words on the occasion.

His Honor said that it was with very great pleasure he had acceded to the request to be present on that occasion, because ho felt that an enterprise like that showed the progress which was being made in the direction of one of the great staple products of the country. He could assure them that on this, as on any occasion when the progress being made by the people of Canterbury was brought forward, he was only too glad to be able to be present. He now declared the yards of the Canterbury Sale Yards Company duly opened. (Cheers.) “Success to the nev yards” was then drunk in bumpers, and three cheers given foi his Honor the Superintendent and the company, and Mr Mitchell then proceeded to open the sales with a few remarks expressive of the pleasure he felt at seeing the yards erected; and though he, as waa well known, had an interest in another direction, and intended throwing open the Smithfield yards free of charge, he would yet arrange so that the sales held there would in no way clash with the sales held in the company’s yards. The first lot was then put up, and, after a short but spirited contest, a remarkably fine lamb fell to the nod of his Honor the Superiutendent for £1 Is, a result which was greeted with three times three, and a little ’un in. The sales were then proceeded with in the order of precedence, and, as a rule, good prices were obtained. Amongst the cattle yarded we may especially note a splendid lot of four, belonging to Mr Rickman, in the very pink of condition, which had never been housed, and fed only on native grass, thus showing conclusively the fattening properties of the native pasture land.

Of the sales of pure-bred stock, we may note that Messrs J. T. Ford and Co submitted the balance of Messrs Sutton Bros’, sheep from Southland. It will be remembered that the sale of these sheep commenced on Saturday last at the grounds of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, but owing to the lateness of the hour the sale could not be finished. At this sale the result showed something over £36 each for these splendid sheep. The sheep sold yesterday at the company’s yards have a remote tinge of Leicester blood in them, the Messrs Sutton having commenced with Leicester ewes in Southland some nine years ago, crossing with a pure-bred Lincoln ram. The Messrs Sutton Brothers having been engaged in sheep-breeding in Lincolnshire prior to their emigrating to New Zealand, and recognising in this country a field where this breed of sheep could be farmed to advantage, determined upon importing both ewes and rams for the purpose of breeding sheep to suit the market. They therefore selected from the best flocks in England, with great care and judgment, the animals which, in their opinion,were best suited for this market. In the sheep brought before the Canterbury public by Messrs Sutton Bros, it has been observable that they were all of the same type, showing constitution, size, and symmetry, and growing wool which, for lustre and weight, has not hitherto been equalled. The result of yesterday’s sale was an average of nine guineas each, a price quite disproportionate to their real value, but the Canterbury breeders will no doubt appreciate the spirit in which Messrs Sutton Bros, have placed their sheep before them, their instruction to the auctioneers being to sell every sheep without reserve at buyers’ prices. We hope next year the prices realised will be more proporlionale to the quality of the sheep than on this occasion. The following were the prices realised for the lots submitted:—J. Clark, 9 guineas; Perrimau, 8 guineas, White, Bros, 10 guineas; Craddock, 8 guineas; Bailey, 9 guineas; Abbott, 7 guineas; Clarke (dipped sheep), 12 guineas; Bailey, 15 guineas; Boag, 10 guineas and 13 guineas; Patterson, 9 guineas : Messrs Kruse and Wellwood were also purchasers. The other sales were by Messrs Matson and Co and Mr E. Wilkin. THE DINNER. The market dinner to celebrate the opening of the new yards of the Canterbury Saleyards Company (limited) was held last evening at the Riccarton Hotel. About sixty persons sat down to dinner, served up in a most creditable style, and, for the bill of fare, at a very cheap rate. The chair was filled by SirCracroft Wilson, chairman of the Board of Directors, having his Honor the Superintendent on his right, and Mr J. T. Matson on his left. Mr R. Wilkin and Mr John Henderson occupied the vice chairs. The chairman said that to him it was a matter of great joy their meeting for such a purpose, and with that preliminary remark he would propose the health of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, The toast was loyally honored. The Chairman said that they had agreed that night to dispense with formal toasts, and had also determined not to touch on political matters. That settled they could not do much better than drink the health of his Honor the Superintendent, who had very kindly come that day to do a little bit of bucolic, it was however apart from his official position, and as the grandfather of Canterbury that he desired them to drink the health of Mr Rolleston. His Honor that day had said that he was always delighted ■ to be present on any occasion when the progress of Canterbury was concerned. Their yards, with all the changing circumstances of adversity and prosperity had now come to a successful termination. He hoped they

