STEERS ON WAY TO MARKET

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29153, 14 March 1960, Page 10

STEERS ON WAY TO MARKET

Molesworth Cattle On Road

Nine hundred steers from the Lands and Survey Department’s 450,000-acre Molesworth station were resting last evening in a holding paddock at Browns creek, about 13 miles from Hanmer Springs. The cattle are on their way by foot to Culverden, where they will be railed to Addington for sale on Wednesday. By the time the big mob reaches Culverden late this afternoon some of the cattle will have travelled about 80 miles by foot in a little more than a week. The big movemeht of cattle started a week ago with a mob of about 450 starting from the Awatere The following day this .group was joined by another 550 cattle in the Guide country. The cattle arrived at the department’s farm near Hanmer Springs in two drafts on Wednesday and Thursday. They rested on ’’’riday, and on Saturday the final selection of cattle for marketing was made. Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, and Aberdeen Angus Hereford cross steers of mainly three ..years of age are in the group now moving toward Culverden. At 6 a.m. yesterday a start was made on ‘he first stage of the journey to the railhead. The cattle moved along the Hossack road to the Hanmer river-bed and down the bed to the Hanmer bridge. They were taken over the Ferry bridge in three or four cuts and thence to Browns creek, which they reached about 3 p.m The manager of Molesworth (Mr M. M. Chisholm) preceded the cattle in a truck bearing a notice warning motorists on the main road to Hanmer Springs of the approach of the cattle' 1 . Five horsemen were with the cattle. The cattle are expected at Culverden about 5 p.m. .to 6 p.m. today. They will be held overnight in a nine-acre holding area near the saleyards. Loading of the cattle on the first of three special trains will begin at first light tomorrow. The first train is due to leave Culverden at 7.30 a.m.