MASTERTON RAM FAIR

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10566, 23 February 1912, Page 5

MASTERTON RAM FAIR

DALCETY AND CO., LTD. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report:— The Combined Auctioneers (under the auspices of the Mastertou A. and P. Asociation), held their annual Fair on the Solway grounds yes~ ; terday. The different breeds set down for offering on the first day were Romneys, Shropshires, and English Leicesters. The quality of the yarding: all round was above the average, and we have no hesitation in saying jthat fewer inferior sheep were put 'through the ring tliL year than has been the case for a number of years past. Shrops-hires, which are a breed not in muen demand in this district, have in past years been represented by a small yarding of ordinary sheep; this year some exceptionally good, rams came forward from Mr H. D. Vavasour, of Blenheim, and the quality of the entry was much admired. This breeder has been a most siices'ful exhibitor of this class of ram at most of the principal shows in New Zealand, and has been a heavy prize winner in all .classes.'-Inter-est in yesterday's sale was chiefly centred in R«mneys,'and the quality of the rams offered was above expectations. The number of inferior rams that came through the ring was small and bidding for the majojrity of the lines offered was keen, and in'many instances very spirited. The special sale of stud Romneys under the aus- \ pices of the Ronmey Miirsh Breeders' Association was initiated yesterday,. and on the whole the fixture must be considered a succes,. as quite a number of exceptional quality rams came forward, and some high prices were realised. Still in our opinion the entry could have been conbsiderably cut down, as a number of the sheep entered as special studs could have been disposed of more easily, and without wasting so much time, among tho entry of flocks. The attendance at the Fair was very satisfactory, and buyers were present from all parts of the North Island; also a number of buyers from the South. Our principal sales in studs were on account of Messrs Short and A. L. Wheeler. For the former we sold under tho hammer the shearling ram "Record Breaker 41st" at 100 gns. to Mr All Matthews;, other studs on account same breeder realising 34, 31, and 30 guineas respectively. For Mr Wheeler we sold one-shear Romnev stud tarn "Burford No. 66" at 100 gns. to Mr J. W. Harding, of Mount Vernon. On account of other breeders:— J. E. Hewitt, 14 to 22-Jgns; A. and J. Gray up to 20gns; Wm. Perry, 20gns. Principal sales in flock Romneys were as folows:— J. H. Tatham, 5 to GJgns; W. B. Allen, 6. gns; W. H. Buick, 4J- to ojgns; Q. Donald, 4 to o-Jgns; Archibald Clark, 4 to sgns; R. Tanner, 3?, to sgns; G. R. Sykes. up to sgns; J. K. Hewitt up to 4|{gns; J. McLeod, 3.V to 4£ gns; P. Mungavin, 4}gns; Ladbrook and Sons (Southland), up to 4-Jgns; J. C. McKillop, 3J to 4gns; Estate late G. C. Wheeler, 3.V to 4 gns; Wm. Rjiyner, 3 to 3i}gns. The lowest price we obtained for Romney flocks was 2-£gns., which goes to show, that the quality of the yarding was good. At to-day's sale Lincolns and Southdowns will bo offered, and it anticipated that both breeds will be in demand.