would meet once every year to commemorate the occasion for which they had then met, and he would advise (hose who wished to speculate successfully, to take up the shares still available, lie begged to propose “ The Health of his Honor the Superintendent.” The toast was drunk amid cheers and musically honored. His Honor, who on rising was received with loud applause, desired to thank Sir Cracroft Wilson for his kind expressions, lie was glad the dete:miration had been come to not to touch on politics, as he wished to be among them on that occasion as one of themselves, and as n friend who took a deep interest in the progress shown that day. [Cheers J He had experienced a feeling of gladness when asked by Mr Wilkin to be present that morning, as he was certain the undertaking was a move indicative of the unfailing determination of its proposers to work together with full confidence of success which must result in benefit to the country. [Loud cheers.] The success of that day would be an example to farmers of what might be done by co-operation for their own benefit and the advancement of the province. [Applause.] The presence of so many there that night, of the class whom their work would affect, was an indication of the success they might expect, for he saw more of those gentlemen around him than he had ever sei n before at any meeting of the kind. [Cheers ] Before sitting down he begged to propose “ Success to the new yards,” coupled with the name of Mr R. Wilkin. The toast was enthusiastically drnnk with musical accompaniment. Mr Wilkin said that in responding to the toast he wished to separate himself from the first portion of it, namely, the success of the yards. The yards were erected, and in the part he had taken in the matter he had only been impressed with one feeling, viz, that new yards were required. Ho had had a great deal of diffidence in going into this undertaking, as it was opposed to the interests of gentlemen whom he respected. On such an occasion as that he was obliged to mention names, and Mr Money and Mr Mitchell were those gentlemen. The former had only a limited amount of ground at his disposal, and Mr Mitchell’s land was leasehold, and this prevented the company operating in that direction. In organising the company the support expected was not received. The yards had, however, been erected, and the results of that day’s sale would, lie thought, prove that the people of Canterbury believed in the yards. (Hear, hear.) Before silting down he would mention that the Municipality of Christchurch had been appealed to take this matter up, but they, perhaps for good reasons—and he would not blame them, as they had done a great deal of good—would not do so. Those people who had first started yards for the accommodation of the public had done a great deal of good, and, remembering that, he would propose the health of Mr Money and Mr Mitchell, who had first opened yards. The toast was warmly received. Mr Mitchell in replying, said that in the absence of Mr Money he would have to re spend for both. When he arrived in Canterbury he was surprised to find that there was no public accommodation for the sale of stock. He had subsequently found that in the yards that afterwards existed, there was not sufficient accommodation for the sale of stock, and he had leased the yards opposite which he had thrown open to the whole of the auctioneers. (Applause.] Times had gone ahead, and both yards had been found insufficient for the requirements, and he begged to congratulate them on the opening of the new yards that day. [Applause.] They could not blame him for still attempting to utilise his own yards, which he would keep open for special sales on all days but Wednesdays, and for doing this he was sure they would not blame him. [Hear, hear.] He desired to thank them for the kind manner they had drank the healths of himself and Mr Money, Song—Mr S. Garforth. Mr J, T. Ford proposed the health of “ The Chairman, Sir Cracroft Wilson,” who had taken up the greatest number of shares in the company. He (Mr Ford) knew that some persons did not approve of the site of their yards, but he considered it was the best site they could have chosen. He had the honor of showing Mr Geo. Gould around them that day, and that gentleman had said that not only did the yards reflect great credit on the company, but they also had chosen the best site that could have been obtained. They were very much indebted to Sir Cracroft Wilson for all this, as chairman at their meetings he had been most indefatigable, and he had great pleasure in proposing that gentleman health. The toast was drunk amid much applause. Sir Cracroft Wilson, in replying, reminded them of what the poet had said about “ praise undeserved.” He thought that 100 much credit had been given to him. [No, no.] When the affair was first started, he had been asked to take shares, and he had said he would take £SOO worth—[cheers.] — and this he had done, and though he had been told by merchants and others that it was so much money lost, he had not cared, but had stuck to them all through with the present successful result. [Cheers.] He, however, desired to disclaim any credit for what he had done, and begged to thank them for the manner they had received the toast.

