CUTTING OF THE WAIPAHI ESTATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 40

CUTTING OF THE WAIPAHI ESTATE.

Somewhere in the late fifties the land now known as -the Waipa'hi Estate, together withl some adjoining property, was taken up by Mr Gordon Rich, of Wairun*. He sojd th* Waipabi portion to Mt C. de V. Tesc-he-maker, who occupied it till 1865 o»-l£6«. Thd next owner was Mr Harry Robißon, weH known for his interest in racing. He helcl it till about 1871. In 1872 Mr W. A. Tokniei acquired; tho property, which up till then had been a Government run. During the n«xfc fa v years Mr Toliru'e secured th» Cxown gr«nti of the- property, thus raakinff it ft freehold 1 . Mr" Tolmie died 1 in 1876, when tbe estate was suooees-ively managed by Me*sra Jopp, Swan, and J. R. Caanpron, all well known in the seventies, In 1884 Mr Hugh Tohniet took charge, an<J has oo&iiinuedi till 1906J,, when ho appointed Mt R. J. HondrrLe as manager. In 1907 the estate ms sold to « Canterbury eyndioa/te, wad h«4 been cut -ftp* Th« Waipahi nook- was opk&nvttid hy drttftf of ewes from vanoug tffrjj-known br«*£U<r# of the seventies, and! the »ite£ £rawn lafgaljt from the well known old Olilton B^thm**

flock, then owned by the late Mr W. A. 1 Tolmie, which was formed principally from ihe imported Romneys of I>r "Webster (of Oanja-ru), and 1 subsequently kept up by stud rams from, the flocks of the ]ate Mr James Holms, and Messrs Watson Sherman and T. L. BainhilL The wool for the last 30 years ha^ been sold in London, with the exception of one year. Last year one-third of the clip averaged Is 4d per lb in the grease. The sale of the land has necessitated the disposal of the stock, and this is to be finally completed en the 11th inst at Clinton. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report- — Rabbitskins. —Consignments are not very li-eavj at present, and no sales have been held since last report. Quotations. Best winter does are worth 17d to 18d; do bucks, 14d to 16d; medium winters, 13d to 15d; epring, 7d to 9d; summeis, 6d to 7d; halfgrown and hawk-torn. 2\d to 5d per lb. Sheepskins. —The usual weekly sales of sheepskins jESTe" held on Tuesday, 4th in=t., ■when we submitted a moderate catalogue. There ivas the usual attendance of buyers. liut prices were barely up to late rates, with the exception of lamb skin';, which woie ' from par to id per lb hieher. Fine woolled skins showed a drop of Jd to Jd per !b. md coarse woolled skins horn Jd to && Pelts sold at about last vrcsk's rates. Quotations Best halfbreds, 7gd to 8d; medium do 5d to 6fd: best crcesbreds, 5Jd to 6f d; medium, 5d to 5J J, inferior and coarse, 4d to 5d , lt>est merinos. 6jd to 7Jd; medium do, 6rl to egd; pelts, SJc 1 to 4id; lamb skins, 4d to 6£d per lb. Tellow and Fat. —The market is bare of BupplieSj and 1 a ready sale meets all consignments coming forward. Quotations Best rendered, 23a to 245; good do. 18s to 225; inferior and medium, 14s to 17s 6d; best rough fat, 17s 6d to 19s; medium do, 15s 6d to 17s; inferior, 123 to 15s per cwt. FORTNIGHTLY LABOUR REPORT. Central Labour Exchange, Arcade, Dunedin, reports th-at during the past two weeks very little country work has been coming forward, althougu there are faim labourers and teamsters applying for positions. Labourers are scarce, and the claes of men ■unemployed do rjot care to take to navvying. Wages are ranging as follows- —P^ughrnen, 255, 27s 6d; milkers. 255, 22s 6d; '"■arresters, 9d and lOd per hour; married couples. £85, £90; stackmen, Is 3d per hour; farm la-d-5, abl» to milk, 15s and 17s 6d; cooks, 25s to 40s.