MASTERTON RAM FAIR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3119, 19 February 1909, Page 5

MASTERTON RAM FAIR.

Mesrss Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report as follows on the annual Ram Fair opened yesterday:—Flock Lincolns and all classes of stud rams were submitted. The attendance was exceptionlly good, and buyers were present in large numbers from all parts of the district, as well as from Australia. It was anticipated that the high prices that had been ruling for Lincolns during the past three years would not be maintained, and this proved to be the case. Rams from well-known breeders' flocks were readily saleable at average prices, but sheep of inferior quality were absolutely a drug on the market, and many pens were passed out without a bid being obtained. We submitted a satisfactory catalogue of really good serviceable sheep, and at the end of the day had practically cleared every line placed in our hands for sale, the most noteworthy of our sales being as follows:—

On account of W. Perry, Penrose: —4 2-shear flock Lincolns, H to 4J guineas. On account estate late K. McKenzie: 20 1-shear Flock Lincolns, 3 guineas. On account W. Rayner: Flock Lincolns, 3| to 4 guineas. On account of H. Campbell, Hawke's Bay: 4-toJth Flock Lincolns, 3 guineas. On account W. H. Weybourne, Waverley: Flock Lincolns, 1-shear, 3& to 4 guineas. On account W. C. Buchanan: Flock Lincolns, 2£ guineas. On account Bland Rayner: Fleck Lincolns, 1-ihear. 3£ to 5£ guineas. On account W. McKenzie: Flock Li:.coins, 1 she r, 3f guineas. On account James Macara i Flock Lincolns, 1shear, 2\ guineas. Keen bidding was elicited for_a number of the Stud Rams, and especially was this so in connection with the 11 imported rams from Mr Charles Files' flock from Elham, England. These sheep werj on exhibition at the Masterton Show, and commanded much attentijn from Romney breeders. The sheep had been well advertised throughout the Dominion and Aus- J tralia, and quite a number of prospective buyers were present. There wree some exceptionally good sheep in this consignment, and "Elham" No. 45, the first ram offered, was | started at 50 guineas. Five guinea bids rapidly took the price to 100 guineas, and after further competition, the ram was secured by Mr A. E. T. Payne, of Melbourne, at the record price of 120 guineas. Considerable applause tootc place after the purchase was made. Elham No. 20 was the second sheep offered, and keen competition also took place for j this ram. Bidding rapidly ran to 90 guineas, and eventually Mr W. F. Jacobs, of Feilding, secured the sheep for 100 guineas. Elham No. 88 next came under the hammer, and was secured by Mr Payne, of Melbourne, for 100 guineas. Other purchasers of the imported shejp were as follow:—Elham No. 84, Mr J. McF'arlane, Hastings, 50 guineas;. Elham No. 29, Mr W. F. Jacoos, Feilding, 40 guineas; Elham No. 103, Mr P. Mungavin, Pori-ua, 40 J guineas; Elnam iNo. 28, Mr Donald McDonald, Edendale Estate, Southland, 40 guineas; Elham No. 3, Executors late J. Holmes, Edendale, 40 guineas; Elham No. 40, Messrs Gray Bros., Taratahi, 40 guineas. Other sales in Stud Romneys were as fol-low:-On account of W. B. Allen, 3-shear ram, 5 \ guineas; on account of Messrs Gray Bros., 3shear rams,lo to 17 guineas; on account of W. Rayner, 1-shear rams, 9£ guineas; on account of W. H. Buick, 1-shear ram, 6 guineas. Stud Lincol.-is:— On account of W. Rayner, one 1-shear ram, 12J guineas; on account of Bland Rayner, l-sh-'ar ram, 6 to 10 guineas; on account of J. Macara, 1-shear rams, 4 to 5J guineas; on ace unt of JtJ. Seth-Smith, Oamaru, 2-shear rams, 4Jtoßguin- t eas: on account of T. W. McKenzie, 2-shear ram, 11 guiieas. Stud Shropshires:—There was fair competition in sheep of this class. On accomt of B. Sjtr.-3mith, v,e effected sales at 4J to 5 guineas. Today the firm will be offering on account of many well-known breeders, Flock Romneys, English and Border' Leicesters, Shropshires, Southdowns, and Corriedales. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report as follows: —We report the following sales:—Lincoln Studs.— On account of W. Perry, 5 to 11 guineas; o;i account of Percy Bros., 4 guineas; on account of B. SethSmith, 7 guineas; on account of J. Macara, 3 to 4 guineas, Romney Studs.—On account of W. Rayner, 18 guineas; on account of G. E. Allen, 9 to 22 guineas; on account of G. R. Sykes, 10 guineas. Shropshires. —On account of W. Rayner, 9 gui.eas; on account of B. SethSmith, 5 to 6 guineas; Lincoln Flocks - On account of Percy Bros., 3 to 4£ guineas; on account of J. B. McKenzie, 2 \ to 4 guineas; on account of W. Gadsby, 2 to 3 guineas; on account of H. Middleton. 2 to 3 guineas; on account of W. Rayner, 3 to 5| guineas; on account of W. H. Wybourne, 3 to 4 guineas; on account of B. Seth Smith, 2| to 3 guineas; on account of Robert Johnston, 2 to 3£ guineas; on account of Robert Cojper, 3 guineas; on account of W. Perry, 2 to 4 guineas; various other breeders, to 2 guineas.

Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd.. report having offered a large catalogue of rams, fully 800 coming forward to a large attendance of buyers. They report sales as follows:—Flock Linculns—On account of McGregor Bros., froin 3 to s£gns; on account of W. McKenzie, from 3f to sgns; on account R. Bremer, up to 2|gns; on account R. Cooper, from 3J to 4gns; on account j. Hastings, to 2Jgns; on account R. Johnston, to Signs; on account L. White, 2g to 3£gns; on account B. Seth.Smith, up to Signs; on account D. McGregor, from 4| to s|gns; on account A. V. Collins, up to 2gns; on account of L. McKenzie, up to 2Jgns; on account Estate late J. Collins, up to 2igns; on account of James Macara, up to 2gns; on account W. Perry, from 4£ to BJgns; on account L. G. Bremer, 1& to lfgns; on account V. Collins, 1| to ljgns; on account W. H. Wybourne, 2J , to 6igns; on account R. Cooper, to 3gns. Stud Lincolns—McGregor Bras, to GJgns.; on account W. Rayner, up to GJgns; on account Mrs J. D. Ormond. 3 to 3£gns; on account W. H. Wybourne, h\ to 7gns; on account W. Perry, 9J tn 55gns, the

latter price being for a two-tooth | purchased by Riddell Bros., U.S.A.; lon account B. P. Lethbridge, to 7gns; on account L. White, 2 to 4Jgns; on account D. McGregor, 3 tolOJgns; on account J. Macara, 1\ toSgns; on account W. McKenzie, 4to 9|gns. Stud Romneys—On account of MGregor Bros., 5 to Bsgns; on account W. Rayner, to 6gns; on account W. H. Buick, to s£gtj; on account M. Gibson, to 4£gns; on account E. J. Riddiford, 10 to 25gns; on account New Zealand Government, to4gns; on account Mrs J. D. Ormond, 3 to 3igns; a 4-tooth on account Ernest Short was passed in at 180gns, the reserve being 2Cogns. Stud Southdowns- On account of J. C. McKillop, to Signs; on acount S. R. Lancaster, to 20gns; on account J. McGregor, 4| to 6gns. Flock Romneys, Border Leicester, English Leicesters, Southdowns, Shropshires and Corriedals will be offered to-day.