LAND SALE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 863, 31 March 1877, Page 2

LAND SALE.

The St. Leonard's Estate. The sale of Messrs cthodes and Wilkin's estate in the Amuri Country, known as the Bt Leonard's, and cut up into runp, with stock, agricultural farms, township sections and euburban lots, took plac? at Messrs Miles, Hassal and Go's Wool Salerooms, Hereford street, on Thursday last. As the properties were well-known, and since placed before the public had been visited by buyers from all quarters of Canterbury and other districts, as might have been expected, there was a very large attends* ca. A very liberal luncheon had been provided by the agents for 1 he vendors, and a little after 2 p m. after a portion of the many good things prepared tor those present had been disposed of, Mr 0, Newton, of Messrs J. T. Ford and Co (who was officiating as auctioneer for the agents of Mr Bhodee), mounted the rostrum. The conditions of sale were read by Mr Hammer (of Messrs Hanmer and Harper, solicitors to the vendors), that portion referring to the purchase money stating that one-third was to be cash, the balance extending over six years, with annual instalments bearing 7 per cent interest. The first lot submitted was the " Mount Palm Block," of about 11,935 acres 2r ISp, with 90Q0 sheep. After describing the details of this run, and dwelling for a short time on the opinion he (Mr Newton) had arrived at wilh reference tp it after personal inspection, the first bid of £20,000 was made. When £24,000 had been reached bids of £SOO were taken, and at £27,50Q the auctioneer intimated that he had receivc4 authority to take bids of £250. This produced another Md, and no more being procurable the property was knocked down for £27,750, to Mr Bobert Chapman, the wellknown merino breeder of Canterbury. The name of the purchaser was received with applause; The next lot was the "North Cape Block," of about l§loa lr 38p, with 2000 cross-bred sheep. The first bid received was £SOOO, and ultimately the property fell to Mr Robert Chapman for £7OOO. The third offered was the " Isolated Hill Block" of about 17,425 a Or 2p with 13,000 sheep. The first bid received for this property was £30,Q00, and after £43,000 had been reached the auctioneer intimated that £SOO bids would be taken. This concession, however, produced no increase, as the ran

was knocked down for £43 000 to Mr John Macfarlaue of Bangiora. " Shearing Pad dock Block" of about 4094 a 2r 12p with 2000 sheep was next submitted, the first offer being £6OOO. Ultimately the auctioneer bid £7260 ou behalf of the owners, and the property was withdrawn. The " p *&»yi Block" of about 5675 a 2r 3p wnth 4000 sheep followed. Mr Newton's nr*<-, otter was £15,000, and bids of £SOO them being taken, after a little persuasion the amount reached £16,500, and a short "dwell" intervening, the run was knocked down for that amount to Mr B. Bethel, late of Selwyn. " Kaiwarra block, of about 19,189 a 2r 15p, with 15,0U0 sheep, was next introduced. The first bid received was £36,0C0, and after .£36,500 had been reached, no higher offer being obtainable, the auctioneer bid £38,500 for the owners, find at that price the lot was withdrawn. " Hurunui Block," of nbout 6851 a 2r 29p, with 5000 sheep, waa next submitted, £12,000 first catching Mr Newton's ear. After £13,750 had been arrived at, that bid was " dwelt upon," and the owner's bid of £14,750 was sufficiently satisfying to buyers present. The cream of the property woe next brought forward, and once more the well tried descriptive powers of Mr Newton rang round, as, in his own language, he feebly attempted to introduce the " Homestead Block," of the acreage of 24,4461 Or 38p, with excellent working buildings, and 26,950 sheep, 82 horses, and 55 cattle. £60,000 was the first bid offered, and very rapidly the bids ran up to £70,000. Not all the auctioneer's eloquence, however, could fetch another, and after dwelling a number of times for " the last time," the Homestead was withdrawn at the owners' bid of £75,000. South Cape Block of about 1610 a lc 38p, with 1000 cross-bred sheep, was the last of the runs on the catalogue, and was started at £3OOO. Shortly after the start £IOO bids were taken, and eventually MrT Greig, builder, of Christchurch, became the ownerat £3700, the result causingconsiderableapplause. After thanking all present for their attention and kind consideration for bis shortcomings, Mr Newton retired, and was succeeded by Mr Aikman, who commenced with the farm lots. The hour was, however, late, and an the attendance thinned rapidly, only the following lots were quitted :—Lot 34, 75a lr lp, at £3 15s per acre, to Mr Jones ; lot 35, 105 a 3r 39p, at £3 10s, same purchaser; lot 36, 151 a lr 36p, at £3 per acre, same purchaser ; lot 39, 77a lr 14p, at £4 12s 6d, to Mr Fraser ; lot 42, 104 a lr 27p ; lot 43, 110 a 3r 24p ; and lot 44, 101 a Or 24p, all at £3 17s 6d per acre, to Mr George. Mr Aikman intimated that this would (close the sale, but that the remainder of the farm lots—including those withdrawn that day and the township allotments, would be submitted on an early day, of which full notice would be given. The groBS proceeds realised for tha day amounted to nearly £IOI,OOO.