THE KAIROI SALE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 101, 6 March 1879, Page 2

THE KAIROI SALE.

[From the New Zealand Times, March, 5.] A large number of people collocted together yesterday to witness the dispersion ofonoofjthe finest collections of wellbred stock in the Province of Wellington. Mr G. Hunter lias long been known as one of the most successful exhibitors of prize stock at the various agricultural shows throughout the province for many years past, and in consequence many looked forward to the sale with great interest. The attendance from the Wairarapa and the Manawatu was good; the bidding for the cattle was animated, and the prices were satisfactory. For the sheep, good as they are, there was simply no demand. A few lots were sacrificed at figures which were no doubt satisfactory to buyers, but which represent a heavy loss to the breeder, If arrangements for the classing and sorting of the sheep into smaller lots had been made previous to the sale a few more might perhaps have been quitted, Among the pedigree cattle tho top price was .Tealised by King o' May, a very handsome roan bull, two years and seven months old, who took first prize at Napier, and competed for the champion prize, wherehe was admitted to be thesecond best in the champion class. Mr .Peter Hume gave £l5O for this bull, which must be considered a bargain at that figure. The sire of this animal, and the father of a large proportion of the herd, Father Christmas, was sold to Mr Phillips, of the Dry River, for £7O. Second King o' May, own brother to First King o' May, a year younger, fetched only £4O, and was bought by Mr C. Vallance; he is a far less handsome bull than Mr Hume's purchase, but is a very useful nuggetty animal, with many good points. The pedigree cows, heifers, and calves were sold at price varying about £2O to £OS, the latter price being given by Mr Hume for First Princess O'May, a very handsome roan heifer, which was much admired. She is a thick, very wealthy cow, and quite and model of symmetry, rivalled only by the second and third " Shadows," bought by Mr Gower fo.i £G2lOs and £75 respectively, and which were generally regarded as the handsomest cows sold during the day, and worthy of notice in any company, no matter how select, The two imported cows were not sold, One bid of £l5O was called, but the bidder desired a guarantee of" in calf," and the auctioneer declined to accept tho condition. A few pedigree calves was sold at very satisfactory figures, and about 40 head of well-bred cattle, but not entered as pedigree stock, wore disposed of at prices vary from £l2 to £ll, The high class average character of the animals was constantly remarked by tho visitors, and buyers and seller both during and after the sale seemed well content with their bargains, We regret sincerely that the demand for the sheep was so slack, It is at present hard times for sheepfarmers, and. owing to recent advicos from

Homo being of aji unsatisfactory nature for wool-growers, they are more inclined to economise than to speculate in stud sheep, A lot of 16G young Lincoln ewes sold to Mr Stucky at an average price of about 18s, Cd,,is but an instance of the liberal terms of sale open to bona fide purchasers throughout the day, the only reserve exercised being in favor of the two imported cows, and they wore open for the unremunerative prico to the importer of £l5O, Two imported Leicester rams, perfect models of symmetry, were sold for

£6 each. Three Lincoln rams fetched £5 each, and two Cotswold rams realised £8 and £6los each, There was no offer for any of the rest of tha sheep, although excellent judges agreed that a purchaser could not fail to make a great profit on animals bo woll bred and well woolled as those put up for sale, The auctioneer regretted that he had not been favored with offers for the sheep, and announced ■.hat the manager, Mr McKay, would be nstructed to entertain any reasonable jffers for the sheep unsold during the Jay. Lots to suit purchasers would be obtainable, and Mr Hunter expressed a belief, which we think was shared by all present, that it would be difficult to find a better or purer lot of sheep for sale anywhere in the colony. The sale closed at a few minutes before six o'clock. The brood mares, pigs, and the agricultural implements were not offered, but will be sold privately. A good lunch was provided, and everything passed of pleasantly, the weather being very fine and the company good humored. Had the sale taken place a year ago there would probably have been a very different tale to tell from that which lias had to be recorded. We append a list of the buyers and of the prices of the pedigree cattle Father Christmas, Mr Phillips .. £7O 0 King o' May Mr Hume .... .. 150 0 Second King o' May Mr Vallance.. 40 0 Bull calf. Mr Eiddiford 60 0 Bull calf, Mr Pratt 60 0 Bull calf, Mr Staples 40 0 Second Queen o' May, Mr Akeis.. 40 0 Third Queen o'May, Mr Sinclair.. 26 0 F nrth Queen o' May, Mr Bunny.. 45 0 Fifth Queen o' May Mr Sinclair .. 4210 First Princess o' May Mr Hume.. 95 0 Second Princess o'May Mr Tully,. 50 0 Third Princess o' May Mr Sinclair 35 0 Duchess o' May, Mr Sinclair .. 37 0 First Marchioness o'May Mr Tully 55 0 Second Marchioness o' May, Mr Bunny 40 0 Countces o'May, Mr Sinclair .. 45 0 Second Countess o' May, Mr 11, Mace 17 0 Third Countess o'May Mr Matthews ~ 22 0 Shadow, Mr Gower 47 10 Shadow Second, Mr Gower .. .. 62 10 Shadow Third, Mr Gower .. .. 75 0 Shadow Fourth, Mr Gower .. .. 37 10 Shadow Fifth, Mr Akcrs .. .. 55 0 Juliet withdrawn LadyAshlnidgcFourth ..withdrawn Heifer calf, Mr Riddiford .. .. 45 0 Heifer calf, Mr Elliott 45 0