LICHFIELD SALE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2891, 24 January 1891, Page 2

LICHFIELD SALE.

Ox Thursday morning the special train as previously advertised left Ohaupo, picking up pissengers at Hamilton and other i'>n« oil the line, for the Thames Valley Land Company's important sale of sheep and cattle. The trair. arrived at Lichfield well ill) to time, and over <0 people alighted opposite Mr Kichs residence. The passengers in little knots strolled up to the house which stands a few hundred yards bad: from the railway, and were met by Mr Rich, who in his wellknown hearty manner welcomed them, and requested them to partake of the refreshments provided. About noon a movo was made ill the direction of the sheep pens. By this time the number of visitors had been considerably increased, by those who had arrived the da> previously, and by others who lived sufficiently near to ride or drive ovsr ou the tiiuniinsj of the rn\lt„ Most of the leading graziers from \Vaiknt<> were present, a strong contingent from l'ukeriiiiii being noticeable Representatives from many of the ' large estates were to be seen amongst the crowd and it was evident | from the good attendance that the sale would be a satisfactory one for the vendors. The auctioneers were not however quito prepared for the lots going off in such big Hues as they did. The whole of the stock, cattle, sheep and horses, did great credit to the estate, and the remarks made by those wh j had previously visited Patetere would have done the proprietors hearts .■cod to have heard. Everyone remarked upon the great improvement in the ]nnk of the country on all sides. All the sheep were in pood condition, many of the aged owes being lit for the butcher. The lambs were all well -Town and particularly healthy in appearance. It i* quite evident that the j uleteie Estate is well adapted for breeding sheep. Mr McNicol, to whom had been entrusted the selling oF the sheep, commenced by oli'eriu" the 3,000 sound-mouthed Merino ewes, "only a lino or two "/.these were sold when first offered, realising Is, but subsequent to the sale, the whole lot were disposed of at tho same figure. The next lot offered was the 2,n00 half-bred lambs. At tislil Mr C. .r. Storey _ took 1.(00, the balance Pfninß to Main and r ur/.e at the same titfnre. The -»0D longwool ewes were the next lot mit up, Mr Kelly securing 100 at Ss Id, Mr.). J. Graham taking the balance at Ss. A line of 4HO hingwool ewe lambs went to the bid of Mr 0. J. Storey •it 7s (id. After the sale of the sheep, winch occupied less than an hour, an adjournment was made to the house for dinner; a capital spread was provided on the lawn in front of Mr Kich s house, where table and sitting accommodation was found for considerably over a hundred nnests. After dinner, a move was made towards tho stock yards, situate about half-a-mile from the house, in the direction of the township. <>V r , r r iv ■ i® vcene of operation, Mr W. J. Hunter, uho was to sell the cattle, was to be seen busily movin" about among his clients, calling their attention to the excellent quality of the stock he was about to sell. 1 lie fu st hit ottered was a line of HI. four-year-old, wellbred, well-grown fresh-conditioned bullocks. These were put up in lots of 20 or more, at the option of purchasers. After some keen competition the first lot was knocked down to Mr R. Fisher, at £4 10s, and he elected to take the lot. The ne*t pan, containing about 120 bullocks, the first HO fe.U to the bill of Mr R. Seddon, at i4ls. t Mr 0. _•). Storey taking the balance at £3 lc-. Another lot of about the same number were all cleared by one or two buyers, at £3 4s. The pen of two and three-year-old heifers sold at L' 2 4s. Mr W. J. Hunter also sold the horse stock. In addition to those sold belonging to the estate, n good number, the property uf settlers in the vicinity, were disposed of, but there was nothing in the horse stock sold calling for particular mention.