STOCK SALES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 143, 28 June 1901, Page 2

STOCK SALES.

MESSES WILLIAMS AND KETTLE’S SPECIAL SALE. Tuerk was a large and representative attendance of settlers at the Matawhero saleyards yesterday, when Messrs Williams and Kettle held a special sale of stock, Mr A. E. Kennedy acting as auctioneer. The chief entry was the lot of 1 young cattle brought from the West Coast t by Mr T. Byrne. These wore disposed .of \ at highly-satisfactory figures. They were ; mainly of one class, consisting of twelve 1 to fifteen months old steers, and were i sorted off in lots to suit purchasers. The 1 prices realised ranged from £2 15s to £3 15s. Ample evidence was shown, by the attendance at the sale and the spirited : bidding, that this class of stock is very much in demand amongst holders of large tracts of country which are insufficiently stocked with cat He. The result of the sale also points to the fact that there is not sufficient breeding of good cattle in this district to supply requirements. It is very much to bo deplored that we should have to go outside to buy cattle, as this district so far has been practically free of any taint of tuberculosis, and in drawing from the stocks in' the West Coast we en-. danger our own, and depreciate the value of our cattle. Hitherto our district has been comparatively free from disease, | and many of our local breeders have recognised the importance of producing a better class of stock in this district which affords special facilities for the output of first-class beef. In this connection we are hot pgferring to dairying stock, which occupy quits if different position. The cattle offered at the sale yesterday were all of the Shorthorn breed, and were comI peted for by graziers with the object of turning them into meat, and with no intention of keeping them for the dairying ip<lustry. All classes of dairy cattle were ' "carefully avoided in this connection. We should, however, like to see some movement made to establish a better class of young stock to supply the wants of the small settlers, who are now reaping the advantage of the dairy factories which are at present operating so largely to the benefit of Poverty Bay. The saleyards were-'yesterday in excellent order. The cattle being all small stock, they were well exposed io the sheep yards, instead of being run into the cattle yards. The sale was not started until half-past one, and the expeditious manner in which the stock were disposed of was highly creditable to Mr A. F. Kennedy, the firmVmaaagpj.:, j