Sale of Purebred Stock.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 259, 17 December 1903, Page 2

Sale of Purebred Stock.

Yesterday's gathering at Mr A. A. Fan'tilmxn'.s homestead at Egmoivt View, Hawera, was a notable one in the history of Taranaki, the occasion being the dispersal by auction of Mr Fantham'a pare-<brod cattle, horses and sheep. The herd of stud Shorthorn cattle is one of the best known in the colony, being tha res'ult of forty years of careful breeding from the very bust strains obtainable. The Egniont View herd was founded in Caintei'bury in 1865, and live of the heifers of the lirst cow p,urclia,sed, Belle, were wellknown in the show ring,. lm 1876 Grand IXichess of ILalcoinlie, am English bred cow, was added, and different bulls were from time to time obtained. In 1900 Armathwuite Butterfly was tthe liast cow

aitkled .y?hop_sfeg T ...wfl[

Eiiiguaiad. The bull liajah was imported at the same time. The results oi' this breeding l aaud importation are well known to all who kmow any tiling of prize cattle in th® colony, iutivl the lame of the herd has spread beyond the confines of New

ZealauiiJ. It w''Uis not surprising, thereiore, that a very large number o-f buyers attended the sale on WctluvsOwy, including prominent breeders from all parts of the colony. Amongst others were Messrs McL/oain>, of liawke's Bay ; Donald Eraser and JJu.lr.icl, liangitikei ; Caniii>bell, Wai:)g|anui ; J. Witkie, Brunswick ; and J. M. Wilkie, Man/utaJii ; and West Australia was represented by Mr Mitchell.

Aui|jlc preparations hiaid been made for tine reception of visitors, luncheon being served in a largv marquee o:n the lawn in front of tiie house. A really excellent colld collation was served. Conspicuous amongst tlie table decorations were the many valuable trophies, sets of plate, etc., worn by Mr i'aiHilia-iu at the various agricultural shows. Alter luncheon, Mr -\o 1 an's "how then, gentlemen, this way, pl**u>e," drew all to the rimjj which had ween lenced in for the sale. Mr Nolian then made some interesting; remarks concerning Mr i'tuitinun's success as a breeder of stud stock, amd staled that no nm.li in New Ze-alaiid had shown so ni,ueh stock or taken so mainy trophies aa the gentleman who

was compelled by failing health to disuse of his stock that day. At the some time it aflfonlod farmers and .breeders am excellant Wpportunity of securing the best Ulbod lor

the improvement of their herds. Mr Major, M.H.R., suid this sale was ; an epoch in the history of Taruawki This siplenKlid herd way diue to ttie integrity, consistency and enterprise of Mr Fauithaim, wlw, he regrett«l—as all who knew him regretted—was now stricken by illness. Unsuccessful efforts had been made to get tile Ciwvernnient to l purchase the Uull Buscoit Adonis i for the use of farmers in Taranuki. lie remarkod that the better the stock obtained, .the better it would be for the district.

'1 he sale was thi'n proceeded with, several linos of pure-bred sfrueep being disposed of lirst. Two English Leicosier sUhI rains brought live gjuin'oas each, eight twentooth rams fo*ur guineaM oacla, and 16 owe hogjjiets four guineas. Lincolns were not in great demand, but, brought fair prices.

Clydesdale korses were keenly competed for, prices ranging from 26 guineas for yearling filly by General Wheeler to 100 guineas for MissGrant by Quality King. The three year olid Miss Corfieltcl, by Quality Kinig, made 8.3 guineas, and Nellie I'll., by Director, 85 guineas. Others brouigjliit equally goiod prices, finding buyers in the aidjoiuing districts.

The first "lot" in the cattle section was tfhe pedigree bull Buscot Adams, three-year-oid. Diddling comnieueod at 100 guineas, anld <j/tikkly mounted by 25's to 200 guineas, wind then an additional 10 guineas offered toy Mr A. McLean, of Hawke's liay, securad this splendid animal at a very low figure. Buscot Adonis is by HVjuire, by Winter's Gift, by our late Sovereign's New Year's pit Pile latter sire held ain un- ' r«coiiid llM(1 also sired Royal l)u|ke iiU 509, wiho was champion of Mvgiaiiid, Ireland and Scotland. A red I lull by Kajaih found e, purchaser u ' Wilkie at 19 guineas, and n ame buyer secured a yearling by Buscot Adonis at ;!5 guineas. Mr t n.ll .of Wangaiijui, bought- lioo7«oo ' a roMl cow calved Dec. at 85 S " ineas ' other ohoiMihorn cattle ta'oaitgtbt lip to 100 aui'iKas. Prices through*,,, t the sale «ue moist satisfactory. A pleasing feature of the day was that mia:uy of tmeue magnificent uminnals were so-> cured by Taranafci buyers, so that we win yet protit by Mr Funtluuu's I tiiou'tfhUul bi ,j eocihig.