Dear Listers While looking for something else yesterday in the MM 5 Nov 1874 I came across LOCAL NEWS ( edited) Purchase of the Maitland Mercury newspaper and business was sold yesterday at the Exchange Hotel, Sydney, by public auction by Messrs BRUNKER & SPARKE for the sum of £10,150 . The sale was made by the Trustees of the late Mrs Alexandra PILE, by the direction of his honour the Primary Judge in Equitity , under the provisions of Mrs PILE's will ( Must be an interesting probate packet out at Kingswood ??? ) As the extensively advertised to sell has excited naturally a good deal of speculative talk as to the comparative value of newspapers, we may mention of the following facts The Mercury has changed hands 5 times In 1854 Mr Richard JONES, one of the best business men in the Colony, then sole proprietor, offered it for sale . and it was sold to TUCKER, CRACKNELL and PILE at 3 years purchase- that is at for the total sum of 3 times of the then yearly surplus receipts In 1862 , 1864 & 1868 , portions of the property changed hands between the partners of 3 1/2 to 4 years surplus receipts The legal transfer of the property from the Trustees to the current ( 1874) buyers Messrs TUCKER, GILLIES & THOMPSON ( all Mercury men) will probably not take place till the end of this week to allow time for the necessary legal paperwork to be done Bye MargM Hunter Valley List Admin