ADVANCE SOUTH WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1920, Page 1

ADVANCE SOUTH WESTLAND.

OPENING OF BOLD HEAD SALEYARDS.

There was a very large and representative attendance of the settlers of South Westland, and visiting general public at Lower Ivakapotahi on Saturday afternoon when Messrs W.- J. Jeffries and Coy’s new stock saleyards were opened officially. For the occasion there was a good entry of stock and the locality wore a very busy aspect throughout the afternoon.

Those attending included the settlers.

their wives and families for several miles round, and all were very hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Jeffries and a host of assistants. The new yards are situated at the southern end of Bold Head road, where it debauches on Ivakapotahi river near the junction with the main Waitaha river. A large number of folk travelled from the north by way of the main south road. The main highway is left at the north approach to the Big Waitaha bridge. To cross the minor stream horses and traps had to be used, and the yards were reached in a few chains. They are of commodious dimensions, but as yet only half their intended size. They are substantially built chiefly of silver pine, and good paddocking is near at hand. The location of the yards is adjacent to where the railway station site will be when the long deferred railway is pushed south, as it must needs be in the near future now. Under the shade of some sheltering pines the host and hostess and assistants had spread a repast where all enjoyed a hearty meal and light refreshments. All wei’e well catered for, and the pleasant situation and surroundings added to the enjoyment of the gathering. Prior to the sale commencing, a formal opening ceremony was conducted by Mr T. W. Bruce, County Chairman. The Chairman congratulated Jeffries and Coy on the enterprise shown in erecting the yards. He referred to the absence of a bridge over the stream they had to cross by vehicle, and explained that the local body was only waiting the. sanction of the ratepayers to put tlie work in hand. The County Council was prepared to find the principal sum for the structure, while all the ratepayers would be called on to pay would be the interest on the money borrowed. Mr Bruce then dipped into ancient history detailing the story of Smithfield market —the first recorded sale-yards. He recounted some of the early incidents in connection with that historical market, remarking that Watt Tyler and William Wallace were both hung there —as a mark of ignominy. In 1878 there was a famous sale of stud stock at Smithfield when the Duke of Devonshire sold JO bulls, and the price realised was £29,838. Coming down to the present, Mr Bruce referred to the need of settlers cultivating their holdings so as to produce more feed and carry more stock. He gave the opinion of Mr Kinsella, the dairy expert, who stated that the holdings in the district were too large, and smaller areas cultivated would yield them better returns. Touching on the Bold Head road, the completion of which • was such a'vexed question, Mr Bruce said that when the County elections came round they should put in younger blood to carry through the work. The speaker proceeded to give details of the stock in Westland, and considered

the district was not doing badly. It would do much better when “the hole through the hill” was available tor

traffic to reach a stable market like Addington. Mr Bruce explained the delay with regard to the Little -Waitalia bridge for the want of the necessary hardwood, and he hoped as a result of tlie enterprise of Jeffries and Coy., ICakapotalii bridge would be an accomplished fact soon. The County Council had done a good service to the district by contributing to the cost of Alikonui bridge, the provision of which

was such a boon to traffic. He concluded by urging the settlers to cooperate in helping themselves in regard to local works, stating the Council was ready to assist them in every reasonable way.

Air S. P. Evans. Mayor of Ross, apireciated the progressive policy shown

by Jeffries and Coy. in the building of tiie fine yards they saw before them that day. Mr Jeffries could be looked upon as “the father of sale-yards” in South Westland, as he had previously erected yards at Hari Hari and Okarito Forks, bringing the buyers closer to the settlers, and so assisting to help the district along. The venture and enterprise shown had his best wishes. Mr W. J. Jeffries, who was receded with applause, thanked the County Chairman and the Mayor of Ross, for their kind remarks on behalf of his firm. He was pleased to see so large an attendance of the public and thanked them for their patronage. The yards were a commercial proposition and were as much in the interests of the settlers as in the interests of his firm. Ho had promoted the first stock sale in the south at Hari Hari in 1913, and the growth of the stock trade since then fully justified Jhe enterprise. The local yards enabled the settlers to clear or buy stock without loss of time of travelling and spending their capital elsewhere. The local sales brought buyers and settlers together, and so were a ready medium for the circulation of extra capital in their own districts. Ho referred to

