Stock Sales.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 12 May 1891, Page 2

Stock Sales.

The report of Messrs Freeman R. Jackson & Co.'s last stock sale at •Johnsonville is . surprising. That wethers and ewes should sell at the same figure, and reach such a sum as three-pence three farthings a pound, is perplexing, as it is out of all comparison with freezing prices. There must have been an unusual demand for mutton at that sale, and we would warn our farmers not to place confidence in expecting this sum to be the winter price. It would certainly be pleasing if prices such as we have quoted, 1 should become market rates, but as far as can be judged .there is* little to lead o_ie to suppose so. In Christchurch the usual stock sale took place on the same day as the Johnsonville sale, and there fat sheep showed no corresponding increase. Pens of heavy crossbreds% made 18s, 143 '6d and 18s 6d. We suppose that a heavy crossbred, even down South, would weigh from 751bs to 80lbs, and therefore, to equal the Wellington sheep, they should have brought ;28s 9d to SOs. Taking the whole ofthe large sale through, but few reached 18s Gd. We should like to hear more about this Johnsonville sale, as at present it appears that the prices were not justified. and must be decidedly misleading.

A case was heard in the Justices Court yesterday, before Messrs Thynne and Davies J's P. in which Oscar Cederland sued John Buckman for the sum of £14 4s 2d for wages and lnohey earnt on contract work in scutching and pressing, ft appeared that John Buckman erected the mill on behalf of his wife, and employed the plaintiff to assist him for the month of February. In March the defendant sublet the working of the mill to his three brothers, Joseph, George, and Robert. The amount disputed was the amount due on the contract work, the defendant swore that he never engaged the plaintiff, but his brothers had, and that he had distinct'y told the plaintiff at the end of February that he should not want him. Ho had not however, paid him more than SOs on acconnt. A brother-in-law ol defendant's, George Chuck swore that the plaintiff and himself took a contract off the brothers Buckman to scutch, press, and paddock. The plaintiff swore most positively that he had never had a contract with Chuck, had never taken any paddocking, and that he considered he was working all the time for John Buckman. A witness, John Young swore to having heard a conversation between the parties in which John Buckman informed the plaintiff that he would be responsible for the money. The statements on both sides were very positive, but the defendant was considerably put about by his brothers not appearing when called, and though he sent a messenger for them, they did not appear* The Bench awarded the plaintiff the full amount of his claim, with Court costs, 2.45, solicitors fee 425, and witness Bs. Sir W. Buller has received an intimation that the High Court of Justice gave a verdict for defendants in the case brought by Dr Cameron against Sir W. Buller and Co., directors of the Blue Spur Company, in which it was sought to recover damages for being induced to take shares in the Company. The settlers of Tauranga are concerned as to the causes and results of a mysterious slieep disease which prevails at _ Tauranga, and a committee has been appointed to investigate it. An important discovery of mica ore and talc has been made near the mouth of the Paringa River in South Westland. The lode is said to be of considerable thickness, and easily conveyed to the port, A quartz discovery is also reported on Mount Mueller, not far from the Francis Joseph glacier. The prospects, so far, gave 13dwts gold to the ton. Plenty of stone is easily accessibe. j At the Dunedin High School a silver cup was presented to a pupil named George Thompson, for his gallant attempt to save the life of his schoolmate; Le Brun, who was drowned by the upsetting of a boat in April. The Newfoundland delegates are indignant at Lord Knntsford publishing informa tion, which, so they contend, places them in an unbecoming position. The Union Steam Ship Company's new steamer Ovalau, bound from Dumbarton to Port Chalmers, has put into Plymouth with her maohinery disabled.