SALE OF STEAMERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 13, 22 April 1871, Page 5

SALE OF STEAMERS.

AVEBYlarge attendance was drawn on Tuesday afternoon to the late office of the N.Z.S.N. Co. (now Messrs Bethune and Hunter's sale room) to see how the Wellington and Ahuriri would be knocked down. Mr George Hunter acted as auctioneer, and, in reading the conditions of sale, announced that the steamers would be sold without reserve. The first vessel was the s.s. Wellington, 365 tons register, 80 horsepower. The bidding commenced by Mr John Martin offering £4OOO. Mr Harrison bid £4200, and then the bids ran on until Mr Harrison hid £SIOO ; £IOO advance was then made by Mr Martin, when a long pause ensued, which was broken by a Mr Ford bidding £5300. The competition was thenceforth between Mr Martin and Mr Ford, the vessel being ultimately knocked down to the latter gentleman for £7OOO. • When Mr Harrison came forward to complete the terms of purchase the bvstanders expressed their pleasure on discovering that the steamer was purchased in the place, it being generally understood that Mr Harrison was acting on behalf of the Wreck Recovery Company, and that the Wellington, and her sister ship, the Taranaki, would belong to the same owners. The s.s. Ahuriri, 184 tons, 50 horse-power, was next put up, and the bidding commenced by Mr Harrison offering £ISOO. Mr Pearce" made a few bids, but retired at £3OOO, and the steamer was ultimately knocked down to Mr Martin for £3650. This was received by the crowd by loud acclamation. A complete diving apparatus, the property of the N.Z.S.N. Company, was bought by Mr Pearce on behalf of the Patent Slip Company for £4l. Mr R. J. Duncan afterwards offered the steamers Phoebe and Lord Ashley, but there were no bids in advance of the reserves of £IO,OOO and £3500 respectively. Mr Martin offered £3OOO for the Lord Ashley, but it was not accepted.