Song—Mr Paget. The Chairman proposed “The Health of the Architect of the yards and buildings, Mr Jacobsen.” He (the chairman) had often exhibited fits of temper towards that gentleman, and for this ho wished now to tender him his sincere apologies. Another matter he would refer to; for their land they had gone outside all who were interested in stock, and he desired to mention parenthetically that they wanted a theatre, and if they intended to have one erected they would have to do the same. Again referring to the subject of his toast, he begged to apologise to Mr Jacobsen for any heated expressions under disappointment he might have used at their committee meetings, and would ask them to drink his health

in bumpers. The toast was heartily received. Mr Jacobsen, in replying, referred to the difficulties that had been experienced in procuring timber for the works. When disappointments of that kind took place, the architect always received the whole blame ; but though Sir Cracroft had at times been annoyed, he had said nothing to offend him. It was his (Mr Jacobsen’s) belief that when the whole work of the yards was completed it would last for twenty years. He regretted he could not express himself as he would desire, and he thanked them for the manner they had drank his health. Mr R. Wilkin proposed “ The Health of Mr Ticknor,” who had proved himself in his

actions with the company a man worthy of their greatest confidence. [Applause.] Since they had taken possession of his land they had not had the slightest trouble with him, and on the company starting ho had offered and had taken up £SOO worth of paid-up shares. [Cheers] He had great pleasure, in proposing his health, as if he had not acted as he had done they would not have been able to hold their first day's sale with that day’s success. [Applause.]

The toast was drunk with musical honors. Mr T'cknor, in replying, heartily wisiuul the company success, and begged to thank the chairman for the kind expressions used with reference to him. The Chairman said he ought to tell them that so far as they had gone the Company was free from debt. They had flown no kites, but had gone to the length of their tether ; and if the remainder of the shares were not taken up, well then they must hypothecate their property to complete the rest of the buildings. He had taken the liberty to mention this, as he thought that it should be widely known for the benefit of Canterbury. There had been no secrecy about their proceedings —all their affairs had been thoroughly known —and he felt, with that sentiment, he might propose the toast of “ The Press,” in the freedom of which he was a thorough believer, and had been a follower of Lord Metcalfe, who lost bis life in upholding the liberty of the press in India. He would couple the toast with the representatives present. The toast was heartily drunk. Messrs Grey and Cogan responded.

The Chairman proposed—“ The Health of the Auctioneers of Christchurch,” a very valuable medium between buyers and sellers.

The toast was drunk amid cheers.

Messrs Alport, Mitchell, J. T. Matson, Newton, and Ford responded to the toast; the latter gentleman, amid much laughter, expressing a hope that his modest remarks as a “ budding ” auctioneer would be published. Mr Wilkin proposed the toast of “The Producers of Canterbury Stock,” coupled with the name of the Rev A. P. ©’Callaghan. The toast was enthusiastically received. The Rev Mr ©’Callaghan replied.

Mr E. Mitchell proposed “The Health of the Butchers,” coupled with the name of Mr Rossiter.

The toast was heartily drunk with “For they are jolly good fellows.”

Mr Rossi ter returned thanks for the manner in which the health of the trade had been drunk.

Mr Alport proposed “The Health of the Stock-dealers of Canterbury,” coupled with the names of Messrs J. Fergusson and S. Garforth.

These gentlemen replied, and after several toasts of a convivial nature had been proposed and responded to, the company separated at an early hour.