SHORT HORN CATTLE IN 1883.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1817, 28 February 1884, Page 4

SHORT HO RN CA TTLE IN 1883.

The highest pi ice obtained fora shorthoni dining the year was 1 50.1 guineas — that w .is the sum for which a red four-year-old cow, ' Dudleys of Leinf-t2r," was •>old as jVIr Holford's sale in Doisctshiie : the next best prices made in the course of the jear weie r>G5, 433, 300, and 215 guineas respectively. Hut these are poor ligurcs when com pared with the sums realized for shoi thorns in 1879, when four animals reali/.ed 7300 guineas, and 2.53.1 ho id made an average of within 3d of IS guineas. In that year, however, we had the second Dunmore sale, where .">4 of these cattle were brought to auction and realized a total of a little over I' 1 3,000 btci ling, the highest price being 4200 guineas, paid by Mr Allsopp, who also paid 2700 guineas for another animal, both Duchesses. The average made made at the Dunmore sale of 1879 was a handsome one, although it was not the best of the year; it was €241 18s 2d, as against £282 10d obtained at Loid Skelmersdale's sale on September 3. In that jear there were other two good averages worth naminir— Lord Biaybrooke's £181 Bs., and Lord Fitzharding's £147 9s lOd. These, no doubt, are fair figures, and it will probably be many >ears before the Dunmore average of 1875 be topped — as we recorded at the time, it was £672 Bs. In 1879 the value of all the animals sold at Thornton auctions amounted to £112,966. In the following year (18S0) only one sale contained animals that brought over £100, it wan that of Earl Bective, at which the average for 72 cattle was £138 8s 4d, the total sum realised amounting to £11,436 3s. Dining 1880 thcie weio 46 sales, at which 1738 shot thorns were disposed of by Mr Thornton, the average made over all being a little more than £33, the grand total X(i1, 220. In the following year the pi ices of shorthorns had fallen still more ; but for one of the animals disposed of by the Duke of Manehescer 1110 guineas were obtained. Five other animals changed hinds at 520, 325, 310 (2), and 305 guineas respectively. That jeai saw the dispersal of the longe<.tahhiht>d Keir herd, the property of the late .Sir \V. Stirling-Maxwell, and in the Mime season seveial other line .Scottish flocks of slioitlioins came under the hammer. Passing on to the year 18S2, we find the average that was made impioved to the extent of some 50s, the highest sum given for any one animal beii.g 730 guineas— the best average obtained at any one sale being £83 6s 7d, the next best £71 3s Bd. In that year the number of sales by auction which took place was S5, and the total sum realized by the 1568 cattle disposed of was £45,388 &*• Two of the sales this year weie of Scottish herbs. Coming back to the piesent year (1883), we Him the value of the shorthorned stock disposed of —we ar« quoting from Mr Thornton's reports— ->hus been £63,009 18s (id, the average obtained showing a considerable improvement on thut of the tlnce preceding yrais-it was JL'45 15s 3d, which issofai satisfactory as showing an increase of £10 on the itveiageof 18S2, and is besides the bcstaveiage since IS7D, when the sale of the Dunmoie herd so gieatly helped to swell the figures. It i» now supposed by those bust able to foi m .in estimate of the futuie piospects of shoithoin stock that pi ices next year will, at all e\ents, not be below those of the piesent season, whilst theie is some little piolwbility of fieii e\ en being somewhat higher : but it is not thought likely, by even the mot>l sanguine bieeduis, that such sums as tin ee and four thousand guineas will be speedily seemed for individuals of the finest stiains of shorthorn blood. This year the prices have been much helped by foieten demand, which lias beui consideiable — America having again been felt in the mai kets. Last yeai they were not in the way of pin chasing shoithoins, being lately inteiested in the development of their beef oxen and famy cows. Canadian buyers h«i\e also been .it woik this year, and although the season tilers has be«.n a fair demand foi bulls for ex poitation ; these, however, only brought moderate sums. Foot and mouth disease has also had some ellect on the shorthorn sales of the peiiod. — N.B. Agiicultinist. With lespect to the no\elty of the incandescent lamp, the Electric an I asks ; " Would it bcsuipiioing to many readeis to leain that incandescent electiic lamps were used forty years ago to illuminate a mine ?" and supplies the answer: — '• We are so accustomed to be led astray by the rapid piograss of the last few years as to forget the work of pioneers. Caibon in a vacuum was used in the lamps refened to." The electric light was shown from the I Hike of York Column forty years ago. It was also used on tlu j stage ; being pi oduced nt Her Ma jest? 8 Theatre in a ballet called " L'Electra," and at the I rinccW Theatre in a pantomime. Tin, largest steam yacht ever built is now in course of constitution at New Yoik, and will probably bo finished in time to make her trial trip next summer. This "yacht " is the first built of steel in America, and is for Mr. William Astor, who evidently desires to own a floating palace ; for the yacht is to be built and fitted regaidless of expenses. The dimensions are 227 feet lonir, 30 feet extreme bieadth, and depth 20 feet, with engines capable of developing at least 140 hoise power, and masts to cany 7000 square feet of canvas. The electric light will be fitted thioughont. .Such a vessel is something more than a yacht ; it is a cruiser capable of steaming or sailing all over the world, and quite eclipses in point of size all the large pleasure vessels or jachts owned on this side of the Atlantic. Thk following is another of the stories in Anthony Trollopc's autobiography :—": — " On one occasion, in the performance of my duty I had put a private letter containing bank notes on the Secretary's table — which letter I had duly opened, as it was not marked private. The letter was seen by the Colonel, but had not been moved by him when he left the room. On his return it was gone. In the meantime I had returned to the room again in the performance of some duty. When the letter was missed I was sent for, and there 1 found the Colonel much moved about his letter, and a certain chief clerk, who, with a long face, was making suggestions as to the probable fate of the money. The letter has been taken,' said the Colonel, turning to me angiily, ! 'and, by G— ! there has been nobody in the room but you and I.' As he spoke he thundered his fist down upon the table. 'Then,' said I 'by (t ! you have taken it.' And I also thundered my fist down — but, accidentally, not upon the table. There was there standing a move.ible desk, at which, I presume, it was the Colonel's habit to write, and on this movable desk was a large bottle full of ink. My fi^t unfortunately came upon the desk, and the ink at once flew up, covering the Colonel's face and shirt front. Then it was a sight to see that senior clerk, as he seized a quire of blotting paper and rushed to the aid of his superior officer, striving to mop up the ink; and a sight also to see the Colonel, in his agony, hit right out, through the blotting paper, at at that senior clerk's unoffending stomach. At that moment theie came in the Colonel's paivate secretary with the letter and the money, and I was desired to go back to my owo room." One Shilmxg. — Francis «T. Shortts' Popular Art Union.— Ten first-class Oil Paintings by celebrated artist-.. 5000 tickets at I*. The prizes are magnificent and costly. Country subscribers sending st.imps or otherwise will hjve tickets by return post. Enclose stamped envelope for reply.— Fkancis J. Hhokit, 140, Queen-street, Auckland. — fAnvr.] Life in theßctsii—Thex and Now.— It is generally supposed that in the bush we have to put up with many discomforts and privations in the shape of food. Formerly it was so, but now, thanks to T. R. Hm,, who has himself dwelt in the bush, if food does consist chiefly of tinned meats his Colonial Sauce gives to them a most delectable flavour, making them as well of the plainest food mpst enjoyable, and instead as hard bisruits and indigestible damper his ImpßOVen Colonial Baking Powder makes the very best bread, scones, cakes, and pastry far superior and more wholesome than yeast or caven, Sold by n)\ storekeeper* who can ob*