tho area of land available for stock raising in Westland, and retelling to the possibilities of the district looked forward to seeing a railway station in close proxitmity to where the yards now were, and bo believed that in tho near future tho buyers from tho north would come by rail to Kakapotaln. The Westland land was proving its capability to carry stock, and it was proving also equal to tho best land of Taranaki and Waikato in tlio quality of stock turned off it. His firm was

out to cater for the settlers now as it always had been. Some big firms were coming to the Coast, firms which.had not borne the burden of the development of the stock trade on this Coast. He was sure the settlers believed in measure for measure as regards their trade, and the motto of his firm was “value for value.” He thanked Messrs Douthwaite and Manera, the contractors, for the workmanlike manner in which they were carrying out their contract erecting the yards. Their next sale there would be a spring sale. The firm was making an effort to be of direct benefit to the settlers, and he hoped advantage would result all round.

Mr Bruce then declared the yards open and called for three cheers for Jeffries and Coy., which were given heartily, and an adjournment was made to the top rail, where Mr Bruce auctioned a vealer donated by Mr S. G. Ferguson ior the benefit of the Hospital Memorial Wing Fund, the auctioneer pro tem being in . good form, and the bidding spirited. The beast was sold and resold several times, and in all realised £72 11s, ultimately being bought by Mr Jeffries for £5, the firm thus having the credit of buying the first beast sold in its own yards. The following were the bids recorded:—

Messrs J. Sullivan, £5 ss; Messrs Kirby, Hewer, Robertson, J. Diedrichs, H. McMullan, Gibb, Jeffries and Cov., each £5; J. Ferguson, £4 4s; W. Searlc, £4; J. Mahera, W. Wright J. D. Lynch, J. McGregor, T. Elcock, P. Ryder, each £2 2s; H. Reynolds, Wilson, Pender, Evans, Trembath, Stark, Canterbury, Simpson, Karnbacii, S. P. Evans, each £1 Is; J. Cropper £l.

With the Government subsidy the sum received will total £l6O for the benefit of the deserving fund so generously assisted. The sale was then proceeded with, and particulars of same are given below. Later the folk returned to their homes, after spending what was voted generally as being a very pleasant outing, indeed.

THE SALE. The entries comprised 312 head of cattle, 213 sheep and lambs, and 20 pigs. Tlie attendance was a very representative one, buyers and vendors being present from all parts of Westland. After the formal opening of the yards hv Mr T. W. Bruce (County Chairman) who disposed of a very fine vealer donated to the Westland Memorial Wing by Mr S. G. Ferguson, which realised (together with subsidy) somewhere in tlie vicinity of £l6O, the sale commenced in real earnest, the de-

mniul, especially towards the fu ish, being very keen. There was, however, a tendency similar to that recently experienced at other stock fixtures to hold off purchasing calves, weaners and young stock generally. For nil other lines prices were well tip to late rates. ■Good '< to 3-yr stores brought up to £l3. The following sales were recorded under the hammer: —

Sheep.-—For J. Smith, 40 wethers at 28s; for J. Manera, GO ewes and wethers at 27a, pen of lambs at 20s. Cattle.—For H. Reynolds, 4 yr. steers at £3 10s; for Jas. Manera, 3 empty cows at £9, 1 do. heifer at £7 17s 6d, 1 aged cow at £4 10s, 1 2-yr. Steer at £7 ss; for S. G. Ferguson, 17 18-mos. steers, £5, 5 do. heifers at £6, 1 dry cow at £8 10s, 2 'heifers at £5 10, 1. do. at £4; for Jas. Davidson, 1 heifer at £6 10s, 11 f. and f. steers at, £ll 2s Cd, 1 first heifer at £9 10s, 15 forward bullocks at £l2, 8 cows with suckers at prices ranging from £3 15s to £6 10s, 1 sucker £3 Is, 1 do. at £3; for P. Doulgas, 6 fat cows at £lO 10s; for J. Douglas, 1 heifer at £9, 1 at £4 10s ; for Jas. Cropper, 13 2-yr. steers at £8 Is, 4 18-mos. steers at £7, 5 2-yr. old heifers at £8 Is 3 18-mos. heifers at £7; for Hugh McGowan, 7 fresh cows at £9 ss; for a client, 4 cows and 1 suckers at £6, 2 do. at £5 ss, 9 calves and yr.-heifers at £2 16s, 20 steers at £lO. Several lines, mostly empty cows and young stock were sold privately at the end of the sale at prices in keeping with the above rate.