SALE OF SHORT-HORNED CATTLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4244, 27 October 1874, Page 3

SALE OF SHORT-HORNED CATTLE.

(From the Otago Guardian, October 23.) The sale of the Waimea herd of shorthorn cattle, the property of George M. Bell, Esq., was held at his farm, Meadow Bank, to-day, by Messrs. Driver, Stewart, and Co. As might have been expected, this drew together an usually large concourse of buyers and of the public generally, who evinced no little interest in the business of the day—the moat important sale of its kind that has ever been held in this colony. The breeders of the North Island and Canterbury were well represented. Victoria, too, had her buyers in the field ; but we are glad that, although a portion is to go out of Otago, the whole of the valuable herd has been secured for New Zealand. We owe it to the judgment and enterprise of Mr. J. F. Kitching (acting for Joseph Clark, Esq., of Moa Elat), and Mr. Fitzclarence Roberts, of Kuriwao, that the most valuable animals, with few exceptions, are retained in this province, the former gentleman taking’Queen of the Butterflies at 325 guineas, and Ruby at 290 guineas —the highest prices given for any of the cows. This cebrated herd was commenced by Mr. Bell in 1867. The females were all purchased at Messrs. Morton Brothers and Leach’s sale, at Mount Derrimut, Victoria, in November of that year, and consisted of the April Flower and Jessamine tribes, which were nearly all prize winners in that colony. That Mr. Bell made no mistake in at that time selecting the April Flower tribe, including the champion heifer Queen of the Butterflies, the result of yesterday’s sale amply testifies; and Mr. Kitching, in securing nearly the whole of this tribe, and that grand old cow Jessamine the 4th, with her daughter Formosa, her sister Jessamine tire 3rd and Jessamine the 24th (the dam of the celebrated Red Prince, sold in Sydney for 378 guineas), has laid the foundation of what we make bold to say will one day prove itself the most valuable herd in the Australian colonies. Mr. F. Robert’s purchases, although not so numerous, were equally judicious, and comprise Waimea, Otamete, and Lady Valentine, descendants of Jessamine the 4th, one of whose daughters (Jessamine the 11th) was pronounced the best cow at the Mount Derrimut sale. Mi'. John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, secured two, and Mr. Larnach one heifer, while Mr. Richard, Kempshell would not be denied, and secured the only female bought for the Taieri.. Mr. Adams, of Hawke’s Bay, made most judicious selections from the heifers, to which chiefly he confined his attention. Mr. Hay, of Pigeon Bay, Canterbury, made spirited and very judicious purchases also in the young stock. Mr. Bluett, of Canterbury, the well-known editor of our “ New Zealand Herdbook,” takes back a reminder or two of his favorite shorthorns. The Victorian purchasers, although they bid spiritedly, were deterred from going to the full value by the fear of the stringent regulations and quarantine enforced in that colony ; while New South Wales, which would have been largely represented, was quite shut out, as her ports are closed to imports from New Zealand ; but notwithstanding these facts, our enterprising fellow-colonist, Mr. James Blues, of Tokomairiro, was all but successful in securing his two favorite cows, Queen of the Butterflies and Ruby, for the Victorian market, his bid of 300 guineas all but securing the former.

The sire selected was Prince Frederick, bred by the late William Robertson, Esq., of Colac, out of his imported cow Fanny. Prince Frederick is most fashionably bred, his grandsire, Booth’s Sir Roger, having left many prizewinners, and his services for one year were leased to the Rev. Noel Hill for 200 guineas. Ho was subsequently taken to Ireland, and used in the celebrated Westmeath herd. Sir Roger’s granddaughter, Lady Ann, was champion of England in her year. After an inspection of Prince Frederick’s stock, we nounce him a most successful sire—all-his descendants have faultless horns, and we , did not see a cow or bull without that mossy coat so unfailing a test of fashionable short-bom blood, while behind the shoulder they 5 are equally as good as at the hips, and all wellpacked on the quarter. King of the Butterflies, which Mr. Kitching purchased for the bagatelle of 255 guineas, is a magnificent animal, and we doubt if he is equalled in the colonies. In a hurried inspection we made his girth over eight feet; this for his age and condition is very good. In Marquis of Lome, Mr. Adams has a calf which promises to equal him, and which will do the province no; discredit in Hawke’s Bay. Mr. Threlkeld, of Canterbury, secured a sire in Prince Imperial at 125 guineas, own brother of Bod Prince above referred to.

