STUD DISPERSAL SALE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1920, Page 1

STUD DISPERSAL SALE

Shorthorn .breeders from all over the Dominion attended the dispersal sale on Friday at Addington Show Grounds of Messrs W. and J. Nixon’s noted Killinchy stud of shorthorns. The stud is one of the oldest-established in the Dominion, Mr W. Nixon having been a breeder for over half a century. His herd has been enriched from time' to time with stock purchased from such well-known breeders as Messrs Bluett, McHardy, Rothbone, Watson, Threlkeld, the Te Aute and Mount Herbert Estates, arid Lincoln College. The stud lias annexed a long string of prizes in the various show rings in the Dominion and also in Australia, and few pedigree herds can equal it in this respect.

The sale was a most successful one. Tlie catalogue comprised G 6 cows and heifers and 10 bulls, arid, though nor prepared for auction, they were all shown in excellent condition. The auctioneers officiating on behalf of Messrs Matson and Co. and P.vne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., put through tlie lengthy catalogue with a minimum of delay, and the merits of the various lots did not suffer in description m the process. The bulk of the animals will remain in Canterbury, Mr J. O. Coop, of Little River, being a heavy purchaser, but tlie future home of a number of the animals will be as. far afield as the Waikato and the Rangitikei, in the North Island, Greymouth on the West Coast, and Winton and Fortrose, the latter on the bottom edge of the South Island. The demand was keen from the first lot put up, and for the pick of the beef strain big values were realised. Top price for a cow was 2oogs, paid by- Mr Coop for Ellesmere Dewdrop, a pri,zetaker and reserve champion, a really fine animal, which fell to the Canterbury breeder’s bid after an animated contest with Messrs Thompson (Winton) and Perry (Feilding). Cows with a milking strain were also in keen demand, a number being eligible for entry in the milking herd book. In all nine “centuries” were recorded, the successful bidders being from widely separated localities.

Tbe 59 cows and heifers sold realised the aggregate sum of £4071, an average of £69, which ranks the sale as one of the best as far as prices are concerned held in the Dominion. The sale of the bulls opened with a keen contest for Ellesmere Carbine 10th. Bidding commenced at 300 gs and jumped quickly, the animal eventually falling to the hid of Riddiford Bros! (Upper Hutt) at the fine price of 475g5. The yearling bulls were the cheapest lots of tbe catalogue, and buyers were fortunate in securing such gooa strains at such moderate prices. However, the sale throughout was a notable one, from the viewpoint of the quality of the catalogue, the values paid, an the wide area covered by the buyers. The following lots were purchased by West Coast buyers:— COWS AND HEIFERS.

Ellesmere Wild Eyes 22nd, four years—D. McLean (Greymouth), 60

guineas. Ellesmere Queen of Beauty, five years—D. McLean (Greymouth), 45

guineas. Ellesmere Flora 3rd, two years.—D. McLean (Greymouth), 30 guineas.

BULL. Gambler, calved Mar'cli, 1919—J. Shanahan (Greymouth), 13 guineas.