SUCCESSFUL LAND SALE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3447, 29 March 1920, Page 5

SUCCESSFU L LAN D SALE.

THE ORUAMATUA ESTATE.

A VERY‘ LARGE ATTENDANCE.

In one short Saturday afternoon -the

23,000 acre estate of Oruamatua, cTwned by Messrs Lowry and Watt was

disposed of by auction. This estate had been divided into nine farms or pastoral rims, from 500 acres to 4000 acres in extent. and a complete clearance being effected, five by auction and four by private sale directly afterwards.

This land sale is the most important that has ever taken place in this district, as it is the first of the huge estates hereabout to be cut up and sold for closer settlement. Some two hundred people attended" the sale, which was conducted lby Messrs Hoadley, Son and Stewart, of Napier, in the Three Stars Theatre. Mr R. J. Eoughnan. of Arrowsmith and

Loughnan, solicitors, read the terms and conditions of sale. It was also

announced that a sale of the Oruama-

tua stock would be held on the 15th April, -so as to enable purchasers of the land to acquire whatever stock they might require, also that several buildings would be sold for removal. Mr Stewart, the auctioneer, created a good impression, and managed to

keep up considerable enthusiasm while the freehold sections were being offered. If auctioneering_ is an art, t-hen Mr Stewart certainly demonstrated flhat he is no mean artist. The fine library accumulated at Oruama-

tua station is well-known; this Messrs Lowry and Watt have presented to Moawhango, to be removed to that settlement, and to be used as a public library. Mr Stewax-t’s announcement that Moawhango was to have a public library was loudly applauded. Little time wa.-sa wasted and in only

minutes some £40,000 worth of freehold property had changed ownership, and about as much more money was involved in private sales shortly afterwards. Every lot being sold, a com-

plete clearance being effected. and Messrs Lowry and Watts‘ fine estate had passed into the possession of some half-a-dozen farmers’ hands. The highest price was paid {by Mr J. Whittle for 730 acres adjoining his property, the amount being £l6 5/

per acre, and the lowest was for a piece of very poor, indifferent land which Messrs Hintz and Ofcallaghan secured at 30/ per acre. The average price for the whole was, however, above the reserve that »had been put

.upon it, therefore the sale was par.l(f.icularly satisfactory to the vendors. ’The competition was fairly keen, and the prices realised are as fo11oWs: Lot I.—-730 acres, J. Whittle, £l6 5/.

Lot -2.—-760 acres, G. B. Chrystal], £lO.

Lot 4.—960 acres, J. Ho-Wes £6. Lot 5.——530 acres, Mrs G. Wheeler £l2 7/6. '

Lot 6.—1250 acres, J, ‘Williams £7. Lot 7.-—1790 acreé, Hintz - and o’Callaghan £5. Lot 8.—2220 acres, Hintz and o’Cal-

laghan £2. Lot 9.—4660 acres, Hintz and O’Cal-lag-han £1 10/. Ten thousand acres of leasehold went to the purchasers of Lots 8 and 9. ‘A

Lot 2, the homestead,.wa,s acquired by the manager of Oruamatau, Mr Cottrill, at a satisfactory figure, the amount not being stated.