Shortly after one. o’clock Mr. Driver, having disposed of the farm, proceeded to the ring, and, after a few apropriate remarks, submitted lot 1 of the bulls, Marrow Fat, which some judges consider, quite equal to the more generally fancied King of the Butterflies, and Mr. W. A. Tolmie speedily became his owner at the very low price of 100 guineas. King of the Butterflies was next offered, but, to the surprise of all, failed to elicit bids at all approaching his value, and was sent back to his box. Dawn was sacrificed for 70 guineas, and Prince Imperial went equally below his value. Seeing that buyers were apparently desirous of making their selections from the female stock before purchasing sires, Mr, Driver passed on to the cows, and the wisdom of this stop was at once evident, for, after Mr. Kitching took lot 1, Jessamine the 4th, at 70 guineas, Mr. Roberts followed with his fancies, Waimea and Otamete, at 160 and 170 guineas respectively. The competition now became spirited, and the success of the sale assured; but when lot 24, Queen of the Butterflies, entered the ring, Mr. Driver, giving time to inspect the ex-champion of Victoria, waited for Mr. Kitching’s opening bid of 200 guineas. The dry bones had now begun to move, and bid followed bid in quick succession until, at 300 guineas, she fell to the nod of Mr. Kitching; but her future ownership was not yet decided, as Mr. Bluett claimed the bid, and upon again submitting her the hammer' finally fell at 325 guineas to Mr. Kitching, who, as we before mentioned, took also Ruby at 290 guineas, Buttercup at 195 guineas, and Swectbriar at 160 guineas. The heifers sold very well throughout, and when the bulls were again led in, Mr. Adams took Marquis'of Lome at 200 guineas, a cheap calf; and Mr. Kitching got a dead bargain in King of the Butterflies, at 225 guineas.

IjOt BULLS. 1. Marrow Fat .. 100 guineas W. A. Tolmlo 2. King of the Butterflies .. ..255 „ J. F. Kitchlng 3. Danton .. ..70 „ W. A. Tolmlo 4. Prince Imperial ~125 ~ R. C. Thrclkold, Christchurch 6, Thorn .... 05 „ Robert Muir 0. Taierl .. .. 05 „ Mr. Adams 7. Red Prince 2nd .. 55 ~ Hay, Brothers, Canterbury s! Marquis of Lome 200 „ Mr. Adams 12. Sir Harry .. ~45 „ Mrs. Miller, West Taierl.

BULL CALVES. 1. Royal Butterfly .. 56 „ Hay Brothers 2. Peacock .. .. 24 „ Mr. Adams. COWS AND HEIFERS. 1. Jessamine 4th .. 70 „ J. F. Hitching 2. Waimea .. ..150 „ F. Roberts, Kuriwao 8. Otamete .. .. 170 ~ ,» 4. Waimea 2nd .. 105 „ Mr. Adams 6, Waimea 3rd ..95 „ Hay Brothers 6. Formosa .. ..100 „ J. F. Hitching 7. Formosa 2nd .. 130 ~ Mr, Adams 8. Formosa 3rd .. 75 „ „ 9. Lady Valentine .. 200 „ F. Roberts 10. Lady Valentino 2nd 50 ~ W. J. M. Larnach 11. Verbena .. .. CO „ Mr. Adams _ 12. Jessamine 3rd ..18 „ J. F. Hitching 13. White Jessamine 00 „ „ 14. Jessamine 20th ..70 „ Mr, Bluett, Chr. 15. Red Jessamine ..60 „ „ „ 16. Jesaamino 24th .. 180 „ J. F. Hitching 18. Rose .. ..80 „ R. Kerapshell 19. Tulip .. ..50 ~ Hay Brothers 20. April Flower ..28 ~ James Gall 21. April Flower 3rd.. 205 „ J. P. Hitching 22. Meadow Flower .. 105 „ John Duncan 23. Marchioness ..75 „ ~ 24. Queen of the Butterflies .. ..325 „ J. F. Hitching 25. Buttercup .. .. 195 ~ ~ 20. Sweotbriar.. .. IGO „ „ 27. Ruby .. ..200 „ 20. Oatamete 2nd .. CO ~ Mr. Adams 30, Countess .. ..90 ~ F. Roberts. HEIFER CALVES. 1. Formosa 4th .. 70 „ Hay Brothers 2. Moss Rose .. ..65 ~ Donald Grant 3. Bridal Flower .. 75 „ Hay Brothers 4. Wild Rose.. ..35 „ Mr. Bluett, Chr.