SALE OF THOROUGHBRED STOCK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2791, 6 January 1888, Page 2

SALE OF THOROUGHBRED STOCK.

The anuualsale of the New Zealand Stud Company's thoroughbred year-k. fings which took place at Sylvia Auckland, on Wednesday, writes a Wellington paper, although said to of the Company, represents in its way a very great falling off as compared with the results of last year. Thirtythree youngsters were submitted-and sold, the total realised being 4816 guineas, or an average of nearly 181 , guineas. At the last -sale exactly the : same number were sold, but the total re- j : alised was 9491 guineas, being- an "• average of 287f guineas. It will be' seen from these figures that the yearlings tlijs year fetohed rather less than' half the sum realised last year. Tho falling off is a very serious pne, and its importance is. aggravated by tUe fact that tlie. sale included the lftst batcji of tyusket yearlings, a circu% to excite keen. Competition theiK^.' possession. ' Tlje, primary qause ojs|' such a widely different result is < doubtedly the depression which at . present exists ajl over the colony, and which is felt in Auckland 1 perhaps more than in any other part of the colony, Another evident cause was

the absence of buyers forom Australia: Last year the two highest priced lots, both of which fetched over 1000, guineas, were knocked down to the late Mr T. S. Olnrnside, of Werriliee, New South iVales, whereas this year thecoAfition acems to have, been entirelpunfined to this colony, unless foreign buypas were-represented by unknown agciifs. The failing off can hardly be ascribed to any depreciation in the quality of Musket's stock; for Maxim, Pearl Shell, and-, others have well maintained. their sire's reputation, although in Australia the three-year-olds have not done anything Sensational this year. While regret-; j ting that the sale was not more successful, it is pleasing to know that the returns have como up to expectations,and, after all, it is well understood that fancy prices for thoroughbred stock, are often determined by purely fortuitous causes. Had Maxim, for instance demoitttrated his undoubted excellence by \»ing the Victorian Derby (for whicMnfortunately, he was not entered* it is probable there would have been plenty of Australian buyers in Auckland yesterday, arid the prices would, perhaps, have been as high as ever.