THE GERALDINE SALE YARDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1088, 29 March 1883, Page 3

THE GERALDINE SALE YARDS.

Last Tuesday will long be a memorable day in Geraldine, being the occasion of the opening ot the new sale yards erected by Messrs Mundell and Co, auctioneers. The yards are certainly the most complete and best out of Addington. There is nothing like the* in South Canterbury, and if we are to judge by the start that was made last Tuesday we should predict for them a prosperous future. We have not obtained any reliable information as to the entries on last Tuesday, but it was admitted by all that such a sa 1 e or such a large number of people was never before seen inthedistrict. There must have been at least 600 people present. Almost all the pens were full of sheep as were also the cattle yards, Mr Mundell commenced to sell a few minutes after one o’cleck. He explained that it had been intended to open the yards with a public dinner, but circumstances prevented it. The yards were got up as well as they • could be, and their management in future would be delegated to a committee of farmers who could make such rule* for their conduct as they would

think advisable. The yards would be open to everyone tree of charge, Every farmer in the district could put his stock into them, and get any auctioneer he liked to sell for him. No raattei where an auctioneer came from he would be allowed to sell just as well as he (Mr Mundell) would. It was to be open to all, there were to bo no exceptions. The yards were opened for the first time that day, and he had no doubt but that they would prosper, and be in existence long after they were all dead and gone. Mr Mundell then began to sell a lot of fat wethers, and the bidding was very spirited, persons being evidently vieing with each other as to who would buy the first lot offered in the new sale yards. After the weathers had been run up to 10s each they were knocked down to Mr Robert Taylor. The sale then proceeded very briskly and excellent prices were realised, Mr Robert Taylor, of the Geraldine Hotel, kept an open house on that day, where all and sundry could go and regale themselves to their heart’s content. To show the good feeling which exists between Mr Taylor and those in the same trade with him in Geraldine, we may state that Mr Thos Farrell, of the Ba«h Hotel, and Mr Digby Andrews of the Crown Hotel, lent their assistance in attending to Mr Taylor’s guests during the day. This shows the united manner in which Geraldine people work together. A fuller report of the sale, and also of the yards will, appear in a future issue of this paper.